Candel Therapeutics adds Martine Zimmermann to board ahead of planned BLA filing

Candel Therapeutics announced on September 10, 2026 that the Board of Directors increased the size of the Board from ten to eleven directors and unanimously appointed Martine Zimmermann, Pharm.D, to fill the newly created vacancy, effective September 8, 2026.¹ Zimmermann became a member of the slate of Class III directors, with terms expiring at the 2027 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.¹

Her career includes a chronological progression through several companies. She served at Alexion Pharma International in various roles of increasing responsibility beginning in 2009, then as Senior Vice President, Head of Global Regulatory & Quality Affairs from June 2016 until January 2023. She then moved to Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals as Senior Vice President and Head of Regulatory Affairs from January 2023 to August 2025.¹ Since August 2025, she has served as Executive Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance of Inventiva S.A.¹ She also has other board experience: Zimmermann has served as director of Ligand Pharmaceuticals since October 2023, and previously served as director of Caelum Biosciences between February 2018 and October 2021 and of Inventiva S.A. between April 2021 and August 2025.¹

For compensation, Zimmermann will receive an option to purchase 64,000 shares of Candel common stock, vesting in equal monthly installments over three years, along with a $40,000 annual retainer paid quarterly in arrears, pro-rated based on days served.¹

The company said the appointment comes as it works toward a key regulatory milestone. CEO Paul Peter Tak said the company is preparing for the planned submission of the BLA for aglatimagene besadenovec in the fourth quarter of 2026 while continuing to build capabilities for a potential commercial-stage company.¹