Roundtable Discussion; The Future of Mineral Sands. Watch the video here.
Looking at Scancell’s website they have 5 antibodies.
One of these is the one that Scancell hope to bring into the clinic themselves.
Then there is SC129, the one that they have done a deal with Genmab. The RNS 22 Oct’22 states “Genmab has been granted the exclusive right to develop and commercialise the Scancell antibody in multiple novel potential therapeutic products for any and all potential disease areas, excluding cell therapy applications.”
So Scancell were clearly happy for Genmab to have exclusivity over that antibody (excluding cell therapy applications, which I understand Genmab did not want so there was no sense in lady giving it away).
That leaves 3 other antibodies.
At the recent investor presentation, when talking about the 5 companies interested in the antibodies, Lindy said the trouble is they all want exclusivity (Or words to that effect, I can’t remember precisely).
“Exclusivity” is a bit unclear, or at least it is to me. E.g. 2 companies might be interested in one antibody, 2 companies interested in another antibody and 1 company interested the remaining antibody (other combinations are available). All 5 companies might even want exclusivity over all 3 antibodies and perhaps even any antibodies that Scancell might develop in the future?
Hi Cleaner,
I couldn't find anything about storage either but it is "off the shelf". With Moderna now looking at off the shelf (albeit mrna) let's hope the press coverage will draw attention to Scancell's off the shelf vaccine :-
https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2024/02/04/new-mrna-cancer-vaccine-from-moderna-trialled-in-british-patients/
This is part of what David Pinato says (This is all copied from the above link):-
He said the vaccine being tested in the trial is an “off-the-shelf vaccine” rather than one that is tailored to each individual patient.
While personalised vaccines can be very effective, they can take weeks to make and rely on a large tumour sample.
There is also not enough data at present to say whether personalised vaccines are in fact better than broader cancer vaccines, he said.
The Moderna vaccine, he added, is looking at specific traits across a number of tumours.
“It’s basically looking at what is the most frequent hit that you can target in cancer?,” he said.
“And so that has got incredible advantages in terms of the turnaround time, the fact you can make doses of the vaccines ahead of time even before meeting the patient. That is really the advantage.”
Dr David Pinato is named in Rob23460's link and Cleaner's first link. He is the Investigator of the UK arm of Moderna's mRNA-4359 "ready made" vaccine.
I thought the name was familiar. He is also Principle Investigator in Scancell's Modi-1 trial:-
Dr David Pinato, Principal Investigator at Imperial College, commented: “Advanced ovarian cancer is an aggressive cancer which is hard to treat. A disease control rate of 44% with Modi-1 in patients who have exhausted most treatment options is very encouraging”.
Lindy was asked about the Presentation at the AGM, at about 50 minutes in she says :-
“It’s postponed for 2 reasons one is we weren’t allowed to do it while we were in that post period so until the accounts were out that’s why it all got delayed and everything we couldn’t quite get it together then we were right up against the AGM so we thought it was better to do the AGM and then perhaps waited a couple of months or something before we then do another one in which we do much ..INAUDIBLE.. so in certain this was part of it basically giving you an update now as part of the AGM which is what we’ve done but we were happy to talk to bigger share? …INAUDIBLE”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=say9mRBFzCo
Unfortunately a couple of possibly important bits were not audible to me. I don't know if anyone can hear what she says.
I was looking back at this thread from 4 January’24. This is the link that was being discussed:-
Https://www.lgbco.com/quoted-landing-page/the-future-of-healthcare/scancell/
This was not discussed at the time but it stood out to me:-
“Finally, the recruitment of a new cohort for the MODI trial with double checkpoints. They need about 10 new renal cancer patients.”
This implies to me that the results for renal cancer patients aren’t quite there yet with MODI 1 plus a single checkpoint. This is backed up by what we know about the renal cancer patient on the MM site (Patient 2 in Cohort 4) who has only seen a small if any reduction in her tumour.
