Organization and Nature of Operations	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization and Nature of Operations	1. Organization and Nature of Operations On September 12, 2023, First Light Acquisition Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“FLAG”) consummated a series of transactions that resulted in the merger of FLAG Merger Sub Inc., a Nevada corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of FLAG and Calidi Biotherapeutics. Inc., a Nevada corporation (“Calidi” and the transactions the “Business Combination”). Following the consummation of the Business Combination, FLAG was renamed “Calidi Biotherapeutics, Inc.” and Calidi was renamed “Calidi Biotherapeutics (Nevada), Inc. and became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Unless the context otherwise requires, the “Company” refers to Calidi Biotherapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (f/k/a First Light Acquisition Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation) and its consolidated subsidiaries. The Company is a biotechnology company that is pioneering the development of targeted therapies with the potential to deliver genetic medicines to distal sites of disease. The Company’s proprietary RedTail platform features an engineered enveloped oncolytic virus designed for systemic delivery and targeting of metastatic sites. This advanced enveloped technology is intended to shield the virus from immune clearance, allowing virotherapy to effectively reach tumor sites, induce tumor lysis, and deliver potent genetic medicine(s) to metastatic locations. The Company’s operations to date have focused on organization and staffing, business planning, raising capital, licensing, acquiring and developing technology, establishing intellectual property portfolio, identifying potential product candidates and undertaking preclinical studies, process development and manufacturing for preclinical and clinical trials. The Company’s product candidates are subject to long development cycles and the Company may be unsuccessful in its efforts to develop, obtain regulatory approval for or market its product candidates. The Company is subject to risks and uncertainties common to early-stage companies in the biotechnology industry, including, but not limited to, possible failure of preclinical studies or clinical trials, the need to obtain marketing approval for its product candidates, development by competitors of new technological innovations, dependence on key personnel, protection of proprietary technology, compliance with government regulations, the need to successfully commercialize and gain market acceptance of any of the Company’s products that are approved and the ability to secure additional capital to fund operations. Product candidates currently under development will require significant additional research and development efforts, including extensive preclinical and clinical testing, and regulatory approval prior to commercialization. These efforts require significant amounts of additional capital, adequate personnel and infrastructure, and extensive compliance-reporting capabilities. Even if the Company’s drug development efforts are successful, it is uncertain when, if ever, the Company will realize significant revenue from product sales. Reverse Stock Split On July 10, 2024, the Company filed a First Certificate of Amendment to its Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to effect a 1-for-10 reverse stock split of the shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), effective on July 15, 2024 (the “2024 Reverse Stock Split”). As a result of the 2024 Reverse Stock Split, every ten shares of issued and outstanding Common Stock were automatically combined into one issued and outstanding share of Common Stock, without any change in the par value per share. No fractional shares were issued as a result of the 2024 Reverse Stock Split, and any fractional shares that would otherwise have resulted from the 2024 Reverse Stock Split were rounded up to the next whole number. The number of authorized shares of Common Stock under the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, remained unchanged. On August 1, 2025, the Company filed a Second Certificate of Amendment to its Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to effect a 1-for-12 reverse stock split of the shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, effective on August 4, 2025 (the “2025 Reverse Stock Split”). As a result of the 2025 Reverse Stock Split, every twelve shares of issued and outstanding Common Stock were automatically combined into one issued and outstanding share of Common Stock, without any change in the par value per share. No fractional shares were issued as a result of the 2025 Reverse Stock Split, and any fractional shares that would otherwise have resulted from the 2025 Reverse Stock Split were rounded up to the next whole number. The number of authorized shares of Common Stock under the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, remained unchanged. Trading of the Company’s shares of Common Stock on the NYSE American, LLC commenced on a split-adjusted basis on August 5, 2025. All references to share and per share amounts for all periods presented in the consolidated financial statements have been retrospectively restated to reflect the 2024 Reverse Stock Split and 2025 Reverse Stock Split. All rights to receive shares of common stock under outstanding securities, including but not limited to, warrants, options, and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) were adjusted to give effect to the reverse stock split. Furthermore, proportionate adjustments were made to the per share exercise price and the number of shares of Common Stock that may be purchased upon exercise of outstanding stock options granted by the Company, and the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for future issuance under the Company’s 2023 Equity Incentive Plan. Liquidity and Going Concern The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and settlement of liabilities in the normal course of business, and do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or amounts and classification of liabilities that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty. The Company has experienced recurring losses from operations and negative cash flows from operating activities, has a significant accumulated deficit and expects to continue to incur net losses into the foreseeable future. The Company had an accumulated deficit of $141.6 million at December 31, 2025. During the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company used $21.3 million in cash for operating activities. As of December 31, 2025, the Company had cash of $5.6 million and restricted cash of $0.2 million. Management expects operating losses and negative cash flows to continue for the foreseeable future. Management estimates that based on the Company’s liquidity resources, there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within 12 months from the date of issuance of the consolidated financial statements. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis of the Company continuing to operate in the normal course of business and does not reflect any adjustments to the assets and liabilities related to the substantial doubt of its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to raise additional funding. Management plans to raise additional capital through public or private equity or debt financings to fulfill its operating and capital requirements for at least 12 months from the date of the issuance of the financial statements. However, the Company may not be able to secure such financing in a timely manner or on favorable terms, if at all. Furthermore, if the Company issues equity securities to raise additional funds, its existing stockholders may experience dilution, and the new equity securities may have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of the Company’s existing stockholders. Risks and Uncertainties Changes in economic conditions, including rising interest rates, public health issues, lower consumer confidence, volatile equity capital markets, ongoing supply chain disruptions and the impacts of geopolitical conflicts, may affect the Company’s operations.

