TIDMSCLP
RNS Number : 0847J
Scancell Holdings Plc
18 December 2020
18 December 2020
Scancell Holdings plc
("Scancell" or the "Company")
Scancell announces selection of COVID-19 vaccine candidate,
SN14
SN14 offers several potential advantages over currently approved
and late-stage COVID-19 vaccines
Scancell Holdings plc, (AIM:SCLP), the developer of novel
immunotherapies is pleased to announce that they have selected
their COVID-19 vaccine candidate, SN14, for further development and
clinical trials. SN14 targets both the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N)
protein and the key receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike (S)
protein, and is based on a modification of Scancell's ImmunoBody(R)
DNA vaccine technology.
Fifteen vaccine candidates containing different S and N
components combined with a variety of targeting technologies were
evaluated for the best T cell and antibody responses. SN14
reproducibly elicited high-titre anti-S virus neutralising
antibodies (VNAbs) together with high avidity T cells against both
the S and N proteins. SN14 also incorporates Scancell's
AvidiMab(TM) technology to further enhance this immune response
demonstrating the broad potential of this platform technology to
generate improved vaccines for both infectious diseases and
cancer.
SN14 is a second generation vaccine which offers several
potential advantages over currently approved and late-stage
COVID-19 vaccines:
-- Not only does SN14 target the S protein to induce VNAbs that
prevent the COVID-19 virus from entering cells but also induces
strong T cell responses to both the S and N proteins to destroy
virally-infected cells and prevent further viral replication.
-- As the N protein is well-conserved between coronaviruses, the
SN14 vaccine has the potential to be effective against any variant
or new strain of coronavirus in addition to the current COVID-19
strain.
-- Use of the AvidiMab(TM) technology increases the potency of
the T cell response which, in turn, should lead to long-term
protection and immunological memory.
-- DNA vaccines are exceptionally stable, do not require
ultra-low temperature storage and are manufactured using relatively
simple processes.
As reported in October 2020, Scancell entered into a
collaboration with Cobra Biologics, part of the Cognate BioServices
family, to conduct preliminary work leading to the manufacture of
SN14 with the goal of starting a Phase 1 COVIDITY clinical trial as
soon as possible during 2021. The project is funded by an Innovate
UK grant awarded to a consortium between Scancell, the University
of Nottingham and Trent University.
Professor Lindy Durrant, Chief Scientific Officer of Scancell
commented:
"We are very excited about our SN14 second generation COVID-19
vaccine which could have significant advantages over first
generation vaccines, either on its own or in combination with other
vaccines to broaden and strengthen the immune response for long
term protection.
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
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(R) ,
Moditope(R) and AvidiMab(TM) , with four products in multiple
cancer indications and development of a vaccine for COVID-19.
ImmunoBody(R) 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. Scancell has entered into a
clinical development partnership with Cancer Research UK (CRUK) for
SCIB2.
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(R) 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(R) peptides to Amplivant(R) 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(R) .
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(TM) 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(TM) 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(TM) technology.
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