However the flip side to this is there is no mention of a new head and neck cohort with double checkpoints. This leads me to the conclusion that the head and neck patients on MODI 1 plus a single checkpoint might be doing very well indeed (AIMHO as a layman).
This would fit in with the limited information we have on the MODI 1 trial results.
We know how well Trish (the head and neck patient on MODI 1 monotherapy) did for a number of months.
In the Guardian interview, talking about Modi-1, Lindy says:- “It looks most promising as a treatment for head and neck cancer, where “surgery is quite debilitating and … it’s very disfiguring,” though Durrant cautions: “I don’t think it will be for every patient.”
We also know that the first patient in Cohort 4 had tumour regression at their first scan. Admitted we don’t know if this is a head and neck or a renal cancer patient. (The RNS 31 July’23 states “Modi-1 treatment were well tolerated in Cohort 4 with no safety concerns. Encouragingly, the first patient to be assessed has shown a tumour regression at their first radiological assessment at 8 weeks. The remaining patients have not yet been assessed radiologically.”).
Perhaps Lindy is referring to the head and neck patients positive trial results when she says “The plan is to raise further cash next year on the back of what they anticipate will be positive trial results, and the quantum mentioned was £30-60m, at what she hopes will be at a higher level.” (This comment WAS in the above link but the page was updated 18 January’24 and this has now mysteriously disappeared; see the discussion).
I guess that all we can do is wait and see.
I see that Scancell have updated the shareholder information page on their website:-
https://www.scancell.co.uk/share-info
The takeaways for me are:-
None of the new investors are named as “significant shareholders”, so they must each hold less than 3%. By my calculations New institutional and life science specialist investors will hold a total of 65,867,997 shares (7.1%) between them.
Interestingly, Calculus Capital has not sold any shares since before 26 October’23. On that date Calculus held 34,039,009 shares and they still hold this same number of shares. This surprised me because they had been selling about 700,000 shares per month in the previous 5 months.
Scancell have also updated Share Capital details at Companies House:-
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/06564638/filing-history
I apologise to all LTH’s who are probably fully aware of this and only mention it because I cannot see that anyone else has.
I see that Scancell did attend this conference 9 years ago, They issued the following RNS the day the conference started:-
https://www.lse.co.uk/rns/SCLP/positive-scib1-phase-12-clinical-trial-update-mjhl8614587x4ev.html
I wonder if there will be a RNS tomorrow?
TF Thank you for your comments, I appreciate it. Yes, Dr. Akudo Anyanwu was moderating but it is worth mentioning that Dr. Larry Schlesinger, President & CEO of Texas Biomed was one of the 3 other people on the panel at the New York meeting (This is the guy who answered the question about Covidity in the Texas Biomed video of 13 December’23).
C11 “What we absolutely do know, is that not a penny of the new bucket of cash will be going anywhere near Covidity.”
I completely agree with your comment. As we know the new money is going into SCIB1/ iSCIB1+ clinical development, ModiFY additional cohorts and additional runway for partnering / out-licensing of antibodies as a source of non-dilutive cash.
However, this is part of my argument. The KSAT Texas Biomed video 1 October’23 stated “The research team is now waiting for official approval to move into primate studies, hopefully followed by FDA human clinical trials.”
If Scancell won’t be funding this then who will be?
I think that it could be Project NextGen / BARDA; this is a link to their latest funding:-
https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/10/13/project-nextgen-selects-initial-vaccine-candidates-awards-over-500-million-advance-development-vaccines-therapeutics.html
It is also worth mentioning that Texas Biomed announced a partnership with BARDA on 13 December’22-
https://www.txbiomed.org/news-press/news/barda-contract/
“The new designation as a prime contractor opens Texas Biomed to a portfolio of up to $100 million in funding over five years through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. BARDA oversees advanced research and development of medical countermeasures – vaccines, treatments and diagnostics – for public health emergencies stemming from infectious disease outbreaks, as well as chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear incidents and attacks.”