Organization and Nature of Operations

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2025

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

1. Organization and Nature of Operations

On September 12, 2023, First Light Acquisition Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“FLAG”) consummated a series of transactions that resulted in the merger of FLAG Merger Sub Inc., a Nevada corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of FLAG and Calidi Biotherapeutics. Inc., a Nevada corporation (“Calidi” and the transactions the “Business Combination”). Following the consummation of the Business Combination, FLAG was renamed “Calidi Biotherapeutics, Inc.” and Calidi was renamed “Calidi Biotherapeutics (Nevada), Inc. and became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Unless the context otherwise requires, the “Company” refers to Calidi Biotherapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (f/k/a First Light Acquisition Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation) and its consolidated subsidiaries.

The Company is a biotechnology company that is pioneering the development of targeted therapies with the potential to deliver genetic medicines to distal sites of disease. The Company’s proprietary RedTail platform features an engineered enveloped oncolytic virus designed for systemic delivery and targeting of metastatic sites. This advanced enveloped technology is intended to shield the virus from immune clearance, allowing virotherapy to effectively reach tumor sites, induce tumor lysis, and deliver potent genetic medicine(s) to metastatic locations.

The Company’s operations to date have focused on organization and staffing, business planning, raising capital, licensing, acquiring and developing technology, establishing intellectual property portfolio, identifying potential product candidates and undertaking preclinical studies, process development and manufacturing for preclinical and clinical trials. The Company’s product candidates are subject to long development cycles and the Company may be unsuccessful in its efforts to develop, obtain regulatory approval for or market its product candidates.

The Company is subject to risks and uncertainties common to early-stage companies in the biotechnology industry, including, but not limited to, possible failure of preclinical studies or clinical trials, the need to obtain marketing approval for its product candidates, development by competitors of new technological innovations, dependence on key personnel, protection of proprietary technology, compliance with government regulations, the need to successfully commercialize and gain market acceptance of any of the Company’s products that are approved and the ability to secure additional capital to fund operations. Product candidates currently under development will require significant additional research and development efforts, including extensive preclinical and clinical testing, and regulatory approval prior to commercialization. These efforts require significant amounts of additional capital, adequate personnel and infrastructure, and extensive compliance-reporting capabilities. Even if the Company’s drug development efforts are successful, it is uncertain when, if ever, the Company will realize significant revenue from product sales.

Reverse Stock Split

On July 10, 2024, the Company filed a First Certificate of Amendment to its Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to effect a 1-for-10 reverse stock split of the shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), effective on July 15, 2024 (the “2024 Reverse Stock Split”). As a result of the 2024 Reverse Stock Split, every ten shares of issued and outstanding Common Stock were automatically combined into one issued and outstanding share of Common Stock, without any change in the par value per share. No fractional shares were issued as a result of the 2024 Reverse Stock Split, and any fractional shares that would otherwise have resulted from the 2024 Reverse Stock Split were rounded up to the next whole number. The number of authorized shares of Common Stock under the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, remained unchanged.

On August 1, 2025, the Company filed a Second Certificate of Amendment to its Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to effect a 1-for-12 reverse stock split of the shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, effective on August 4, 2025 (the “2025 Reverse Stock Split”). As a result of the 2025 Reverse Stock Split, every twelve shares of issued and outstanding Common Stock were automatically combined into one issued and outstanding share of Common Stock, without any change in the par value per share. No fractional shares were issued as a result of the 2025 Reverse Stock Split, and any fractional shares that would otherwise have resulted from the 2025 Reverse Stock Split were rounded up to the next whole number. The number of authorized shares of Common Stock under the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, remained unchanged. Trading of the Company’s shares of Common Stock on the NYSE American, LLC commenced on a split-adjusted basis on August 5, 2025.

All references to share and per share amounts for all periods presented in the consolidated financial statements have been retrospectively restated to reflect the 2024 Reverse Stock Split and 2025 Reverse Stock Split. All rights to receive shares of common stock under outstanding securities, including but not limited to, warrants, options, and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) were adjusted to give effect to the reverse stock split. Furthermore, proportionate adjustments were made to the per share exercise price and the number of shares of Common Stock that may be purchased upon exercise of outstanding stock options granted by the Company, and the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for future issuance under the Company’s 2023 Equity Incentive Plan.

Liquidity and Going Concern

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and settlement of liabilities in the normal course of business, and do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or amounts and classification of liabilities that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

The Company has experienced recurring losses from operations and negative cash flows from operating activities, has a significant accumulated deficit and expects to continue to incur net losses into the foreseeable future. The Company had an accumulated deficit of $141.6 million at December 31, 2025. During the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company used $21.3 million in cash for operating activities. As of December 31, 2025, the Company had cash of $5.6 million and restricted cash of $0.2 million. Management expects operating losses and negative cash flows to continue for the foreseeable future.

Management estimates that based on the Company’s liquidity resources, there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within 12 months from the date of issuance of the consolidated financial statements. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis of the Company continuing to operate in the normal course of business and does not reflect any adjustments to the assets and liabilities related to the substantial doubt of its ability to continue as a going concern.

Management’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to raise additional funding. Management plans to raise additional capital through public or private equity or debt financings to fulfill its operating and capital requirements for at least 12 months from the date of the issuance of the financial statements. However, the Company may not be able to secure such financing in a timely manner or on favorable terms, if at all. Furthermore, if the Company issues equity securities to raise additional funds, its existing stockholders may experience dilution, and the new equity securities may have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of the Company’s existing stockholders.

Risks and Uncertainties

Changes in economic conditions, including rising interest rates, public health issues, lower consumer confidence, volatile equity capital markets, ongoing supply chain disruptions and the impacts of geopolitical conflicts, may affect the Company’s operations.