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(Alliance News) - Scancell Holdings PLC said Friday it has created a research programme to develop a vaccine for Covid-19.
Shares in Scancell were 65% higher in London on Friday at midday at 8.35 pence each.
The cancer immunotherapy treatment firm said the project will be led by Lindy Durrant, chief scientific officer & professor of Cancer Immunotherapy at the University of Nottingham.
Scancell's DNA vaccines target dendritic cells to stimulate high avidity T cells that survey and destroy diseased cells.
Scancell's DNA vaccine will target the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein and the key receptor-binding domain of the spike protein to generate both T cell responses and virus neutralising antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is the virus strain that causes coronavirus disease 2019.
The nucleocapsid protein is highly conserved amongst coronaviruses, Scancell said, therefore, this new vaccine has the potential to generate protection not only against SARS-CoV-2, but also against new strains of coronavirus that may arise in the future.
Durrant said: "As the Covid-19 pandemic has unfolded, Scancell has been evaluating how it can best contribute its expertise and resources to help in the global response. Vaccines are the long-term solution and we believe our combined high avidity T cell and neutralising antibody approach has the potential to produce a second-generation vaccine that will generate an effective and durable immune response to Covid-19."
Scancell is hoping to begin Phase I clinical trials in the first quarter of 2021, subject to funding. The company is "actively" seeking development partners and additional funding to support the "rapid" development of this vaccine.
By Paul McGowan; paulmcgowan@alliancenews.com
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