Scancell Holdings plc, (AIM: SCLP), the developer of therapeutic cancer vaccines, announces that a composition of matter patent (European Patent number 2193803) has been granted for the Company’s lead vaccine, SCIB1. SCIB1 is being developed for the treatment of melanoma and is currently in Phase I clinical trials. It is an innovative DNA vaccine being developed using Scancell’s ImmunoBody® technology. This patent will protect the unique composition of the vaccine until March 2028.
Dr. Richard Goodfellow, Joint Chief Executive of Scancell, commented:
“This patent grant is a further important step in the development and commercialisation of SCIB1. Scancell will continue building its growing portfolio of intellectual property in parallel with driving the clinical trial programme forward during 2012”.
For further information contact:
Scancell Holdings Plc
Professor Lindy Durrant/Dr Richard Goodfellow
+44 (0)207 245 1100*
Hansard Group (Financial PR)
Adam Reynolds/Guy McDougall
+44 (0)207 245 1100
Zeus Capital - Nominated Adviser
Ross Andrews/Tom Rowley
+44 (0)161 831 1512
XCAP Securities Plc - Broker
John Belliss/Adrian Kirk
+44 (0) 207 101 7070
*this number will direct callers to Hansard Group, at the Company’s request.
About Scancell
Scancell is developing novel therapeutic vaccines for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases based on its groundbreaking ImmunoBody® technology platform. Scancell’s first cancer vaccine SCIB1, which entered clinical trials in 2010, is being developed for the treatment of melanoma.
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.