TIDMSCLP
RNS Number : 7221K
Scancell Holdings Plc
24 April 2020
24 April 2020
Scancell Holdings plc
("Scancell" or the "Company")
Scancell to initiate development of novel DNA vaccine against
COVID-19
Scancell Holdings plc, (AIM:SCLP), the developer of novel
immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, announces that it has
initiated a research programme to develop a vaccine for COVID-19.
The project will be led by Professor Lindy Durrant, Chief
Scientific Officer and Professor of Cancer Immunotherapy at the
University of Nottingham, in collaboration with scientists in the
newly established Centre for Research on Global Virus Infections
and the new Biodiscovery Institute at the University of Nottingham,
and Nottingham Trent University(1) .
Scancell's DNA vaccines target dendritic cells to stimulate high
avidity T cells that survey and destroy diseased cells. This
approach was highly successful with Scancell's lead ImmunoBody(R)
cancer vaccine, SCIB1, which was safely administered to patients
with malignant melanoma, and mediated excellent 5-year survival in
a Phase 1/2 clinical trial. Scancell's aim is to utilise its proven
clinical expertise in cancer to produce a simple, safe,
cost-effective and scalable vaccine to induce both durable T cell
responses and virus neutralising antibodies (VNAbs) 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. Although other vaccines may
reach the clinic earlier, the Company believes its combined T cell
and antibody approach should give more potent and long-lasting
responses, ultimately leading to better protection.
SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19. Scancell's DNA
vaccine will target the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein and the
key receptor-binding domain of the spike (S) protein to generate
both T cell responses and VNAbs against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The N
protein is highly conserved amongst coronaviruses; therefore, this
new vaccine has the potential to generate protection not only
against SARS-CoV-2, but also against new strains of coronavirus
that may arise in the future.
Initial research is underway and Scancell anticipates initiating
a Phase 1 clinical trial ("COVIDITY") in Q1 2021, subject to
funding. The Company is actively seeking development partners and
additional funding (including non-dilutive funding from governments
and global institutions) to support the rapid development of this
vaccine.
Professor Lindy Durrant, Chief Scientific Officer, Scancell,
commented:
"As the COVID-19 pandemic has unfolded, Scancell has been
evaluating how it can best contribute its expertise and resources
to help in the global response. Vaccines are the long-term solution
and we believe our combined high avidity T cell and neutralising
antibody approach has the potential to produce a second-generation
vaccine that will generate an effective and durable immune response
to COVID-19."
Professor Jonathan Ball, Director of the Centre for Research on
Global Virus Infections at the University of Nottingham added:
"Focusing the antibody responses on the receptor binding domain
of the SARS-CoV-2 virus should ensure the generation of high-titre
antibodies that prevent infection. Delivering these virus targets
using Scancell's DNA vaccine platform, which has already been shown
to be safe and effective in cancer patients, should enable rapid
translation into the clinic for prevention of COVID-19."
Professor Nigel Wright, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and
Innovation, at Nottingham Trent University, said:
"Nottingham Trent University and the John van Geest Cancer
Research Centre are delighted to support Scancell's endeavours to
develop an effective vaccine for COVID-19. These are clearly
challenging times and significant progress in the development of
new approaches for protecting against this virus will only be
possible by collaborations such as these."
(1.) See notes to editors for further details about the
collaboration.
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes
of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (MAR).
For Further Information:
Scancell Holdings plc
+44 (0) 20 3727
Dr John Chiplin, Chairman 1000
Dr Cliff Holloway, CEO
Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited
(Nominated Adviser and Corporate
broker)
+44 (0) 20 7886
Freddy Crossley/Emma Earl 2500
FTI Consulting +44 (0) 20 3727
Simon Conway/Natalie Garland-Collins 1000
About the COVID-19 Vaccine Collaboration Members
Scancell:
Prof. Lindy Durrant has over 30 years' experience in cancer
immunotherapy and clinical trials, including the Phase 1/2 SCIB1
DNA vaccine trial in melanoma and, in collaboration with Cancer
Research UK, the SCIB2 DNA vaccine trial in NCSLC patients. Her
team will monitor the T cell responses.
Dr. Sally Adams leads Scancell's clinical development team and
has overseen the manufacture of GMP DNA vaccines/peptides and
regulatory approval for their use in several First-In-Human
clinical trials. She will lead the clinical development of this
project.
University of Nottingham:
Dr. Janet Daly has 30 years' experience in development and
testing of human and veterinary antivirals and vaccines, including
human influenza DNA vaccines, and is an advisor on this
project.
Dr. James Dixon is a researcher who is an expert in gene
augmentation and will apply this expertise to the COVID-19 DNA
vaccine.
Dr. Christopher Coleman, who is also an advisor on this project,
has a wealth of experience working with human coronaviruses,
including work with category 3, highly pathogenic human
coronaviruses.
Prof. Jonathan Ball's group have long-standing neutralising
antibody and vaccine-related research expertise and have
established the platforms necessary for spike protein validation
and neutralising antibody analysis, including serological and virus
entry inhibition assays.
Nottingham Trent University:
Prof. Graham Pockley is Director of the John van Geest Cancer
Research Centre and has over 30 years' experience in
Immunobiology.
About Scancell
Scancell is developing novel immunotherapies for the treatment
of cancer based on its ImmunoBody(R) and Moditope(R) technology
platforms.
ImmunoBody(R) vaccines target dendritic cells and stimulate both
parts of the cellular immune system. They have the potential to be
used as monotherapy or in combination with checkpoint inhibitors
and other agents. 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 (CRUK) for
SCIB2.
Moditope(R) represents a completely new class of potent and
selective immunotherapy agents based on stress-induced
post-translational modifications (siPTM). 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(R) 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 solid tumours
including triple negative breast cancer, ovarian cancer and head
and neck cancer.
AvidiMab(TM) is a patent protected technology platform which
increases the avidity of human antibodies by promoting non-covalent
Fc-Fc interactions. This modification induces the direct tumour
cell killing properties of Scancell's anti-glycan monoclonal
antibodies (mAbs) but has broad potential to increase the avidity
or potency of any therapeutic monoclonal antibody including those
being developed for autoimmune diseases, as well as cancer.
For further details, please see our website:
www.scancell.co.uk
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the
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END
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