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The Board of Scancell announces that all resolutions put to shareholders at the Company’s General Meeting held earlier today were duly passed.

Application has been made for a total of 28,888,888 new ordinary shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. Dealing is expected to commence in respect of 22,222,222 new ordinary shares at 08:00 on 2 August 2013 and in respect of 6,666,666 new ordinary shares at 08:00 on 5 August 2013.

In conformity with rule 5.6.1 of Disclosure and Transparency Rules, the Board of the Company notifies the market of the following:

The total number of ordinary shares of 0.1p each in Scancell in issue following the admission of the 28,888,888 new ordinary shares will be 223,358,373 with each share carrying the right to one vote. There are no shares held in Treasury. The total number of voting rights in the Company will following admission of the Offer Shares therefore be 223,358,373. The above figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, Scancell under the FSA's Disclosure and Transparency Rules.

David Evans, Non-Executive Chairman of Scancell, said: “With funding now secured, we can focus on advancing both of Scancell’s cancer immunotherapy platforms to key value inflection points that we believe will further support their future role in the rapidly growing new approach to cancer treatment. We look forward to providing updates on our progress in due course.”

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 and is in Phase 1/2 clinical trials. Preliminary evidence from Part 1 of the study showing that SCIB1 produced an immune response which might be associated with clinical benefit in patients with malignant melanoma was released in December 2012.

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.

Scancell has also identified and patented a series of modified epitopes that stimulate the production of killer CD4 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.

On 9 July 2013 the Board of Scancell announced details of a conditional Firm Placing in which it had conditionally raised gross proceeds of £4.5 million by means of a Firm Placing of 20,000,000 Firm Placing shares at 22.5 pence per share. In addition the Company announced that it was providing Qualifying Shareholders, who had not taken part in the Firm Placing, with an opportunity to subscribe, at 22.5 pence per share, for an aggregate of 8,888,888 Open Offer Shares to raise gross proceeds of up to approximately £2 million.

The Open Offer has now closed in accordance with its terms and Scancell is pleased to announce that the Open Offer was oversubscribed. The Company has received valid acceptances from Qualifying Shareholders in respect of 8,888,888 Open Offer Shares, representing 100 per cent. of the Open Offer Shares available under the Open Offer. In accordance with the terms and conditions of the Open Offer all applications made pursuant to the Open Offer (other than Excess Shares applied for under the Excess Application Facility) have been met in full and a scaling back exercise has been undertaken in respect of applications for Excess Shares. The Company has therefore raised gross proceeds of approximately £2 million through the Open Offer.

The Open Offer remains conditional, inter alia, upon the passing of the resolutions at the General Meeting on 1 August 2013 and upon First Admission occurring by 08:00 on 2 August 2013 (or such later time as the Company and Cenkos Securities plc may determine).

Application will be made to the London Stock Exchange for the admission of the Offer Shares which are subscribed for to trading on AIM. It is expected that First Admission, being the admission of the EIS Qualifying Shares, will occur and that dealings will commence at 08:00 a.m. on 2 August 2013 and Second Admission, being the admission of the Non-EIS Qualifying Shares, will occur and dealings commence at 08:00 a.m. on 5 August 2013.

This announcement should be read in conjunction with the full text of the Circular posted to Shareholders on 9 July 2013

David Evans, Non-Executive Chairman of Scancell, said: “We would like to thank our shareholders for their continued support. The Company has already delivered substantial shareholder value as SCIB1 progresses through the clinic. We are confident that the expansion of the SCIB1 trial and the further targeted development of the Moditope platform that this additional funding will enable us to undertake will translate into significant tangible benefits for both patients and shareholders in the medium-term.”

For more information, please contact:

Scancell Holdings Plc
David Evans, Non Executive Chairman      +44 (0) 7740 084 452
Dr Richard Goodfellow, Joint CEO             +44 (0) 7423 230 497 

FTI Consulting:
Simon Conway/Mo Noonan                        +44 (0) 20 7831 3113

Cenkos Securities plc:
Camilla Hume/Stephen Keys                      +44 (0) 20 7397 8900

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 and is in Phase 1/2 clinical trials. Preliminary evidence from Part 1 of the study showing that SCIB1 produced an immune response which might be associated with clinical benefit in patients with malignant melanoma was released in December 2012.

