EMERYVILLE, Calif. – Gritstone bio, Inc. (NASDAQ:GRTS), a clinical-stage biotechnology company, has announced the development of a new vaccine candidate, SLATE-KRAS, targeting KRAS-specific neoantigens. The advancement is based on findings from a paper recently published in Nature Medicine, which outlined the discovery of an immunodominance hierarchy of tumor neoantigens that has informed the development of this more potent vaccine candidate.
The research, led by Gritstone and collaborating with Steven A. Rosenberg of the National Cancer Institute, identified a hierarchy of neoantigen immunodominance, revealing that certain neoantigens elicit a stronger immune response than others. This discovery has been crucial in the development of SLATE-KRAS, which has shown superior immunogenicity compared to its predecessor in Phase 2 studies and is now being evaluated in a cell therapy-vaccine combination study.
SLATE-KRAS is part of Gritstone's "off-the-shelf" neoantigen vaccine program, which aims to produce vaccines that can be readily applied across a range of solid tumors. Unlike personalized vaccines, SLATE delivers a set of neoantigens common across subsets of cancer patients, allowing for broader application.
The Phase 1/2 clinical trial (NCT03953235) assessed the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of the initial SLATE vaccine in patients with advanced metastatic solid tumors.
The vaccine, using a ChAd68 followed by samRNA-based regimen, encoded 20 shared neoantigens targeting mutations in oncogenes such as KRAS and TP53. The results of the Phase 1 part of the trial indicated a bias in T cell responses towards TP53 neoantigens, leading to the refinement of the vaccine to focus on KRAS-derived neoantigens in SLATE-KRAS.
Gritstone's approach to neoantigen-directed immunotherapy is underlined by their proprietary neoantigen prediction platform, EDGE™, which aids in selecting tumor antigens and optimizing vaccine design to elicit potent immune responses. The company believes SLATE is ready for "plug and play" application across various solid tumor indications.
The information provided is based on a press release statement.
InvestingPro Insights
Gritstone bio's latest developments in its SLATE-KRAS vaccine candidate have been met with scientific interest, but what does the financial data say about the company's current standing? According to InvestingPro Data, Gritstone bio has a market capitalization of approximately $89.49 million USD, indicating the size of the company in the competitive biotech industry. Despite the innovative steps Gritstone is taking in cancer immunotherapy, the company's revenue has seen a decline of 18.05% over the last twelve months as of Q1 2023, which may raise concerns about its financial trajectory.
InvestingPro Tips suggest that analysts are taking note of both the challenges and potential that Gritstone faces. Two analysts have revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, reflecting some optimism in the company's future performance. However, they also anticipate a sales decline in the current year, and do not expect the company to be profitable this year. This is further illustrated by a negative P/E ratio of -0.78, as of the last twelve months of Q1 2023, which can be a point of caution for potential investors.
The stock's volatility is reflected in its high price volatility, as noted by InvestingPro Tips. Moreover, the stock is currently trading near its 52-week low, which might be an indicator of undervaluation or a reflection of the broader challenges faced by the company. For investors looking for more detailed analysis and additional insights, there are 14 more InvestingPro Tips available, which can be accessed through the platform's tailored service for Gritstone bio at . Interested readers can use the coupon code PRONEWS24 to get an additional 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription, offering a more comprehensive understanding of GRTS's financial health and market position.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.