Scancell Holdings PLC (AIM:SCLP, OTC:SCNLF) has told investors it is tightening its focus on two critical assets, SCIB1 and Modi-1, following promising results from ongoing trials.
“With SCIB1 we have a clear potential development pathway towards the market, and Modi-1 is demonstrating an effect on disease control in ovarian cancer patients,” Scancell chief executive Lindy Durrant said in a statement.
“We remain well positioned and funded to continue the development of these high-potential assets to the next near-term value inflection points," Durrant added.
The Phase 2 SCOPE trial on SCIB1 or iSCIB1+ in metastatic melanoma patients is making good headway, the company noted, with 73% of the required number of patients having so far received SCIB1 to date and initial topline data readout from this arm of the study is due in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Scancell said it intends to launch a similar trial with iSCIB1+ before 2023 ends.
It also noted that positive data from iSCIB1+ could trigger a rapid clinical development programme by the second half of 2024, creating a pathway to a potential deal.
Modi-1, Scancell's Moditope platform's first vaccine, meanwhile, is being trialled in patients with ovarian, triple-negative breast, renal, and head and neck cancers.
The company noted that preliminary results reveal a disease control rate of 44% in ovarian cancer patients.
Dr David Pinato, principal investigator at Imperial College, described the results as "very encouraging", given that ovarian cancer is an aggressive disease that often exhausts treatment options.
A cohort of 16 patients - that have had unsuccessful previous treatments against the disease - have seen stable disease for at least 8 weeks, with some patients experiencing a longer duration of disease stability for 4 months or more, the company noted.
Scancell added that its platform for producing monoclonal antibodies continues to generate impressive results, and, has attracted a leading biotech company for a new 6-month evaluation.
As it narrows its focus, Scancell highlighted to stakeholders that it is fully funded through to the second half of 2024, meaning it is covered for what are anticipated as potential inflection points for the company’s strategy.