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.

Scancell has also identified and patented a series of modified epitopes that stimulate the production of killer CD4 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.

The Company has been informed that on 22 July 2013 certain Directors of the Company purchased ordinary shares in the Company as follows:

For Further Information:

Scancell Holdings Plc
Dr Richard Goodfellow, Joint CEO                     + 44 (0) 74 2323 0 497
Professor Lindy Durrant, Joint CEO

Cenkos Securities
Camilla Hume                     +44 (0) 20 7397 8900
Stephen Keys

FTI Consulting 
Simon Conway                   +44 (0) 20 7831 3113
Mo Noonan

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 and is in Phase 1/2 clinical trials. Preliminary evidence from Part 1 of the study showing that SCIB1 produced an immune response which might be associated with clinical benefit in patients with malignant melanoma was released in December 2012.

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.
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.

Scancell Holdings plc, ("Scancell" or the "Company") the developer of novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, was informed on 11 July 2013 that one of the three patients recruited into the higher 8mg dose study of SCIB1 will no longer be eligible for evaluation due to delivery of an incomplete dose of SCIB1 following a fault with the electroporation device for that patient. Scancell will recruit a replacement patient as soon as possible in order to complete the initial phase of the 8mg study which is to assess the safety and immune response produced by the 8mg dose prior to expanding the study to include a further ten patients as planned. The initial part of the study is now expected to be completed early next year.

The higher 8mg dose SCIB1 study has been implemented for two reasons:

• Firstly, one of the goals of Part 1 of the Phase 1/2 study was to establish a "maximally tolerated dose" of SCIB1 for use in Part 2. As there were no drug related side effects observed at 4mg, a maximally tolerated dose was not reached and a higher dose could improve the immune response even further.
• Secondly, we were pleased to see a significant effect on tumour burden in one late stage patient in the Part 1 study. The Part 2 study, however, is primarily designed to assess immune response in resected Stage 3 patients and although we will be monitoring the time to disease progression, we will not be able to measure an effect on tumour size. The extended study using the 8mg dose will be in patients with tumour load and will therefore provide the opportunity to assess whether we can reproduce the valuable data reported from Part 1 in an additional group of patients and at a higher dose.

Richard Goodfellow, Joint CEO of Scancell, said:

“With the higher dose study underway, we are now looking to recruit a new patient to ensure adequate safety and immune response data ahead of the extended trial of SCIB1 in patients with tumour load. We firmly believe that the data we gain from this additional trial will add further value to SCIB1 and the ImmunoBody® platform and look forward to reporting the results in due course.”

For Further Information:

Scancell Holdings Plc: + 44 (0) 74 2323 0 497
Dr Richard Goodfellow, Joint CEO
Professor Lindy Durrant, Joint CEO

Cenkos Securities: +44 (0) 20 7397 8900
Camilla Hume
Stephen Keys

FTI Consulting: +44 (0) 20 7831 3113
Simon Conway
Mo Noonan

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 and is in Phase 1/2 clinical trials. Preliminary evidence from Part 1 of the study showing that SCIB1 produced an immune response which might be associated with clinical benefit in patients with malignant melanoma was released in December 2012.

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 Tlymphocyte or CTL response where immune system cells are  primed to recognise and kill specific cells.

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.

Scancell Holdings plc, ("Scancell" or the "Company") the developer of novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer , announces results for the year ended 30 April 2013.

Highlights during the period:

• Successful completion of Part 1 of the SCIB1 Phase 1/2 clinical trial
• Part 2 of the SCIB1 Phase 1/2 clinical trial fully recruited and on track for completion by the end of 2013
• Additional 8mg dose study underway, also expected to be completed by the end of 2013
• Development of new Moditope™ platform
• Strengthened IP with patents awarded in the US and Japan for protein Immunobody® technology platform
• Peter Allen appointed as a Director

Post period highlights:

• Placing and Open offer up to £6.5 million (announced today)

Richard Goodfellow, Joint CEO of Scancell, said:

“We have made excellent progress this year with the successful completion of Part 1 of our Phase 1/2 clinical trial for SCIB1, Part 2 remains on track and our additional 8mg dose study has also commenced. We are delighted that four of the six patients from the 2mg and 4mg dose groups are still alive with one patient remaining disease free two years after initiating treatment.

