Gritstone Oncology Devising COVID-19 Vaccine Targeting Future Strains

Emeryville, Calif.-based Gritstone Oncology is developing a novel COVID-19 vaccine based on adenovirus and messenger-RNA technology designed to combat future variants of the coronavirus.

The company has secured preclinical funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and has entered into an agreement with the National Institutes of Health to launch a phase 1 trial this year.

Gritstone’s strategy is to target additional viral antigens beyond the spike protein, which most vaccine developers have focused on so far, aiming to induce immunity to future coronavirus-caused infections.

“Gritstone’s vaccine may provide more comprehensive viral protection by inducing a better combination of T-cell responses and neutralizing antibodies as compared to the currently available vaccines,” said lead investigator Daniel Hoft of St. Louis University.