– USA, CA – Gritstone Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: GRTS), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing the next generation of cancer immunotherapies to fight multiple cancer types, today announced that Elaine V. Jones, Ph.D., has joined its Board of Directors, replacing Peter Svennilson, founder of the Column Group and co-lead Series A investor in Gritstone.
“Elaine’s distinguished background in building and growing innovative biotech companies with two decades of life sciences venture capital experience, over 20 seats on life science company boards, and direct experience within biopharma research and business development, will bring a powerful perspective to our board of directors,” said Andrew Allen, M.D., Ph.D., co-founder, president and CEO, Gritstone Oncology. “We will undoubtedly benefit from her breadth of expertise as we advance our portfolio of differentiated immunotherapies, and we look forward to reporting our first clinical data in December of this year.”
“Additionally, I would like to thank Peter for his numerous and important contributions since joining the company as a founding investor and board member.”
About Dr Elaine Jones
Dr. Jones was most recently vice president, worldwide business development and senior partner at Pfizer Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of Pfizer Inc. During her tenure from 2008 to 2019, Dr. Jones was responsible for managing biotechnology and healthcare investments for Pfizer, as well as serving on the board of directors for several biotechnology companies. Prior to this, Dr. Jones held the position of general partner at EuclidSR Partners, a venture firm specializing in private investment in both private and public equity within the health sciences, healthcare, biopharmaceutical sectors. Dr. Jones began her investing career in 1999 at S.R. One, the corporate investment fund of GlaxoSmithKline. During her venture career, she served on the boards of more than 20 early to mid-stage biotechnology, therapeutic and pharmaceutical companies. Previously, Dr. Jones was the director of scientific licensing at SmithKline Beecham and a research scientist in the research and development division of SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals.
Dr. Jones added, “Gritstone has created a pioneering artificial intelligence platform that, when coupled with their novel therapeutic programs, has the potential to deliver on the enormous potential of immunotherapy. I am excited to be joining the board of directors at such a pivotal time for the company.”
She received a B.S. in biology from Juniata College and a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Pittsburgh.
About Gritstone Oncology
Gritstone Oncology, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, is developing the next generation of cancer immunotherapies to fight multiple cancer types. Gritstone develops its products by leveraging two key pillars—first, a proprietary machine learning-based platform, Gritstone EDGE, which is designed to predict, from a routine tumor biopsy, the tumor-specific neoantigens that are presented on a patient’s tumor cells; and second, the ability to develop and manufacture potent immunotherapies utilizing patients’ TSNA to potentially drive the patient’s immune system to specifically attack and destroy tumors. The company’s lead product candidate, GRANITE, is personalized neoantigen-based immunotherapy in Phase 1 clinical testing. Gritstone’s second product candidate, SLATE, is a shared neoantigen, “off-the-shelf” immunotherapy which is also being evaluated in Phase 1 clinical study. Novel tumor-specific antigens can also provide targets for bispecific antibody therapeutics for solid tumors, and Gritstone’s BiSAb program is currently in lead optimization.
For more information: https://gritstoneoncology.com
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