“We believe our innovative Moditope™ platform has the potential to generate a new class of powerful cancer immunotherapy treatments. We are putting funding in place to identify a lead from this programme and develop it through to the point at which we have secured regulatory approval to start clinical trials, a key value inflexion point. We are confident that such targeted further development of the Immunobody® and Moditope™ platforms will both strengthen Scancell's position as a leading immunotherapy player and allow it to realise an enhanced value for shareholders.”

Click here to read the full news article

For Further Information:

Scancell Holdings Plc   + 44 (0) 74 2323 0 497
Dr Richard Goodfellow, Joint CEO
Professor Lindy Durrant, Joint CEO 

Cenkos Securities    +44 (0) 20 7397 8900
Camilla Hume
Stephen Keys

FTI Consulting    +44 (0) 20 7831 3113
Simon Conway
Mo Noonan

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS RESTRICTED AND IT IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA, THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND OR AUSTRALIA OR NEW ZEALAND OR ANY OTHER STATE OR JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

Scancell Holdings plc (AIM:SCLP), the AIM-quoted developer of novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, is pleased to announce a conditional Firm Placing and Open Offer to raise up to £6.5 million (before expenses) to enable the Company to commence work on the pre-clinical development of the first Moditope™ immunotherapy product, provide working capital for the completion of the Phase 1/2 SCIB1 clinical trial and for the recruitment of a further ten patients on the 8mg dose. As previously announced the Company expects to announce the preliminary results of the Phase 1/2 trial (excluding the patients on the 8mg dose) by the end of 2013.

The Company announces a conditional Firm Placing of 20,000,000 new Ordinary Shares at 22.5 pence each to raise gross funds of approximately £4.5 million by a means of a Firm Placing with investors in various EIS and VCT funds managed by Calculus Capital. In addition, and in order to provide Qualifying Shareholders with an opportunity to subscribe for new Ordinary Shares at the same price, the Company announces a proposed Open Offer to raise up to a further £2.0 million (before expenses).

Highlights

Scancell is developing products based on its ImmunoBody® and Moditope™ technology platforms. Scancell’s first ImmunoBody®, SCIB1 is being developed for the treatment of melanoma and is in Phase 1/2 clinical trials. Preliminary evidence from Part 1 of the study showing that SCIB1 produced an immune response which might be associated with clinical benefit in patients with malignant melanoma was released in December 2012. Scancell has also recently identified and patented a series of modified epitopes that stimulate the production of killer CD4 T cells that destroy tumours without apparent toxicity. The Directors believe that this Moditope™ platform could play a major role in the development of safe and effective cancer immunotherapies in the future.

The funds raised in the Firm Placing and Open Offer, together with existing cash resources will enable the Company to:

• identify a lead product from the Moditope™ platform to take into pre-clinical and clinical development by the third quarter of calendar year 2014. Scancell has provisionally selected triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), ovarian and endometrial cancers as the initial target indications for the first clinical study which is scheduled to start in 2016;
• provide working capital for the completion of the existing SCIB1 clinical trial;
• and enable the Company to recruit a further ten patients for the recently initiated higher dose 8mg cohort of the Phase 1/2 trial.

The Board remains firmly committed to a trade sale at an optimal point where significant shareholder value has been created on both the ImmunoBody® and Moditope™ platforms.

Shareholders should be aware that if the Resolutions are not approved at the General Meeting, the Company will be unable to complete the Firm Placing. The Board is of the opinion that, without completion of the Firm Placing, the working capital currently available to Scancell will not be sufficient for its requirements for the next 12 months following the date of the Circular.

David Evans, Non-Executive Chairman of the Company, said: “We are delighted with the continued strong support for Scancell from its shareholders. Both our Immunobody© and newer Moditope™ technology platforms hold great promise as novel immunotherapy-based approaches for the treatment of cancer. We are committed to realising their potential for the benefit of both patients and shareholders.

