Last checked at 9 Aug 2018 07:00
9 August 2018
Scancell Holdings Plc
("Scancell" or the "Company")
Scancell extends Moditope collaboration with Karolinska Institute
Broadens cancer immunotherapy development potential for Moditope platform
Scancell Holdings plc, the developer of novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, today announces that it has extended its strategic research collaboration with the Rheumatology Unit at the Karolinska Institute Sweden. The expanded agreement will explore the potential of the Moditope® platform to develop multiple immunotherapeutic agents for a range of different cancers.
Scancell's Moditope® platform technology uses citrullinated tumour-associated peptide epitopes to stimulate the production of killer CD4+ T cells. The activated T cells seek out and kill tumour cells that would otherwise be hidden from the immune system. Scientists at the Rheumatology Unit at the Karolinska Institute, led by Professors Lars Klareskog and Vivianne Malmström, previously uncovered an essential role for citrullinated proteins in the pathogenesis of the autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis.
This collaboration builds on the previous agreement, announced on 11 March 2016, which allowed the parties to explore how immunity to citrullinated proteins is involved in the control of tumour growth for the development of cancer vaccines. Broadening this agreement will allow further investigation into the potential of Moditope® for any cancer immunotherapy, including, T-Cell Receptor based therapeutics.
Professor Lindy Durrant, Chief Scientific Officer of Scancell, commented:
"We are pleased to have broadened our research collaboration with Professor Klareskog, Professor Malmström and their colleagues at the Karolinska Institute. Our research has shown that citrullinated proteins are involved in the control of tumour growth and we believe that this expanded collaboration will help us to develop Moditope®, not only for use in cancer vaccines, but also as part of other cancer immunotherapy approaches."
Professor Lars Klareskog, MD, PhD, at Karolinska Institutet, added:
"The collaboration with Scancell will allow us to investigate the relationships between autoimmunity and cancer and the therapeutic opportunities that may be uncovered from such studies."
For Further Information:
Scancell Holdings Plc | ||
Dr John Chiplin, Chairman | +44 (0) 20 3727 1000 | |
Dr Cliff Holloway, CEO | ||
Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited (Nominated Adviser and Corporate broker) | ||
Freddy Crossley/Emma Earl | +44 (0) 20 7886 2500 | |
FTI Consulting Mo Noonan/Simon Conway | +44 (0) 20 3727 1000 |
About Scancell
Scancell is developing novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer based on its ImmunoBody® and Moditope® technology platforms.
ImmunoBody® vaccines target dendritic cells and stimulate both parts of the cellular immune system. They can be used as monotherapy or in combination with checkpoint inhibitors. This platform has the potential to enhance tumour destruction, prevent disease recurrence and extend survival.
· SCIB1, the lead programme, is being developed for the treatment of melanoma. A phase 1/2 clinical trial has so far successfully demonstrated survival data of more than five years.
· SCIB2 is being developed for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and other solid tumours. Scancell has entered into a clinical development partnership with Cancer Research UK for SCIB2.
Moditope® represents a completely new class of potent and selective immunotherapy agents. It stimulates the production of killer CD4+ T cells which overcome the immune suppression induced by tumours. allowing activated T cells to seek out and kill tumour cells that would otherwise be hidden from the immune system. Moditope® alone, or in combination with other agents, has the potential to treat a wide variety of cancers.
· Modi-1 is being developed for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer, ovarian cancer and sarcomas.
For further details, please see our website: www.scancell.co.uk
About Karolinska Institutet
Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities. Its vision is to significantly contribute to the improvement of human health. Karolinska Institutet accounts for over 40 per cent of the medical academic research conducted in Sweden and offers the country´s broadest range of education in medicine and health sciences. The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet selects the Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine.