Last checked at 15 Feb 2021 15:36
15 February 2021
Scancell Holdings plc
("Scancell" or the "Company")
Statement regarding share price movement
Scancell Holdings plc, (AIM:SCLP), the developer of novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and infectious disease, notes the recent press coverage and the share price increase.
As recently announced in the Company's interim results dated 29 January 2021 the Company gave a full update on the COVIDITY program and the goal of starting a Phase 1 clinical trial, to determine safety and immune responses to the vaccine, as soon as possible during 2021. Subject to the result of the Phase 1 clinical trial future studies would be undertaken to establish efficacy.
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For Further Information:
Scancell Holdings plc | ||
Dr John Chiplin, Chairman | +44 (0) 20 3727 1000 | |
Dr Cliff Holloway, CEO | ||
Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited | ||
Freddy Crossley/Emma Earl (Corporate Finance) | +44 (0) 20 7886 2500 | |
Rupert Dearden (Corporate Broking) | ||
FTI Consulting | ||
Simon Conway/Natalie Garland-Collins | +44 (0) 20 3727 1000 |
About Scancell
Scancell is developing novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer based on its technology platforms, ImmunoBody®, Moditope® and AvidiMabTM, with four products in multiple cancer indications and development of a vaccine for COVID-19.
ImmunoBody® vaccines target dendritic cells and stimulate both CD4 and CD8 T cells with the ability to identify, target and eliminate cancer cells. These cancer vaccines have the potential to be used as monotherapy or in combination with checkpoint inhibitors and other agents. The Directors believe that this platform has the potential to enhance tumour destruction, prevent disease recurrence and extend survival.
· SCIB1, Scancell's lead product, is being developed for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. In a Phase 1/2 clinical trial, survival with SCIB1 treatment appears superior to historical survival rates, with 14 of 16 resected patients receiving 2-4 mg doses of SCIB1 surviving for more than five years (as reported in February 2018).
· SCIB2 is being developed for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and other solid tumours.
DNA vaccine against COVID-19: As research data emerges, it is becoming increasingly clear that the induction of potent and activated T cells may play a critical role in the development of long-term immunity and clearance of virus-infected cells. Initial research is underway and Scancell anticipates initiating a Phase 1 clinical trial known as COVIDITY during 2021.
Moditope® represents a completely new class of potent and selective immunotherapy agents based on stress-induced post-translational modifications (siPTM). Examples of such modifications are citrullination, an enzyme-based conversion of arginine to citrulline, and homocitrullination (or carbamylation), in which lysine residues are converted to homocitrulline. Expression of peptides containing these modifications have been demonstrated to induce potent CD4 cytotoxic t cells to eliminate cancer. Previous pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that conjugation of these Moditope® peptides to Amplivant® enhances anti-tumour immune responses 10-100 fold and resulted in highly efficient tumour eradication, including protection against tumour recurrence.
· Modi-1 consists of two citrullinated vimentin peptides and one citrullinated enolase peptide each conjugated to Amplivant®. Vimentin and enolase peptides are highly expressed in triple negative breast, ovarian, head and neck, and renal cancer, as well as many other cancers. The Company continues to progress the Modi-1 Phase 1/2 clinical trial for regulatory submission to start the planned clinical study in the UK in the first half of 2021.
AvidiMab™ has broad potential to increase the avidity or potency of any therapeutic monoclonal antibody (mAb) including those being developed for autoimmune diseases, as well as cancer. Scancell's development pipeline includes mAbs against specific tumour-associated glycans (TaGs) with superior affinity and selectivity profiles, that have now been further engineered using the Company's AvidiMab™ technology; this confers the Scancell anti-TaG mAbs with the ability to directly kill tumour cells. The Company has entered into three non-exclusive research agreements with leading antibody technology companies to evaluate the Company's anti-TaG mAbs including those enhanced with the AvidiMab™ technology.