Industry veteran Corsee Sanders joins Calidi Biotherapeutics (CLDI) board and Audit Committee
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
8-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Calidi Biotherapeutics appointed Corazon (Corsee) Sanders, Ph.D., as an independent Class III director, with a term running until the 2029 annual meeting of stockholders. She was also named to the company’s Audit Committee, drawing on more than three decades of global drug development and clinical operations experience at major biopharma companies.
The board deferred granting her initial equity award under the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan until it evaluates available awards and may adjust the share amount. Calidi also increased its board size from five to six directors and removed Scott Leftwich from the Audit Committee while he continues to serve on the board. A related press release highlights Calidi’s RedTail platform and lead genetic medicine candidate CLD-401, which is in IND-enabling studies for cancers with high unmet medical need.
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8-K Event Classification
4 items: 5.02, 7.01, 8.01, 9.01
4 items
Item 5.02
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers
Governance
Key personnel changes including departures, elections, or appointments of directors and executive officers.
Item 7.01
Regulation FD Disclosure
Disclosure
Material non-public information disclosed under Regulation Fair Disclosure, often investor presentations or guidance.
Item 8.01
Other Events
Other
Voluntary disclosure of events the company deems important to shareholders but not covered by other items.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Key Figures
Board size: 6 directors
Director term: Through 2029 annual meeting
Director age: 69 years
+3 more
6 metrics
Board size
6 directors
Increased from five to six members on June 23, 2026
Director term
Through 2029 annual meeting
Class III director term for Corsee Sanders, Ph.D.
Director age
69 years
Age of Corazon (Corsee) D. Sanders, Ph.D.
Clinical operations team size
2,500 professionals
Team led by Sanders as Global Head of Clinical Operations at Genentech/Roche
Biometrics & Innovation team size
1,100 professionals
Team led by Sanders as SVP of Global Biometrics & Innovation at Genentech/Roche
Effective board appointment date
June 17, 2026
Effective date of Sanders’ appointment to Calidi’s board
Key Terms
Audit Committee, Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy, Equity Incentive Plan, Regulation FD, +2 more
6 terms
Audit Committee financial
"the Board appointed Dr. Sanders to serve as a member of the Audit Committee of the Board"
A company's audit committee is a small group of board members who act like independent inspectors for the firm's finances, overseeing how financial reports are prepared, monitoring internal controls, and managing the relationship with external auditors. Investors care because a strong audit committee reduces the risk of accounting errors, fraud, or misleading statements, making financial statements more trustworthy and helping protect shareholder value.
Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy financial
"the Initial Award that would ordinarily be granted to Dr. Sanders pursuant to the Company’s Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy"
Equity Incentive Plan financial
"allocation of any available awards under the Company’s 2023 Equity Incentive Plan, with the Board retaining the discretion"
An equity incentive plan is a program that gives employees, executives or directors the right to receive company stock or options to buy stock as part of their pay. Think of it as offering slices of future company profit to motivate people to boost long‑term performance; for investors it matters because it can align employee goals with shareholder value but also increases the number of shares outstanding, which can dilute existing ownership.
Regulation FD regulatory
"Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure. On June 23, 2026, the Company issued a press release"
Regulation FD is a rule that prevents company insiders, like executives, from sharing important information with some people before others get it. It matters because it helps ensure all investors have equal access to key news, making the stock market fairer and reducing chances of insider trading.
IND-enabling studies medical
"CLD-401, the lead candidate from the RedTail platform, currently in IND-enabling studies, targets non-small cell lung cancer"
Ind-enabling studies are early research efforts that test whether a new drug or treatment is safe and effective enough to move forward in development. They are like preliminary tests to ensure a product works as intended before investing more resources into large-scale trials. For investors, these studies are important because successful results can signal potential progress toward bringing a new product to market, impacting its future value.
oncolytic virus medical
"RedTail platform features an engineered enveloped oncolytic virus designed for systemic delivery and targeting of metastatic sites"
A virus engineered or selected to infect and destroy cancer cells while leaving healthy tissue largely unharmed, often acting like a guided missile that also alerts the immune system to attack tumors. It matters to investors because oncolytic viruses represent a potential new class of cancer treatments that can command large markets if proven safe and effective, but development is costly and outcome-driven, carrying high regulatory and clinical risk.
FAQ
What did Calidi Biotherapeutics (CLDI) announce in this 8-K filing?
Calidi Biotherapeutics appointed Corsee Sanders, Ph.D., to its board and Audit Committee, expanded its board, and adjusted committee membership. The company also issued a press release describing her background and reiterating its focus on the RedTail platform and lead candidate CLD-401 in IND-enabling studies.
Who is Corsee Sanders, the new Calidi Biotherapeutics (CLDI) director?
Corsee Sanders, Ph.D., is a biotechnology executive with more than 30 years of global leadership in drug development. She has held senior roles at Juno Therapeutics and Genentech/Roche and currently serves on multiple biotech boards, bringing extensive clinical, regulatory, and operational experience.
How long will Corsee Sanders serve on the Calidi Biotherapeutics (CLDI) board?
Corsee Sanders was appointed a Class III director with a term expiring at Calidi’s 2029 annual meeting of stockholders. She will serve until that meeting and until a successor is elected and qualified, or earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, or removal.
Did Calidi Biotherapeutics (CLDI) change its board or committee structure?
Calidi increased its board size from five to six directors and added Sanders to the Audit Committee. In connection with her appointment, Scott Leftwich was removed from the Audit Committee but continues to serve as a director on the company’s board.
Will Corsee Sanders receive equity compensation from Calidi Biotherapeutics (CLDI)?
Calidi’s board chose to defer Sanders’ initial equity award normally granted under its Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy. The grant will be considered after the board assesses available awards under the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan and may adjust the number of shares in that award.
What is Calidi Biotherapeutics (CLDI) developing with its RedTail platform?
Calidi is developing targeted therapies that deliver genetic medicines to metastatic disease sites using its RedTail platform. The engineered enveloped oncolytic virus is designed for systemic delivery and tumor targeting, with lead candidate CLD-401 in IND-enabling studies for non-small cell lung, head and neck, and other cancers.