“This financing, together with our existing cash resources, will allow Scancell to progress products from both technology platforms to significant value inflexion points in the near and medium term. We remain committed to a trade sale of the Company and while we acknowledge this additional work may delay such plans, we believe it will ultimately result in a markedly improved return to shareholders”

Reasons for the Fundraising

On 15 August 2012 the Company announced the development of a new platform technology (Moditope™). The Moditope™ platform stimulates the production of killer CD4 T cells with powerful anti-tumour activity. CD4 responses to cancer associated antigens have been notoriously difficult to generate whether presented as peptides, proteins or DNA. CD4 cells are vital for effective anti-tumour immunity. Scancell has identified and patented a series of modified epitopes that overcome this limitation. Scancell's Moditope™ technology produces killer CD4 T cells that destroy tumours without apparent toxicity. Tests have shown that not only do these epitopes stimulate CD4 killer T cell responses but that cancer patients can produce an immune response to these epitopes. The Board believes that the Moditope™ epitopes can be used to develop both DNA and peptide vaccines and could become an important component of many therapeutic vaccines in the future, both under development at Scancell and other companies.

The Board is excited about the potential of this innovative discovery and has been actively evaluating the strategic options for Moditope™ to determine which, in the Board’s opinion, will create the greatest value for shareholders. Following a detailed review of the options, the Board believes that significant additional value can be delivered to shareholders by the further development of the new Moditope™ platform technology. Although the Moditope™ platform is currently at an early stage, the Directors believe that the potential of this novel immunotherapy platform is likely to be considerable. Accordingly, the Board plans to identify a lead product to take into pre-clinical and clinical development by the third quarter of calendar year 2014. Scancell has provisionally selected triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), ovarian and endometrial cancers as the initial target indications for the first clinical study which is scheduled to start in 2016.

In addition, and as previously announced, preliminary results from Part 1 of the Phase I/II clinical trials on SCIB1 have provided the first evidence that Scancell's ImmunoBody® vaccine approach is producing an immune response in cancer patients. In view of the positive clinical results and minimal side effects seen with the 4mg dose, the Company is currently evaluating an 8mg dose in 3-6 patients with evaluable disease. This additional cohort will permit an assessment of the safety and immunogenicity of an increased dose of SCIB1 in addition to the effect of this higher dose on tumour burden. The 8mg cohort is being evaluated in parallel with the second part of the Phase 1/2 study which is primarily designed to assess the effect of the 4mg dose on immune response in patients who have had all tumour removed prior to treatment. Three patients have been recruited to the 8mg dose cohort to date. The Board believes that it will also be important to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the 8mg dose in a larger number of patients prior to a sale of the Company. As such, the Company intends, provided the 8 mg dose is well tolerated, to seek approval to recruit an additional ten patients with evaluable disease to strengthen the data set on the 8mg dose prior to closing the SCIB1 Phase1/2 programme. The Directors believe that the availability of data from additional patients will position the Company as a more attractive sale opportunity.

Accordingly, the Board believes that the Firm Placing and Open Offer are in the best interests of the Company and Shareholders as the funds raised will enable the Company to commence work on the pre-clinical development of the first Moditope™ immunotherapy product and will provide working capital for the completion of the existing SCIB1 clinical trials as well as enable the Company to recruit the further ten patients for the 8mg cohort of the Phase 1/2 trial.

Click here to read the full news article

For more information, please contact:

Scancell Holdings Plc
David Evans, Non Executive Chairman +44 (0) 7740084452 
Dr Richard Goodfellow, Joint CEO + 44 (0) 74 2323 0 497

FTI Consulting
Simon Conway/Mo Noonan + 44 (0) 20 7831 3113

Cenkos Securities plc  
Camilla Hume/Stephen Keys +44 (0) 20 7397 8900

Notes to Editors

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 and is in Phase 1/2 clinical trials. Preliminary evidence from Part 1 of the study showing that SCIB1 produced an immune response which might be associated with clinical benefit in patients with malignant melanoma was released in December 2012.

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.

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.

Scancell Holdings Plc, (AIM:SCLP), the developer of therapeutic cancer vaccines, today announces that Peter Allen, ACA, has been appointed to the Board as Non-Executive Director, with immediate effect.

