Scancell partnership with Cancer Research moves closer to clinic

(Sharecast News) - Immunotherapy developer Scancell Holdings updated the market on its clinical development partnership with Cancer Research UK for the development of the ;ImmunoBody' vaccine, SCIB2, as a potential treatment for patients with solid tumours, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), on Monday.The AIM-traded firm said its ImmunoBody immunotherapy platform "activated" the body's immune system by enhancing the uptake and presentation of cancer antigens, to help target and eliminate cancer cells.SCIB2, Scancell's second ImmunoBody therapy, targeted an antigen called 'NY-ESO-1', which was expressed on a range of solid tumours including NSCLC, oesophageal, ovarian, bladder and prostate cancers, neuroblastoma, melanoma and sarcoma.Pre-clinical studies had demonstrated that administration of SCIB2 as a liposomal nanoparticle resulted in "potent" immune responses and prolonged survival.The nanoparticle technology utilised known lipid carriers that were optimised to deliver SCIB2 DNA to immune cells.Scancell said the liposomal nanoparticles protected the DNA from degradation, and facilitated efficient uptake, expression and T-cell activation against cancer cells.The nanoparticle delivery system provided an alternative approach to electroporation, which had been used to deliver other ImmunoBody agents to patients.Cancer Research UK was now planning a clinical trial to investigate the safety and efficacy of the SCIB2-nanoparticle complex in patients with solid tumours."We are delighted to announce this important milestone in our partnership with Cancer Research UK, which moves us one step closer to entering the clinic," said Scancell chief executive officer Dr Cliff Holloway."This new nanoparticle approach to deliver SCIB2 is expected to achieve results that are as effective as, or even better than, electroporation."We believe SCIB2 has the potential to provide a much-needed treatment option for patients suffering from a range of common solid tumours including NSCLC, the most frequent cause of cancer death globally."Dr Nigel Blackburn, Cancer Research UK's director of drug development, added that the organisation was pleased to see advances in the innovative vaccine, which could bring about urgently needed improvements for some cancers."Our collaboration with Scancell, combining extensive expertise and experience in drug development, will help bring this treatment to the patients that need it sooner."