Gritstone Oncology Advances Solid Tumor Bispecific Antibody Program into Lead Optimization Phase; Appoints Vice President of ...
December 10 2018 - 7:00AM
Gritstone Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: GRTS), a clinical-stage
biotechnology company developing the next generation of cancer
immunotherapies to fight multiple cancer types, today announced
that it is advancing its bispecific antibody (BiSAb) program under
the direction of newly appointed vice president of Antibody
Therapeutics, Jonah Rainey, Ph.D. The BiSAb program leverages the
company’s artificial intelligence platform, EDGETM, for the
identification and prioritization of highly tumor-specific
antigens, including neoantigens, shared between patients with
various solid tumors. To enable the development of BiSAb
therapeutics directed to solid tumors, Gritstone has discovered
antibodies with selective and high-affinity binding to
tumor-specific peptide-HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) complexes
(HLAp). Structural data suggest that the binding mechanism of these
antibodies (termed TCR-mimetics) is similar to T-cell receptors
(TCRs), which can naturally recognize HLAp targets on the tumor
cell surface. In vitro data show that these proprietary antibodies,
when deployed in a BiSAb format, can mobilize and redirect T-cells
towards the destruction of tumor cells, and the company is
accelerating the program into lead optimization.
“Recent data with BiSAb in B cell malignancies
have shown their ability to elicit a potent and targeted anti-tumor
response,” said Andrew Allen, M.D., Ph.D., co-founder, president
and chief executive officer of Gritstone Oncology. “To extend
application of BiSAb into solid tumors, we will first identify
exquisitely tumor-specific HLAp targets shared between patients,
and then develop antibodies that recognize these targets
specifically. Gritstone’s EDGE platform enables the first of these,
including novel shared neoantigens, and we have been building out
the second element of TCR-mimetic antibodies over the last year.
Under the leadership of Dr. Rainey, who has extensive expertise in
antibody engineering and development, we are excited about the
potential of TCR-mimetic-based bispecific antibodies to impact
solid tumors using a 'drug-in-a-bottle' approach.”
Jonah Rainey, Ph.D., Vice President of
Antibody TherapeuticsDr. Jonah Rainey joined Gritstone in
2018 to lead the bispecific antibody program. He has been actively
engaged in discovery, research, and development of BiSAb for 12
years. He is an inventor on several patents and applications
describing novel bispecific platforms, as well as current clinical
candidates that exploit these platforms. Dr. Rainey led or had
major contributions to research and early development of at least
three current clinical candidates in phase 1 and 2, and led many
additional advanced preclinical programs in oncology, infectious
disease, autoimmunity, and other therapeutic areas. Dr. Rainey’s
industry experience spans small biotech, such as MacroGenics, and
large pharma settings where he led cancer BiSAb discovery at
MedImmune/AstraZeneca from 2010 to 2017. He holds a Ph.D. in
Biochemistry from Tufts University and completed postdoctoral
training at the University of Wisconsin and the Salk Institute.
About Gritstone
OncologyGritstone Oncology (Nasdaq:GRTS), a clinical-stage
biotechnology company, is developing the next generation of cancer
immunotherapies to fight multiple cancer types. Gritstone develops
its products by leveraging two key pillars—first, a proprietary
machine learning-based platform, Gritstone EDGE™, which is designed
to predict, from a routine tumor biopsy, the tumor-specific
neoantigens (TSNA) that are presented on a patient’s tumor cells;
and second, the ability to develop and manufacture potent
immunotherapies utilizing patients’ TSNA to potentially drive the
patient’s immune system to specifically attack and destroy tumors.
The company’s lead product candidate, GRANITE-001, is a
personalized neoantigen-based immunotherapy beginning Phase 1
clinical testing. Gritstone’s second product candidate, SLATE-001,
is a shared neoantigen (“off-the-shelf”) immunotherapy which is
advancing towards the clinic. The company also has a research
program focused on the development of bispecific antibodies. For
more information, please visit gritstoneoncology.com.
Gritstone Forward-Looking
Statements This press release contains forward-looking
statements, including, but not limited to, statements related to
the potential to extend bispecific antibodies for the treatment of
solid tumors and the advancement of a bispecifics antibody program.
Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and
uncertainties that could cause Gritstone’s research and clinical
development programs, future results, performance or achievements
to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include,
among others, the uncertainties inherent in the drug development
process, including Gritstone’s programs’ early stage of
development, the process of designing and conducting preclinical
and clinical trials, the regulatory approval processes, the timing
of regulatory filings, the challenges associated with manufacturing
drug products, Gritstone’s ability to successfully establish,
protect and defend its intellectual property and other matters that
could affect the sufficiency of existing cash to fund operations.
Gritstone undertakes no obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements. For a further description of the risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from
those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as
risks relating to the business of the company in general, see
Gritstone’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on
November 14, 2018 and any subsequent current and periodic reports
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contacts
Media:Dan Budwick1AB(973) 271-6085dan@1abmedia.com
Investors:Alexandra SantosWheelhouse Life Science Advisors(510)
871-6161asantos@wheelhouselsa.com
Gritstone bio (NASDAQ:GRTS)
Historical Stock Chart
From Aug 2024 to Sep 2024
Gritstone bio (NASDAQ:GRTS)
Historical Stock Chart
From Sep 2023 to Sep 2024