Peter has had a distinguished career in the life sciences industry. A chartered accountant by profession, he has held key senior positions in a number of companies, playing a significant role in their development. His experience extends to overseeing and orchestrating fundraisings, restructurings, acquisitions and IPOs. Peter has also had extensive M&A experience including the acquisitions of Chiroscience, Medeva and Oxford Glycosciences during his 12 year tenure at Celltech as CFO and Deputy CEO, which concluded in its £1.5 billion sale to UCB in 2004. More recently, as Chairman at Proximagen, Peter played a fundamental role in its acquisition by Upsher-Smith Laboratories for £357 million in 2012 and whilst Chairman and interim CEO of Prostrakan, he oversaw the sale of the Company to Kyowa Hakko Kirin for £292 million in 2011.

Peter is currently Chairman of Clinigen PLC, Chroma Therapeutics Limited, ProStrakan plc and Future plc and a non-executive Director of Oxford Nanopore Technologies Limited.

Save as disclosed below there are no additional disclosures to be made in accordance with paragraph (g) of Schedule 2 of the AIM Rules in relation to Peter Allen.

David Evans, Chairman of Scancell, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Peter to our Board as a Non-Executive Director. The Company is entering an important juncture in its development as we await results from Part 2 of our Phase I/II trial on SCIB1, our innovative therapeutic vaccine for metastatic melanoma, anticipated around the end of this year. Peter‟s strategic oversight and broad experience of nurturing innovative life science companies will be invaluable to Scancell.”

• Chroma Therapeutics Limited
• Prostrakan Group plc
• St. Mary‟s School, (Calne)
• St Mary‟s School (Calne) Limited
• Macrotarg Limited
• Future plc
• Clinigen Group plc
• The Calne Foundation Trust
• Abacus Group Limited*
• Alpha 3 Manufacturing Limited*
• Deltron Electronics Limited*
• ECC Distribution Limited*
• Avnet Logistics Limited*
• Sanofi Pasteur Holding Limited*
• Proximagen Group Limited*
• Micromark Electronics Limited*
• Trident Microsystems Limited*
• Dem Manufacturing Limited*
• Deltron Hawnt Limited*
• Deltron Holdings Limited*
• Deltron UK Limited*
• Quiller Electronics Limited*
• Quiller Holdings Limited*
• Roxburgh Foxhills Limited*
• Lie Low Limited*
• TMO Renewables Limited*

* Past directorships

For Further Information:

Dr Richard Goodfellow, Joint CEO, Scancell Holdings Plc
+ 44 (0) 74 2323 0497

Professor Lindy Durrant, Joint CEO, Scancell Holdings Plc
+ 44 (0) 74 2323 0497 

Simon Conway/Mo Noonan, FTI Consulting
+ 44 (0) 20 7831 3113

Camilla Hume/Stephen Keys, Cenkos Securities plc
+ 44 (0) 20 7397 8900

About Scancell

Scancell is developing therapeutic vaccines for the treatment of cancer based on its ImmunoBody® and Moditope™ technology platforms. Scancell‟s first cancer vaccine SCIB1 is being developed for the treatment of melanoma and is in Phase 1/2 clinical trials. Preliminary evidence from Part 1 of the study showing that SCIB1 produced an immune response which might be associated with clinical benefit in patients with metastatic t melanoma was released in December 2012.

Treating cancer by vaccination allows small non-toxic doses of a vaccine to be administered to a patient, stimulating an immune response. Effective cancer vaccines need to target dendritic cells to 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.

A limitation of many cancer vaccines currently in development is that they cannot specifically target dendritic cells in vivo. Several groups have demonstrated successful vaccination by growing dendritic cells ex vivo, pulsing them with tumour antigens and re-infusing them. However, this procedure is patient specific, time consuming and expensive. Scancell has developed its breakthrough patent protected ImmunoBody® technology to overcome these limitations.

Scancell has also identified and patented a series of modified epitopes that stimulate the production of killer CD4 that destroy tumours without toxicity. The Directors believe that the Moditope™ platform could have a profound effect on the way that cancer vaccines are developed.

