Gritstone Bio to Present What is Likely Spectacular Data at ID Week

Boston, in just under two weeks, will play host to a potentially monumental event in the sphere of biotechnology. Gritstone Bio, hailing from Emeryville, California, is gearing up to reveal what might be groundbreaking data at ID Week. Let's delve deep and explore why the stakes are so high, and why optimism is soaring around Gritstone.

The Journey to Boston: More Than Meets the Eye

Would the team from Gritstone travel for over six hours, potentially facing the exhausting rigors of connecting flights, and spend nights in hotels away from home, just to deliver lukewarm news? Unlikely. When a company chooses a prestigious platform like ID Week, and a time slot when the market has ample time to digest the information, it can only mean they have something game-changing to share. A lackluster report would typically be discreetly slipped out late on a nondescript Friday evening.

A Dive into the Science: The Future of Vaccines?

Gritstone is all set to unveil the 12-month antibody readout for its innovative Covid-19 samRNA vaccine candidate. For those unfamiliar, the self-amplifying mRNA (samRNA) is a groundbreaking platform that's known for scalability, wide applicability, and the potential to induce long-lasting immunity. Unlike traditional mRNA vaccines, samRNA works by producing multiple antigen RNA copies in cells, which might lead to more prolonged and intensified antigen expression. The implications of this are vast, especially in our ongoing battle against the mutating SARS-CoV-2.

The BARDA Connection: A Testament to Gritstone's Promise

The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) is a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' arm, dedicated to supporting the advanced research and development, acquisition, and stockpiling of medical countermeasures against serious public health threats. Landing a BARDA contract is, in essence, a huge vote of confidence in one's technology and potential.

Recently, Gritstone secured a whopping $433 million contract with BARDA, underscoring its credibility. This funding aims to facilitate a study involving 10,000 participants to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of Gritstone's samRNA vaccine compared to existing Covid-19 vaccines. Such an initiative, backed by a leading authority like BARDA, only reiterates the monumental potential Gritstone is holding.

The Previous Studies: A Glowing Beacon

On April 17th, 2023, Gritstone had showcased the six-month antibody data from its vaccine studies. The results were not only encouraging but suggested that Gritstone might be on the brink of revolutionizing vaccine technology. Their vaccines consistently showcased robust antibody responses, proving effective across diverse settings and populations.

The Stock Market Riddle

It's intriguing to observe Gritstone's stock price trajectory around the period when the 12-month data would have been finalized. A drastic drop, followed by a sizeable contract from BARDA, does lead one to question the transparency of market movements. With billions at stake, and the potential to develop an enhanced vaccine mechanism that might transcend the boundaries of just Covid-19, Gritstone stands at the precipice of monumental success.

Gritstone stock starts to drop for no reason right around the time when the 12-month antibody data would have been finalized. And then they suddenly get a massive BARDA contract when the price bottoms out? Highly suspicious and indicative of Wall Street manipulation.

Did Moderna, BioNTech, or Pfizer get a BARDA contract for a second generation Covid-19 vaccine? No. And these companies are worth combined more than $250 BILLION.

Even after the BARDA announcement, Gritstone still only has a market cap of $160M. Yes, that’s right, million, with an M. Remember back in 2020 when everything was upside down and governments were scrambling to mitigate the virus? Moderna got a $483 million dollar contract to make a novel Covid vaccine. At the time Moderna had a $9 billion dollar market cap.

That means Gritstone, a company worth 1.7% of what Moderna was at the time, got a similarly sized BARDA contract. Why? Because their 12-month antibody data is likely amazing.

The Potential Future: A New Dawn for Vaccination?

Imagine a Covid vaccine where antibodies last for a year or more. It could mean fewer booster shots, more extended protection against variants, and a significant stride towards global herd immunity. Given the vast implications, it's no wonder that Gritstone's anticipated data has the investors and researchers waiting with bated breath.

Gritstone's prospects seem brighter than ever. If this biotech gem partners with giants like Pfizer, Moderna, or BioNTech, the sky is genuinely the limit. While predicting stock market movements is more art than science, one thing is clear: Gritstone's journey is one worth watching, as it might redefine the future of global health, and monster buyout premiums.