On November 3, 2022 Gritstone bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: GRTS), a clinical-stage biotechnology company working to develop the world’s most potent vaccines, reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022 and reviewed business highlights (Press release, Gritstone Oncology, NOV 3, 2022, View Source [SID1234622963]).

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"Gritstone’s relentless execution continues to generate novel clinical data," said Andrew Allen, M.D., Ph.D., Co-founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gritstone. "The KRAS neoantigen-directed data presented at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2022 in September, from our off-the-shelf neoantigen program (SLATE), show a molecular response rate of approximately 40%, which was also associated with extended overall survival in advanced lung cancer patients. These results are consistent with prior results from GRANITE in advanced colorectal cancer patients. The scientific foundations of the GRANITE program, common to SLATE, are illuminated in our recent publication of GRANITE Phase 1/2 results in Nature Medicine. This technology platform is establishing its potential to transform the treatment of a large number of solid tumor patients who currently do not respond to checkpoint inhibitors. Through the CORAL program, we continue to demonstrate proof-of-concept for self-amplifying mRNA (samRNA) as a novel, differentiated, scalable, and widely applicable platform technology against COVID-19 and other viral pathogens. As we enter 2023 with a strong balance sheet, our focus remains on driving our clinical programs toward meaningful data catalysts and continuing to unlock the value of our platforms across oncology and infectious diseases."

Clinical Program Updates
Oncology Programs
GRANITE – Individualized neoantigen-directed immunotherapy

In August 2022, interim results from the Phase 1/2 trial of GRANITE were published in Nature Medicine (here). The paper describes how Gritstone’s neoantigen-directed vaccination approach (referred to as "prime-boost") led to both priming and boosting of tumor-specific T cells, with associated molecular responses in approximately half of treated advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Follow-up data from the Phase 1/2 study have suggested a correlation between molecular response and extended overall survival (MOS of 18+ months among responders vs. 7.8 months in non-responders; latest overall survival results reported in May 2022). These data catalyzed the launch of GRANITE-CRC-1L, a randomized, controlled Phase 2/3 maintenance trial in newly diagnosed metastatic CRC patients that is ongoing and has registrational intent.

Preliminary data from the Phase 2 portion of GRANITE-CRC-1L are expected in 4Q 2023.
SLATE – "Off-the-shelf" shared neoantigen-directed immunotherapy

In September 2022, Gritstone presented positive data from a Phase 1/2 study evaluating KRAS-directed SLATE at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper). The data included initial results with SLATE-KRAS, a shared mutant KRAS-specific neoantigen vaccine candidate, and updated data using the first version of the vaccine candidate (SLATE v1) which contains both KRAS and non-KRAS neoantigens. In 38 patients with advanced solid tumors, SLATE v1 (n =26) and SLATE-KRAS (n=12) demonstrated a 39% molecular response rate (MRR). In a mature dataset of NSCLC subjects who had progressed on prior chemo-immunotherapy, a positive association was observed between molecular response and overall survival, a signal similar to that seen in the Phase 1/2 study of GRANITE (individualized immunotherapy for advanced solid tumors).
Infectious Disease Programs
CORAL – Second-generation SARS-CoV-2 vaccine program. This program serves as proof-of-concept for Gritstone’s infectious disease approach and the potential broad application of samRNA in infectious diseases.

In October 2022, Gritstone shared interim positive results from the ongoing Phase 1 CORAL-BOOST (NCT05148962) and CORAL-CEPI (NCT05435027) trials at a company-sponsored webinar. Collectively, these results showed Gritstone’s samRNA vaccine candidates to be well-tolerated and capable of driving strong, potentially durable and broad immunogenicity across several subject populations and settings.

In September 2022, enrollment was completed in the CORAL-NIH trial (NCT04776317), which is sponsored and executed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID).
HIV – Collaboration with Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Gilead) under Gilead’s HIV Cure Program to research and develop vaccine-based HIV immunotherapy treatment.

An investigational new drug application (IND) was cleared in December 2021, and the Phase 1 clinical study is ongoing.
Corporate Highlights

In August 2022, Dr. Larry Corey, an internationally renowned expert in virology, immunology and vaccine development and Emeritus President and Director of Fred Hutch, joined Gritstone’s Board of Directors.
In October 2022, Gritstone closed a private investment in public equity financing of $45 million of common stock and pre-funded warrants to support development of its ongoing and future preclinical and clinical programs.
Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results
Cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and restricted cash were $151.8 million as of September 30, 2022, compared to $223.5 million as of December 31, 2021.

Research and development expenses were $26.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022, compared to $24.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021. The increase of $2.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2021 was primarily due to increases of $1.6 million in personnel-related expenses, $1.0 million in outside services, consisting primarily of clinical trial and other chemistry, manufacturing and controls ("CMC") related expenses, and $0.6 million in facilities-related costs, offset by a decrease of $1.2 million in laboratory supplies.

General and administrative expenses were $6.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022, compared to $6.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021. The increase of $0.1 million was primarily attributable to an increase of $0.7 million in personnel-related expenses, offset by decreases of $0.4 million in outside services and $0.2 million in facilities-related costs.

Collaboration, license, and grant revenues were $3.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022, compared to $2.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021. The $0.4 million increase was primarily attributable to revenue recognized under the CEPI Funding Agreement in the amount of $2.1 million, offset by a decrease of $1.4 million related to collaboration revenue recognized under the Gilead Collaboration Agreement.

About Gritstone’s Oncology Programs
Gritstone’s two clinical stage oncology programs are developing Tumor-Specific Neoantigen (TSNA)-directed vaccine-based immunotherapies that use an adenoviral priming vector and samRNA boost vector ("prime-boost" approach) to deliver relevant neoantigens in combination with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). GRANITE, which is "individualized" and SLATE, which is "off-the-shelf," aim to induce a substantial neoantigen-specific CD8+ T cell response using neoantigen-containing immunotherapies. GRANITE patients receive a product candidate made specifically for them, based upon their tumor DNA/RNA sequence. In contrast, SLATE patients receive an off-the-shelf product candidate made for common driver mutations present in the patient’s tumor as well as the patient having a HLA allele that can present the common driver mutation.

About Gritstone’s Infectious Disease Programs
Gritstone’s infectious disease programs aim to deliver vaccines that drive durable and broad B cell and T cell immunity to deliver long-lasting clinical protection against viral disease, a clear unmet need in the field. All programs utilize Gritstone’s self-amplifying mRNA (samRNA) platform.

About the CORAL Program
Gritstone’s CORAL program is evaluating the company’s infectious disease approach, which is designed to drive both B cell and T cell immunity using self-amplifying mRNA (samRNA) against SARS-CoV-2. The program currently includes three ongoing Phase 1 trials: CORAL-BOOST, which is evaluating one construct in a boost setting (following primary series of currently-approved COVID-19 vaccines); CORAL-CEPI, which is evaluating multiple constructs in virus-naïve, convalescent, and HIV+ subjects in South Africa; and CORAL-NIH, which is being run by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) and is evaluating multiple constructs in previously vaccinated healthy volunteers. The program serves as proof-of-concept for the application of Gritstone’s platform against coronaviruses and other infectious diseases and is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, NIAID and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).