(Continued from my previous post)
Dr Judy Monroe “During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC Foundation supported the work of CDC, U.S. public health departments and low- and middle-income countries. Under Dr. Monroe’s leadership, the CDC Foundation provided support to disproportionately affected populations; procured personal protection equipment for frontline health workers; supported critical research, hired more than 4,000 surge staff; and provided technical assistance and grants to more than 350 community-based organizations”.
I know Covidity can sometimes be as divisive as Brexit on here, but it is not beyond the realms of possibility that it was mentioned at this meeting. (AIMHO)
CDC Foundation’s Facebook Page 21 September’23 states:-
“Global health security involves building strong, resilient public health systems to prevent, detect and respond to outbreaks and health emergencies. This week, our President and CEO Dr. Judy Monroe joined Texas Biomedical Research Institute and CDC experts for a United Nations General Assembly side meeting exploring how partnerships have real impact in public health. #UNGA”
Texas Biomedical Research Institute’s Facebook Page 22 September’23 states:-
“Texas Biomed proudly took part in a side event to the United Nations General Assembly #UNGA78 this week in NYC. The Assembly addresses some of the most pressing social and public health issues around the world. Alongside the CDC Foundation, we hosted a discussion about pandemic preparedness and pivoting during an infectious disease crisis. It was fantastic to bring together experts including Dr. Henry Walke, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s Office of Readiness and Response, Dr. Judy Monroe, President & CEO of the CDC Foundation, Dr. Larry Schlesinger, President & CEO of Texas Biomed and Dr. Kayla Laserson, Director of CDC Global Health Center to discuss these topics with moderator Dr. Akudo Anyanwu, Texas Biomed's VP of Development. It is critical to take the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and turn them into action so we can protect more people from the next emerging threat. #infectiousdiseases #pandemicpreparedness #unitednations #globalhealth #publichealth”
Separately this information on some of the attendees:-
“Dr. Walke served as incident manager of CDC’s COVID-19 response from July 2020 through September 2021, and as a chief CDC spokesperson. Under his leadership, the COVID-19 response published 8 scientific briefs and over 600 articles in the “Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report” and the scientific literature. Over 9,000 CDC employees were involved in the response during his tenure there.”
“Kayla Laserson, ScD, SM, FASTMH, is the Director for the Global Health Center (GHC) where she leads CDC’s global efforts to protect and improve health through science, policy, partnership, and evidence-based public health action. Prior to becoming the director for GHC, Dr. Laserson served as the deputy director for Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Delivery, India Office of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) where she focused on programmatic support to the government of India and partners on TB, neglected tropical diseases, malaria, and vaccine delivery. Dr. Laserson also led the BMGF’s COVID-19 response in India from 2020-2022.”
(Continued on next post)
Hi Jackdaw,
Apologies if you have already seen this link; if you haven't it is relevant to what you are discussing and is worth watching.
46 minutes into the video the lady on the left raises a question to Dr. Larry Schlesinger, president and CEO of the Texas Biomedical Research Institute. The question is clearly about Scancell’s Covidity (Though no one names this):-
https://sanantonioreport.org/san-antonio-growing-biosciences-industry-bexar-county-jobs/
I interpret that 7,077,866 of the shares available in the Open Offer were not taken up. So it looks like all valid applications will be met in full.
Dr Sally Adams spent £1,000.01 on 9,091 Open Offer Shares. She held 69,623 shares previously; so she took up more than her 1,547 entitlement (1 for 45).
I suspect that Redmile and Vulpes did not take up their respective Open Offer entitlements of 5,341,652 and 2,616,200 shares. If that is the case their holdings will be:-
Redmile will hold 268,616,936 shares (28.95%).
Vulpes will hold 119,910,847 shares (12.92%).
New institutional and life science specialist investors will hold 65,867,997 shares (7.1%).
At 26 October’23 Calculus held 34,039,009 shares, this would now equate to 3.67%. Given that they had been selling about 700,000 shares per month their holding is now probably lower. I strongly suspect that they did not take up shares in the Open Offer.
