With the development and commercialization of immunotherapy drugs such as checkpoint inhibitors, the field of immuno-oncology is transforming the treatment of patients with cancer. However, cures remain elusive, and many cancer patients experience only modest clinical benefit.
First generation COVID-19 vaccines generate a strong antibody response against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. These vaccines elicit neutralizing antibodies that can recognize the surface Spike protein of the virus and attack it before it infects cells. However, antibody responses may wane over time and long-term durability of protection remains unknown. Additionally, mutations in SARS-CoV-2 continuously arise, including in the Spike protein, and may further reduce clinical protection derived from...
Gritstone’s prime-boost vaccine platform is designed to elicit a significant T-cell response (particularly CD8+ cytotoxic T cells) against disease-specific targets that are engineered into the vaccine. Given the well-established role of CD8+ T cells in the elimination of virally infected cells, this approach may prove highly beneficial in the treatment of infectious diseases, such as HIV. The vaccine platform can accommodate a large cassette payload capacity, enabling the inclusion of multiple viral...