Scancell Holdings Regulatory News (SCLP)

10 October 2017

Scancell Holdings Plc

("Scancell" or the "Company")

Scancell appoints Dr Cliff Holloway as Chief Executive Officer

Experienced life sciences executive with in-depth oncology expertise

Scancell Holdings plc, ('Scancell' or the 'Company') the developer of novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Cliff Holloway as Chief Executive Officer of Scancell, starting 10 January 2018. Cliff will seek to drive progress of Scancell's immunotherapy platforms ImmunoBody® and Moditope® and oversee their commercialisation. Cliff succeeds Richard Goodfellow who will remain on the Company's Board of Directors.

Cliff has over twenty five years' experience in the life sciences industry. He has held executive management and directorship positions within the biopharmaceutical and diagnostics industry over this period, providing expertise in the development and commercialisation of emerging technologies and drug products, including licensing, M&A, corporate financing, and operations management.

Cliff joins Scancell from Benitec Biopharma Ltd, where he held the role of Chief Business and Operating Officer. Prior to this, he was Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Sienna Cancer Diagnostics Ltd. He also held the position of Chief Executive Officer at Immune System Therapeutics Ltd. and Biosceptre International Ltd. Cliff has a strong pre-existing relationship with Scancell having been the VP of Business Development at Arana Therapeutics Limited when Scancell sold their portfolio of monoclonal antibodies to Arana in 2006. Arana was subsequently acquired by US-based Cephalon Inc. (now Teva) in 2009.

Cliff holds a Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy and a Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Nottingham.

John Chiplin, Executive Chairman of Scancell, commented: 

"If it wasn't for the significant achievements of Dr Richard Goodfellow, Scancell would not be in the position it's in today. We are about to embark on a Phase 2 checkpoint inhibitor combination study with our ImmunoBody® vaccine, SCIB1, in melanoma; and our lead Moditope®, Modi-1, is progressing rapidly towards the clinic. I would like to thank Richard wholeheartedly for his hard work and substantial contribution to the business, and look forward to continue working alongside him on the Board of Directors.

I would also like to welcome Dr Cliff Holloway to Scancell. Cliff's extensive experience and accomplishments speak volumes and his expertise in cancer therapeutics will be invaluable as we drive our immunotherapy vaccines through the clinic, with the aim to provide new treatment options for patients with debilitating cancers."

Richard Goodfellow, current Chief Executive Officer of Scancell, added:

"The appointment of Cliff as CEO will ensure that Scancell has a leader with the right mix of skills to guide the Company into its next phase of growth. Cliff is an experienced deal maker which combined with his deep understanding of the science makes him an ideal choice for the job. I have known Cliff for over 10 years and very much look forward to supporting him in his new position."

Commenting on his appointment, Dr Cliff Holloway said:

"Having cemented a business relationship with Scancell in 2006 I have since followed the Company's significant progress with great interest. I am delighted to be joining the Scancell team at this exciting time in the Company's evolution and look forward to building on the many achievements to date, and to progressing these important new cancer therapies for patients."

Prof. Lindy Durrant, Chief Scientific Officer, added:

"I am deeply indebted to Richard for his hard work, support and boundless enthusiasm over the last 17 years which has allowed us to build the Company into the business it is today. Richard's experience and involvement will continue to benefit Scancell in years to come and we are delighted that he will remain working with the Board."

Dr Clifford Michael Holloway (age 57) is, or has been in the previous five years, a director or partner of the following companies:

Dr Cliff Holloway was appointed as a CEO of Immune System Therapeutics Limited on 4 October 2012. On 3 October 2014, the company was placed into administration and dissolved on 14 January 2015. The deficiency as regards to creditors was approximately AUD$2.75 million on the total admitted claims of AUD$2.98 million.

Dr Cliff Holloway does not have an interest in any ordinary shares of Scancell.

The Company confirms that there is no further information to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 17 or Schedule Two paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies.

For Further Information:

About Scancell

Scancell is developing novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer based on its ImmunoBody® and Moditope® technology platforms.

Scancell's first ImmunoBody®, SCIB1 is being developed for the treatment of melanoma. Data from the Phase 1/2 clinical trial demonstrate that SCIB1, when used as monotherapy, has a marked effect on tumour load, produces a melanoma-specific immune response and highly encouraging survival trend without serious side effects. In patients with resected disease there is increasing evidence to suggest that SCIB1 may delay or prevent disease recurrence.

Scancell's ImmunoBody® vaccines target dendritic cells and stimulate both parts of the cellular immune system: the helper cell system where inflammation is stimulated at the tumour site and the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte or CTL response where immune system cells are primed to recognise and kill specific cells.

Pre-clinical data on a combination of SCIB1 or SCIB2 and checkpoint inhibition (blockade of the PD-1 or CTLA-4 immune checkpoint pathways) have shown enhanced tumour destruction and significantly longer survival times than when either treatment was used alone.

Scancell has also identified and patented a series of modified epitopes that stimulate the production of killer CD4+ T cells that destroy tumours without toxicity. The Directors believe that the Moditope® platform could play a major role in the development of safe and effective cancer immunotherapies in the future.