Scancell Holdings Plc, (AIM:SCLP), the developer of novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, is pleased to announce that a patent for its DNA ImmunoBody® technology has been granted in Australia. This is the first jurisdiction to approve the DNA patent and is a key landmark on the road to comprehensively protecting Scancell’s DNA ImmunoBody® platform technology.
The patent, which covers the DNA ImmunoBody® platform technology and is of importance for the protection of Scancell’s entire pipeline of ImmunoBody® vaccines, has also been filed in the US, Europe and other major markets. The composition of matter patent for SCIB1, Scancell’s ImmunoBody® vaccine for the treatment of melanoma, has already been granted in Europe, Turkey and South Africa.
Scancell’s protein ImmunoBody® patent has been approved in the US, Europe, Japan and Australia.
Dr. Richard Goodfellow, Joint Chief Executive of Scancell, commented:
"Our lead ImmunoBody® for melanoma, SCIB1, currently in Phase I/II clinical trials is based on the DNA approach. The approval of this DNA patent is therefore a very important step in the development and commercialisation of our ImmunoBody® platform. Scancell continues to build its growing portfolio of intellectual property in parallel with advancing the clinical trial programme on SCIB1.”
-ENDS-
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.