Preliminary Findings from Phase 1/2 Trial of Gritstone's Universal Neoantigen Vaccine Approach (SLATE) Featured in Nature Medicine

April 15, 2024 —A recent publication in Nature Medicine has highlighted the advancements in vaccine design, specifically focusing on Gritstone bio's neoantigen platform, SLATE. The research, led by Steven A. Rosenberg from the National Cancer Institute, has resulted in a more effective vaccine candidate targeting KRAS, a gene mutation commonly found in various cancers. 

The study, "A shared neoantigen vaccine combined with immune checkpoint blockade for advanced metastatic solid tumors: phase 1 trial interim results," reveals a new hierarchy of tumor neoantigens that Gritstone bio discovered during their Phase 1 studies. This discovery was pivotal in the creation of SLATE-KRAS, which has shown stronger immunogenicity compared to the initial version and is now part of a combined cell therapy-vaccine study. Andrew Allen, the Co-founder and CEO of Gritstone bio, emphasized the significance of the "off-the-shelf" neoantigen strategy for solid tumors, which is integral to the company's mission of developing highly potent vaccines. The SLATE platform, which is designed for quick application across a range of solid tumors, complements GRANITE, Gritstone's personalized vaccine program. The company is confident that both platforms could significantly enhance immune responses in cancer patients. 

Karin Jooss, the Executive Vice President and Head of R&D at Gritstone bio, pointed out the importance of understanding the mechanisms of therapeutic neoantigens and the ability to select and design antigens to elicit a potent immune response. The company's proprietary platform, EDGE™, was used to identify neoantigens based on shared mutations and HLA matching, leading to the development of SLATE-KRAS. 

The interim results from the SLATE 1/2 Study, involving patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors, showed that the SLATEv1 vaccine, which includes 20 shared neoantigens, was safe, tolerable, and immunogenic. The vaccine's design was based on the unexpected immunodominance hierarchy, which influenced the therapeutic efficacy of multi-epitope vaccines. Gritstone bio is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to creating potent vaccines to treat and prevent diseases, including solid tumors. The company is advancing its product candidates through clinical trials and is focused on improving patient outcomes.

About Gritstone bio: Gritstone bio, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company listed on Nasdaq (GRTS), with a mission to develop potent vaccines. The company uses innovative vectors and payloads to activate the immune system against disease targets. They are independently and collaboratively working on a range of product candidates aimed at treating and preventing viral diseases and solid tumors.

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