Scancell’s ImmunoBody® platform being presented at the Cancer Vaccines Conference, London

Presentation entitled: ‘‘Peptides or DNA vaccines? Could ImmunoBody® be the answer?”

Scancell Holdings plc (‘Scancell’ or the ‘Company’), the developer of novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, today announces that Dr Stephanie McArdle, Senior Research Scientist from The John van Geest Cancer Research Centre, Nottingham Trent University will be giving a presentation entitled: ‘‘Peptides or DNA vaccines? Could ImmunoBody® be the answer?” at the Cancer Vaccines Conference in London, 16-17 September 2015. The presentation will cover the criteria for designing an effective cancer vaccine, with particular reference to Scancell’s ImmunoBody®.

ImmunoBody® is a DNA plasmid that encodes a human antibody or fusion protein engineered to express helper cell and CTL epitopes from tumour antigens over-expressed by cancer cells. Unlike current vaccine approaches that rely on a single activation mechanism, ImmunoBody® vaccines activate dendritic cells through two distinctly different and complementary mechanisms that maximise T cell activation and avidity: direct- and indirect/cross-presentation.

Scancell’s first ImmunoBody®, SCIB1, is being developed for the treatment of melanoma and is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial. The latest data suggests that SCIB1 may have the potential to significantly extend survival times in patients, especially in those with resected disease. The John van Geest Cancer Research Centre is also engaged on collaborative research with Scancell on the development of an ImmunoBody® for the treatment of prostate cancer targeting PAP (prostate acid phosphatase).

Prof Lindy Durrant, Joint Chief Executive Officer of Scancell, said: “Cancer vaccines help boost the immune system to recognise and destroy cancer cells. The design of a cancer vaccine is extremely important and needs to deliver very high avidity T cells in order to be effective. ImmunoBody® delivers high avidity T cells by combining the advantages of DNA and peptide vaccines in one molecule. We are delighted to be working with The John van Geest Cancer Research Centre on this exciting project.”

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Notes to Editors

SCIB1 mechanism of action
SCIB1 is a DNA ImmunoBody® immunotherapy encoding a human IgG1 antibody, with three epitopes from gp100 and one from TRP-2 engineered into its CDR regions. This immuno-stimulatory antibody targets dendritic cells in vivo via the high affinity Fc receptor, CD64, and stimulates high avidity T cells. Extensive research studies suggest SCIB1 ImmunoBody® has a dual mechanism of action that combines crosspresentation with direct-presentation. This results in amplification of the immune response to induce high frequency, high avidity T cells which translates into a potent anti-tumour response.

About Scancell
Scancell is developing novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer based on its ImmunoBody® and Moditope® technology platforms.

Scancell’s first ImmunoBody®, SCIB1 is being developed for the treatment of melanoma and is being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial. Data from the trial demonstrate that SCIB1, when used as monotherapy, has a marked effect on tumour load, produces a melanoma-specific immune response and highly encouraging survival trend without serious side effects. In patients with resected disease there is increasing evidence to suggest that SCIB1 may delay or prevent disease recurrence.

Scancell’s ImmunoBody® vaccines target dendritic cells and stimulate both parts of the cellular immune system: the helper cell system where inflammation is stimulated at the tumour site and the cytotoxic Tlymphocyte or CTL response where immune system cells are primed to recognise and kill specific cells.

Pre-clinical data on a combination of SCIB1 or SCIB2 and checkpoint inhibition (blockade of the PD-1 or CTLA-4 immune checkpoint pathways) have shown enhanced tumour destruction and significantly longer survival times than when either treatment was used alone.

Scancell has also identified and patented a series of modified epitopes that stimulate the production of killer CD4+ T cells that destroy tumours without toxicity. The Directors believe that the Moditope® platform could play a major role in the development of safe and effective cancer immunotherapies in the future.