Cancer vaccine: SCIB1
Scancell’s first cancer vaccine, SCIB1, is being developed for the treatment of melanoma and is in Phase I clinical trials.
SCIB1 is a plasmid DNA which encodes a human antibody molecule engineered to express a melanoma antigen called Tyrosinase-Related Protein 2 (TRP2) plus two helper T cell epitopes. Following immunisation, the engineered antibody will be expressed and be taken up by dendritic cells, resulting in the development of immune responses against tumour cells expressing the TRP2 antigen. The major advantage of the Immunobody® technology is that the Fc component of the engineered antibody will be recognised by the high affinity CD64 receptor present on dendritic cells, leading to a significant enhancement of both the frequency and avidity of the T cell immune response. The induction of high avidity T cells against TRP-2 is expected to lead to the inhibition and regression of both primary and metastatic tumour growth.
Phase I/II clinical trial of SCIB1
Scancell has obtained the required approvals to conduct a Phase I/II clinical trial of SCIB1, its DNA ImmunoBody® vaccine being developed for the treatment of melanoma. The trial will be conducted at clinical sites in Nottingham, Manchester and Newcastle, UK and is now open for recruitment.
The trial is an open label, non-randomised study to determine the safety and tolerability of three dose levels of SCIB1 administered intramuscularly using an electroporation device (TDS-IM, manufactured by Ichor Medical Systems, USA). The study will also assess immune effects and anti-tumour activity in patients with melanoma.
Up to 22 patients with Stage III or Stage IV melanoma will be recruited into the study and will receive five doses of the SCIB1 vaccine. Further information on the study can be obtained at:
Melanoma patients are advised to consult their doctor for advice regarding their treatment.