logo-loader

Scancell soars as it confirms Cancer Research UK to fund and sponsor SCIB2 clinical trial

Published: 11:06 14 Dec 2017 GMT

race for life
Cancer Research UK is one of the world’s leading cancer charities

Shares in Scancell Holdings PLC (LON:SCLP) soared on Thursday morning after the company revealed Cancer Research UK is to fund and sponsor a Phase I/II clinical trial of its SCIB2 lung cancer vaccine.

Scancell said the tie-up was a “significant endorsement” of its ImmunoBody platform – the underlying technology behind both SCIB1 and SCIB2 which helps to prime a patient’s immune system to recognise and kill specific cancer cells.

Cancer Research to manage the trial

The study that Cancer Research UK – one of the world’s leading cancer charities – is to pay for will see patients with solid lung cancer tumours treated in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor.

The charity’s Centre for Drug Development will be responsible for manufacturing the clinical trial supplies of SCIB2, conducting the pre-clinical testing, as well as sponsoring and managing the trial itself.

Once the study has been completed, Scancell will have the option to acquire the rights to the data to support the further development of SCIB2 itself.

If Scancell decides not to do this, Cancer Research will retain the right to take the programme forward in all indications, not just lung cancer.

Scancell CSO “delighted”

“The charity's world-renowned expertise will no doubt be invaluable as we progress SCIB2 through the clinic,” said chief scientific officer Lindy Durrant.

“In pre-clinical studies, we have shown that a combination of SCIB2 and checkpoint inhibition produces enhanced tumour destruction and significantly longer survival times than when either treatment was used alone.

“We believe SCIB2 has the potential to provide a much needed treatment option for patients suffering from a range of common solid tumours.”

Shares jumped 14% to 14.3p on Thursday morning.

--Updates for share price--

Scancell CEO hails "exciting" high response rate to melanoma treatment

Scancell Holdings PLC (AIM:SCLP, OTC:SCNLF) chief executive Professor Lindy Durrant speaks to Thomas Warner from Proactive to provide an update on the initial phase of the clinical stage biopharmaceutical company's Phase 2 SCOPE trial in advanced melanoma. Professor Durrant gives an overview...

on 19/9/23