AIMHO
At the AGM Lindy was asked about Texas Biomedical. Lindy said that all they were doing was a toxicity study and that the only place they could do it was in the States. She said it was more for a publication than anything else and that it wasn’t for approval to get into a trial or anything else.
Compare that with the following video. 46 minutes in the lady on the left raises a question to Dr. Larry Schlesinger, president and CEO of the Texas Biomedical Research Institute. The question is clearly about Scancell’s Covidity (Though no one names this):-
https://sanantonioreport.org/san-antonio-growing-biosciences-industry-bexar-county-jobs/
I suspect that there is more to this than Lindy was able to let on at the AGM.
I think that the Open Offer will be fully taken up, but only due to some people applying for more than their 1 for 45 allocation.
Some shareholders simply won’t have the funds or won’t want to commit further funds. I was in two minds but in the end I applied for my allocation plus a very small number more (Only to bring my holding up to a round number of shares).
We also have sellers such as Calculus Capital who are (AIMHO) unlikely to take up any shares in the Open Offer. Their share holding information is as follows:-
18 May’23 37,546,331
26 October’23 34,039,009
It can be seen that they were reducing their holding by about 700,000 shares per month during this period.
It will be interesting to see if Redmile, Vulpes, Lindy and Dr Sally Adams buy shares in the Open Offer.
Turning to the Placing. 96,292,367 were issued in the Placing. Redmile and Vulpes took up 28,242,552 and 2,181,818 respectively.
That leaves 65,867,997 shares [i.e. 96,292,367 minus (28,242,552 + 2,181,818)]
New institutional and life science specialist investors will hold these 65,867,997 shares (This will equate to 7.045% of total shares after the Placing, Subscription and Open Offer).
It will be interesting to find out who the New institutional and life science specialist investors are.
Hi Violindog,
Listening to the AGM recording I interpret that Scancell has now done a preclinical mouse safety study with iSCIB1+.
At 22 to 23 minutes in (talking about iSCIB1+) Lindy says “We have submitted a proposal to put in a 3rd part to the cohort to the MHRA and we are still in discussion with them about whether we can do that and how fast we can do that but we have done an additional toxicity study to ensure we get compliance on that one as well”.
(I am assuming that preclinical mouse study = toxicity study)
https://youtu.be/say9mRBFzCo
I am certainly not an expert at this but it looks very positive to me.
Lindy and Jean-Michel Cossery are buying £80,000 of shares between them @ 11 pence = 727,273 shares (Marginally above today’s closing price). That shows commitment and belief in the science.
NEW institutional investors is good news:-
“New and existing institutional and certain other investors to raise approximately £6 million (the "Placing") at an issue price of 11.0 pence per Ordinary Share (the "Issue Price")”.
Thank you Bermuda.
I remember the discussion well. At the time I had read the Fortune Research article (Added to Scancell’s website 26 May’23 under “vaccine publications”) to compare it to the earlier version of the article. You then pointed out that the differences between the 2 papers could be found much more easily.
For the benefit of others, who like myself, were unaware of this; click on the link in item 2 in Bermuda’s 19.17. Then click on “Revision Summary” at the top right of the document. You will see that it states:-
“Results section revised to include data from additional dosing regimens, immune response analysis in rats and additional cytokine analysis. Additional data also added to on efficacy in live virus challenge model and immune responses against additional SARS CoV2 variants. Figures 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 revised. Supplementary files revised and updated. Additional authors and affiliation added.”
Note that the earlier version only makes reference to the Alpha and Beta variants. The new publication also makes reference to the Delta variant.
Then we have the KSAT news article published 1 October’23, this states:-
“The research team is now waiting for official approval to move into primate studies, hopefully followed by FDA human clinical trials.”
https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2023/10/02/new-type-of-covid-vaccine-showing-promise-at-texas-biomed/
It would be interesting to know how these studies / clinical trials would be funded, given the company’s decision to concentrate on its lead cancer vaccines, SCIB1 and Modi-1. Personally I would not rule out funding from “Project NextGen”.