Scancell (AIM: SCLP), the developer of therapeutic cancer vaccines, announces that Michael Rippon, Non Executive Director, has resigned from the board of the Company with immediate effect.

David Evans, Non Executive Chairman, said "I would like to thank Mike for his many years of unstinting service to Scancell from its foundation to the present day and I wish him well in his retirement post Scancell."

-ENDS-
 

For Further Information:

Scancell Holdings Plc
David Evans, Non Executive Chairman     +44 (0) 7740084452
Dr Richard Goodfellow, Joint CEO            +44 (0) 74 2323 0 497

Visible Value LLP:               + 44 (0) 74 2323 0497
Annie Cheng, CFA                [email protected]

Cenkos Securities:             +44 (0) 20 7397 8900
Stephen Keys

About Scancell

Scancell is developing novel therapeutic vaccines for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases based on its groundbreaking ImmunoBody® and Moditope™ technology platforms. Scancell's first cancer vaccine SCIB1 is being developed for the treatment of melanoma and is in Phase 2 clinical trials.

Treating cancer by vaccination allows small non-toxic doses of a vaccine to be administered to a patient, stimulating an immune response. Effective cancer vaccines need to target dendritic cells to 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.

A limitation of many cancer vaccines currently in development is that they cannot specifically target dendritic cells in vivo. Several groups have demonstrated successful vaccination by growing dendritic cells ex vivo, pulsing them with tumour antigens and re-infusing them. However, this procedure is patient specific, time consuming and expensive. Scancell has developed its breakthrough patent protected ImmunoBody® technology to overcome these limitations.

An ImmunoBody® is a human antibody or fusion protein engineered to express helper cell and CTL epitopes from tumour antigens over-expressed by cancer cells. Antibodies are ideal vectors for carrying T cell epitopes from tumour antigens as they have long half-lives and can effectively target dendritic cells via their Fc receptors, allowing efficient stimulation of both helper and CTL responses.

The Immunobody® technology can be adapted to provide the basis for treating any tumour type and may also be of potential utility in the development of vaccines against hepatitis, HIV and other chronic infectious diseases.

Scancell has also identified and patented a series of modified epitopes that stimulate the production of killer CD4 that destroy tumours without toxicity. The Directors believe that the Moditope™ platform could have a profound effect on the way that cancer vaccines are developed.

Scancell Holdings Plc, (AIM:SCLP), the developer of therapeutic cancer vaccines, is pleased to announce that a patent for its protein ImmunoBody® vaccine technology has been approved for grant in Japan. The patent has already been approved in the US, Europe and Australia.

Dr. Richard Goodfellow, Joint Chief Executive of Scancell, commented:

“This is a further important step in the development and commercialisation of the ImmunoBody® platform and provides further evidence to support the novelty of Scancell’s  ImmunoBody®  technology in another key pharmaceutical market.  Scancell will continue building its growing portfolio of intellectual property in parallel with driving the clinical trial programme on SCIB1 forward during 2013.”

The Directors of the issuer accept responsibility for this announcement.

-ENDS-

For Further Information: 

About Scancell

Scancell is developing therapeutic vaccines for the treatment of cancer based on its ImmunoBody® and Moditope™ technology platforms. Scancell’s first cancer vaccine SCIB1 is being developed for the treatment of melanoma and is in Phase 1/2 clinical trials. Preliminary evidence from Part 1 of the study showing that SCIB1 produced an immune response which might be associated with clinical benefit in patients with malignant melanoma was released in December 2012.

Treating cancer by vaccination allows small non-toxic doses of a vaccine to be administered to a patient, stimulating an immune response. Effective cancer vaccines need to target dendritic cells to 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.

A limitation of many cancer vaccines currently in development is that they cannot specifically target dendritic cells in vivo. Several groups have demonstrated successful vaccination by growing dendritic cells ex vivo, pulsing them with tumour antigens and re-infusing them. However, this procedure is patient specific, time consuming and expensive. Scancell has developed its breakthrough patent protected ImmunoBody® technology to overcome these limitations.

Scancell has also identified and patented a series of modified epitopes that stimulate the production of killer CD4 that destroy tumours without toxicity. The Directors believe that the Moditope™ platform could have a profound effect on the way that cancer vaccines are developed.