A landmark trial success for Moderna and Merck's cancer vaccine has strengthened the case for Scancell Holdings PLC (AIM:SCLP, OTC:SCNLF, FRA:SCP), the immuno-oncology company developing a rival melanoma treatment, according to one broker covering the sector's innovative small-caps.
Merck and Moderna said on Wednesday that their phase III INTerpath-001 trial of intismeran autogene, an mRNA-based cancer vaccine, met its endpoints in patients with completely resected stage IIB-IV melanoma.
The therapy, given alongside Merck's blockbuster immunotherapy Keytruda, delivered statistically significant improvements in recurrence-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival compared with Keytruda alone.
It is the first time positive phase III data have been obtained for an mRNA-based, individualised neoantigen therapy in cancer.
Panmure Liberum, the broker, described the result as an encouraging step for the wider cancer vaccine field and said it boded well for Scancell's own melanoma candidate, iSCIB1+.
The read-across is simple (even if the science isn't). Put in plain language, both treatments train the immune system to attack tumours, though the two vaccines differ sharply in design.
Intismeran is manufactured individually for each patient using a sample of their own tumour, a personalised approach that Panmure Liberum expects to command a high price.
Scancell's iSCIB1+ works through a similar mechanism but is an off-the-shelf product that is simpler to produce, a distinction that could give it a cost advantage if it reaches the market.
Scancell secured clearance from the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency this month to begin a global phase III registrational trial of iSCIB1+, following earlier approval from the US Food and Drug Administration.
The company is expected to start that study in the second half of 2026.
Scancell agreed an all-share merger with Nasdaq-listed Neuphoria Therapeutics in July, a deal designed to secure up to $89 million of financing and fund the phase III trial into 2029.
Its shares have fallen well below the 52-week high of 29.5p reached in May.
