Scancell Holdings PLC (AIM:SCLP, OTC:SCNLF) said on Friday that new data from its mid-stage cancer trial suggest its experimental therapy could outperform existing treatments for advanced melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer.
The Oxford-based biotechnology company presented the results at a major immunotherapy conference in the United States, saying its iSCIB1+ treatment, a DNA-based immunotherapy designed to boost the body’s immune response against tumours, showed encouraging efficacy and safety.
Results from the ongoing Phase 2 SCOPE trial showed that 78% of patients taking iSCIB1+ remained free from disease progression at 11 months.
That compares with historical data showing a 46% progression-free survival rate after 12 months for the standard double-drug checkpoint therapy using ipilimumab and nivolumab, which are widely used immunotherapy medicines.
Dr Nermeen Varawalla, Scancell’s chief medical officer, said: “The data from SCOPE so far indicate that iSCIB1+ has groundbreaking potential to deliver meaningful clinical benefits to patients.
"It has been shown to enhance response rates, disease control, progression-free survival and immune activation, combined with a robust safety profile that allows integration with standard of care without added toxicity.”
The company said that after 22 months, 69% of patients in the key genetic target group were still progression-free, a notable improvement over previous benchmarks.
The therapy also produced strong overall response and disease control rates, with more than 100 patients across the trial showing a favourable safety record.
Scancell plans to accelerate the development of iSCIB1+, expanding its use to a broader group of melanoma patients. It is in discussions with regulators and potential partners, and expects to begin randomised, registration-directed trials in 2026.
The company’s Immunobody platform, from which iSCIB1+ is derived, aims to train the immune system to better recognise and attack cancer cells, while avoiding the toxic side effects that often limit other treatments.