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Sorry, another BioNTech post here but may be of interest to some.

Ugur Sahin was presenting today at JP Morgan in San Francisco - copy of his presentation is available via the link below and well worth a read IMO. Some amazing stuff going on there although still very early stage.

There is a reference to TCRs on the slide titled 'Further development of engineered T cell therapies' (no. 35) with the comment "Plan to announce first TCRs for TCR engineered therapies". Could be absolutely anything of course but we can but hope.

https://investors.biontech.de/events-presentations

WTP

Yep, they already have a massive and incredibly diverse pipeline so good to see that they are still intent on buying in more!

Link below is to the announcement last week of a licensing deal between BioNTech and Isogenica, a Cambridge (UK) based privately held bio. Isogenica specialise in the discovery of VHH antibodies using their Llamda platform.

' Under the terms of the multimillion-pound agreement, Isogenica is eligible to receive an upfront payment, research funding and licence fees, as well as preclinical, clinical and sales milestones on LlamdA™ antibody-based therapeutics deriving from the collaboration.'

Just for clarity, VHH antibodies are different to monoclonal antibodies - they're also known as nanobodies and are isolated from camelid animals, in this case the llama!!

https://www.isogenica.com/isogenica-announces-multimillion-pound-agreement-with-recently-nasdaq-listed-biontech-se/

Link below to proactive interview with Ergomed's CFO, Richard Barfield

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfv6lSxqECQ&feature=emb_logo

Another peer reviewed research paper from LD and the Scancell team.

The article, 'Post-translational modifications such as citrullination are excellent targets for cancer therapy' was published on 10th January in the Seminars in Immunology journal.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1044532320300099

Ergomed announces the acquisition of Ashfield Pharmacovigilance Inc for $10m (cash) -

- Ashfield Pharmacovigilance Inc. reported $11.6 million revenue and $0.9 million adjusted EBITDA in the year to 30 September 2019

- is expected to be immediately accretive to earnings

- order book of contracted future revenues ("backlog") of $9.8 million

- provides a significant US pharmacovigilance presence and strengthens the US platform for the Ergomed CRO business

Good stuff.

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Good to see another defined candidate being prepared for the clinic and boosting Redx's pipeline.

Worth noting perhaps that Sam Waksal was the founder and CEO of Kadmon Pharmaceuticals. He stood down before their IPO onto the NYSE but his brother still runs the company. Like RXC007, Kadmon's lead product (KD025) is a ROCK2 inhibitor and is currently in phase II trials - also for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Redx's ROCK inhibitors programme and RXC007 specifically could be a factor in Sam Waksal's interest in Redx.

Wow

Please go back and read my post again with an open mind.

You have assumed that the whole point of my post was to demonstrate that Scancell are struggling, it wasn't. It was to highlight the interest being generated by research into CD4 T cells and that LD had identified a mechanism to trigger killer CD4 T cells years ago.

You asked me what the struggling comment was about - I answered, I haven't changed anything at all.

My comment: - 'I mean a struggle in terms of funding and growing the Company.'

Your reply - 'I would say the opposite'

You do realise that the opposite of my statement means that you believe funding has been easy? Where is it all then? What happened to those "ambitious US growth plans"? Have you forgotten that US investment roadshow?

I'm absolutely certain that RG, CH, JC and even David Evans would agree that that funding has been a struggle. Sadly, an all too common story for UK biotech.

Inanaco/Ruck,

I mean a struggle in terms of funding and growing the Company.

The link below is to a press announcement from UCL and I believe the research was funded by CRUK. There's been quite a bit of coverage and excitement in the national press about the 'breakthrough':-

'This new study built on previous research*, also led by Professors Sergio Quezada and Karl Peggs (both UCL Cancer Institute), which found that following immunotherapy some CD4+ T cells, traditionally thought to be ‘helper’ and ‘regulator’ immune cells, become cytotoxic and directly engage with and kill cancer cells'

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2020/jan/immune-cell-discovery-opens-door-new-powerful-cancer-therapies

This is from Scancell's Moditope RNS 7 years ago (yes it really has been that long!!):-

'Scancell Holdings Plc, (AIM:SCLP), the developer of therapeutic cancer vaccines, today announces the development of a new platform technology (ModitopeÔ) that stimulates the production of killer CD4 T cells with powerful anti-tumour activity.

