Scancell Holdings PLC, a developer of novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, and Cancer Research UK, the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research, are pleased to provide an update on their clinical development partnership* for the development of Scancell’s ImmunoBody® vaccine, SCIB2, as a potential treatment for patients with solid tumours, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Scancell’s ImmunoBody® immunotherapy platform activates the body’s immune system by enhancing the uptake and presentation of cancer antigens to help target and eliminate cancer cells. SCIB2, Scancell’s second ImmunoBody® therapy, targets an antigen called NY-ESO-1, which is expressed on a range of solid tumours, including NSCLC, oesophageal, ovarian, bladder and prostate cancers, neuroblastoma, melanoma and sarcoma.
Pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that administration of SCIB2 as a liposomal nanoparticle results in potent immune responses and prolonged survival. The nanoparticle technology utilises known lipid carriers that are optimised to deliver SCIB2 DNA to immune cells. The liposomal nanoparticles protect the DNA from degradation and facilitate efficient uptake, expression and T-cell activation against cancer cells. The nanoparticle delivery system provides an alternative approach to electroporation, which has been used to deliver other ImmunoBody® agents to patients. Cancer Research UK are now planning a clinical trial to investigate the safety and efficacy of the SCIB2-nanoparticle complex in patients with solid tumours.
Dr Cliff Holloway, Chief Executive Officer of Scancell, commented:
“We are delighted to announce this important milestone in our partnership with Cancer Research UK, which moves us one step closer to entering the clinic. This new nanoparticle approach to deliver SCIB2 is expected to achieve results that are as effective as, or even better than, electroporation. We believe SCIB2 has the potential to provide a much-needed treatment option for patients suffering from a range of common solid tumours including NSCLC, the most frequent cause of cancer death globally.”
Dr Nigel Blackburn, Cancer Research UK’s director of drug development, said:
“We’re pleased to see advances in this innovative vaccine, which could bring about urgently needed improvements for some cancers. Our collaboration with Scancell, combining extensive expertise and experience in drug development, will help bring this treatment to the patients that need it sooner.”
*Under the terms of the Clinical Development Partnership, Cancer Research UK will fund and sponsor a UK-based Phase 1/2 clinical trial; the charity’s Centre for Drug Development (CDD) will be responsible for manufacturing the clinical trial supplies of SCIB2, conducting pre-clinical testing, sponsoring and managing the clinical trial, including the clinical trial timelines.
Following completion of the Phase 1/2 clinical trial, Scancell will have the option to acquire the rights to the data to support further development of SCIB2 itself. If Scancell elects not to exercise the option, Cancer Research UK will retain the right to take the SCIB2 programme forward in all indications.
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