Candid Therapeutics Recognized as a 2025 Endpoints 11 Honoree, Highlighting Its Pioneering Work in T-Cell Engager Therapies
Candid Therapeutics, Inc. (“Candid”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company at the forefront of autoimmune and inflammatory disease research, has been named to the esteemed 2025 Endpoints 11 list. This recognition underscores Candid’s rapid rise in the biotech industry, highlighting its innovative approach to harnessing T-cell engagers (TCEs) for the treatment of complex diseases. The Endpoints 11, compiled annually by Endpoints News, celebrates the most promising private biotech companies globally, spotlighting organizations that demonstrate scientific excellence, technological innovation, and the potential to shape the future of medicine.
Founded with a mission to redefine how autoimmune and inflammatory diseases are treated, Candid Therapeutics has rapidly established itself as a transformative player in the field of immunotherapy. The company’s focus on T-cell engagers—a modality designed to redirect the body’s own immune system to target disease-causing cells—represents a paradigm shift in therapeutic development. Unlike conventional therapies that primarily focus on suppressing immune responses, T-cell engagers have the potential to directly harness immune system mechanisms to restore balance in autoimmune conditions, offering patients new avenues of hope where current treatment options remain limited.
A Milestone Recognition Early in Candid’s Journey
Receiving the Endpoints 11 honor is particularly noteworthy given that Candid officially launched only a year ago. “We are thrilled to receive this recognition after just one year of officially launching the company,” said Dr. Ken Song, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Candid. Dr. Song emphasized that the honor is a testament to the company’s scientific vision and the rapid progress achieved by its team in advancing potentially first-in-class and best-in-class therapies into clinical development.
The Endpoints 11 recognition is reserved for companies that demonstrate significant potential to transform the biotech landscape. In the case of Candid, the company’s work in developing next-generation T-cell engagers for autoimmune and inflammatory disorders has drawn attention from both industry observers and potential investors. By focusing on diseases with substantial unmet needs, Candid is positioning itself as a leader in a highly specialized segment of immunotherapy, with a pipeline designed to tackle some of the most challenging therapeutic targets.
The Promise of T-Cell Engagers in Autoimmune Disease
T-cell engagers function by bridging T-cells—the body’s primary defense cells—with target cells that contribute to disease pathology. This targeted engagement prompts T-cells to eliminate harmful cells with precision, offering a highly specific therapeutic approach that minimizes broader immunosuppression. Candid’s proprietary platform is designed to optimize the efficacy and safety of T-cell engagers for autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, an area where traditional biologics and small molecules have often fallen short.
Central to Candid’s pipeline is cizutamig, a first-in-class and potentially best-in-class BCMA-targeting TCE. Cizutamig is currently undergoing clinical evaluation across multiple autoimmune indications, reflecting the company’s strategy to address diseases with high unmet need and complex pathophysiology. The BCMA (B-cell maturation antigen) target is well-established in oncology, but Candid’s approach represents a novel application of this target in autoimmune disorders, leveraging T-cell engagement to selectively modulate pathogenic B-cells responsible for disease progression.
Beyond cizutamig, Candid is advancing a robust pipeline of next-generation TCE programs targeting CD19 and CD20, including CND261 and CND319. These programs are designed to expand the therapeutic potential of T-cell engagers by targeting distinct subsets of B-cells implicated in autoimmune disease. By addressing multiple cellular targets, Candid aims to create a diversified therapeutic portfolio capable of tackling a wide spectrum of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.
Expanding the Scope of Autoimmune Therapies
Candid’s innovation extends beyond its clinical-stage programs. The company has established a robust discovery engine aimed at identifying new T-cell engager candidates and expanding the applicability of this therapeutic modality across additional autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. This approach reflects a broader vision of creating transformative therapies that not only address current unmet needs but also anticipate future challenges in immune-mediated disease treatment.
“Our pipeline and discovery capabilities reflect a commitment to innovation and patient-centric solutions,” said Dr. Song. “We believe T-cell engagers represent a transformative modality for patients with debilitating inflammatory conditions, and this recognition underscores the progress our team has made advancing potentially first-in-class and best-in-class programs into the clinic.”
Candid’s platform is designed with flexibility and scalability in mind, allowing for rapid adaptation to emerging therapeutic targets and disease indications. By integrating advanced protein engineering, rigorous preclinical validation, and strategic clinical development, the company aims to maximize both the efficacy and safety of its T-cell engager therapies. This multi-pronged approach positions Candid to respond dynamically to evolving scientific insights and patient needs, ensuring that its therapies remain at the cutting edge of autoimmune disease treatment.
Strategic Vision and Industry Impact
Candid’s recognition as an Endpoints 11 honoree also highlights its potential impact on the broader biotech ecosystem. Private biotech companies that make the list are often considered key drivers of innovation, attracting attention from investors, partners, and collaborators who seek to engage with companies at the forefront of scientific discovery. For Candid, this distinction not only validates its scientific approach but also reinforces its credibility within the industry, opening doors for strategic partnerships, funding opportunities, and collaborative research initiatives.
The company’s leadership team, led by Dr. Song, brings together expertise in immunology, clinical development, and biotechnology commercialization. This combination of scientific insight and operational execution has enabled Candid to accelerate its programs efficiently while maintaining rigorous standards for safety and efficacy. The rapid development timeline and early recognition from Endpoints underscore the company’s ability to execute its vision while delivering tangible progress in clinical-stage programs.