CD4 responses to cancer associated antigens have been notoriously difficult to generate whether presented as peptides, proteins or DNA. CD4 cells are vital for effective anti-tumour immunity. Scancell has identified and patented a series of modified epitopes that overcome this limitation'

You can't help but wonder why it's such a struggle for Scancell.

https://investegate.co.uk/scancell-hlds--sclp-/rns/moditope-vaccine-technology-platform/201208151312040889K/

Chelsea,

No my email hasn't changed although I don't always remember to check that account as often as I should but still same email address.

Very sad to read about the death of world renowned immunology expert, Prof. Vincenzo Cerundolo, Director of the MRC Human Immunology Unit at the University Oxford.

Some may remember that he was a member of Lindy Durrant's Project Blueprint team in the CRUK Grand Challenge.

https://www.imm.ox.ac.uk/about/news/professor-vincenzo-cerundolo-frs-1959-2020

https://www.imm.ox.ac.uk/about/news/mrc-human-immunology-unit-group-leader-in-team-shortlisted-for-ps20m-cruk-grand-challenge-award

Chelsea,

Good to hear and glad you have had a chance to talk to David Evans. I have to say that I felt the reaction to his posts on this bb were a little unfair and appeared overly defensive. That comment isn't aimed at anybody in particular but it's all too easy with the written word to jump to completely the wrong conclusions regarding others and I felt there was an assumption that DE's position was negative. So I'm really pleased you took the chance to contact him and thanks for setting the record straight.

I would only echo comments earlier that it is well worth reading back over NXC's posting history on advfn - you'll gain invaluable insight into the mechanics of running and funding biotech. , the world of M&A and the reality of Scancell's position.

have no idea why that post was duplicated - wish lse would provide an edit facility

rats,

Fair comment and we all have to make our own judgement call as to how we view his posts.

Meant to add that I'm sorry to hear that you can't get out atm.

Chelsea, I don't think it's fair to say that there's no love lost between DE and Scancell. The message I get from his posts is that he is supportive and generally positive and don't forget that he added significantly to his holdings after the Vulpes investment. He is simply pragmatic and realistic and whilst it isn't always what we'd like to hear, it doesn't equate to negative.

His posts IMO provide a balanced view and an insight into the realities of the funding environment Scancell have to contend with.

Chelsea,

I believe it was primarily for health reasons. I understand that sadly he suffers from a chronic degenerative disease which will increasingly limit his mobility and that he only sits on the board of companies based in Scotland now. As for his authenticity, all I can say is that I have had a conversation with David Evans via linkedin and he confirmed that he was indeed posting as NXC on Advfn. I wouldn't want anyone to take my word for it though and strongly suggest folks check for themselves. Earlier in the year he invited anyone who had doubts to contact him on 07740084452 or his email address at mbaconsultancy@aol.com.

Chelsea,

I think the comment regarding JC correcting CH came from RayPointer and he was referring to a discussion in the Q&A section at the AGM when the BOD were asked about funding (Ray - apologies if I'm wrong) . If that's the case then I remember it the other way round, ie. it was CH correcting JC. JC stated that they had cash to take them into 2021 and CH subsequently qualified the timeline to say end of 2020/start of 2021. We'll have a much clearer idea with the publication of the interims in a couple of weeks or so.

As for David Evans, all I would say is that it is very easy to check whether he is genuine or not. He has invited anyone to telephone or write to him but easier still to contact him via linkedin.

Inanaco - lol, perhaps a tiny, tiny bit less risk but certainly not no risk.