Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

GRTS—The negative investor reaction may be due to the modification of the trial to evaluate a second booster dose of GRTS’ vaccine (in patients who were initially vaccinated with AZN’s vaccine); from the PR:

Based on these positive Phase 1 data, Gritstone is amending this trial to increase enrollment to 120 subjects and evaluate the addition of a second samRNA-Spike-TCE dose, potentially enabling more rapid advancement into a pivotal study.

This statement is counterintuitive insofar as it will take longer to evaluate two booster doses than a single booster dose, which will presumably slow down the program rather than speeding it up. Moreover, the decision to add a second booster dose could be interpreted as a tacit admission of insufficient efficacy for the single-dose booster.