Technology acquired from University of Nottingham

RNS Number : 2417L

Scancell Holdings Plc

18 April 2018

 

18 April 2018

Scancell to acquire novel immunotherapy platform technology from the University of Nottingham

Antibodies to tumour-associated glycans have potential as a new class of cancer immunotherapy

Complementary to Company's other platforms, ImmunoBody® and Moditope®

Scancell Holdings plc, ('Scancell' or the 'Company'), the developer of novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, announces that it has entered into an agreement with the University of Nottingham to acquire a number of novel monoclonal antibodies to tumour-associated glycans ("Assigned Antibodies"). Alongside this, Scancell has also acquired a proprietary technology to enable the modification of the constant region (F_C) of a human antibody to allow direct tumour killing. Together these offer a complementary platform to Scancell's existing cancer immunotherapy platforms, ImmunoBody® and Moditope®.

Advances in understanding the pattern of sugars (glycans) that adorn cells have highlighted important differences between those on tumour cells versus their normal counterparts. This altered sugar signature of tumour cells is intricately linked to the majority of cancer cell biology hallmarks. Antibodies that target such tumour glycan signatures, when coupled to a novel approach to invoke an immune response on binding, provide an attractive strategy for immunotherapy and forms the basis of the platform technology developed by Prof. Lindy Durrant and her team at the Nottingham University Therapeutic Antibody Centre (NUTAC).¹

Scancell will be responsible for the management, prosecution and maintenance of any patent applications assigned from the University of Nottingham to Scancell, as well as for the filing of new patent applications for the Assigned Antibodies. Under the terms of the agreement, the University of Nottingham is eligible to receive royalties on future licence revenue or net sales arising from the Assigned Antibodies.

Dr Cliff Holloway, CEO of Scancell, commented: "Prof. Durrant and the team at NUTAC have developed a versatile method to generate high-affinity monoclonal antibodies against cancer cell glycans that, when coupled to a novel method of activating the immune system, have potential as a new class of cancer immunotherapy. We believe this platform complements our existing ImmunoBody® and Moditope® platforms, significantly broadening the strength and potential of Scancell's immunotherapy pipeline."

Dr Susan Huxtable, Director of Technology Transfer for the University of Nottingham, commented: "We have great confidence in Scancell's ability to further develop University intellectual property. The mutually-beneficial relationship between Scancell and the University is an excellent example of University technology transfer in action."

^1. Oncoimmunology. 2016; 5(1): e1061177. Published online 2015 Jul 15.  doi:  10.1080/2162402X.2015.1061177

For Further Information:

Scancell Holdings Plc
Dr John Chiplin, Chairman		[phone]
Dr Cliff Holloway, CEO
Panmure Gordon & Co (Nominated Adviser and Corporate broker)
Freddy Crossley, Emma Earl (Corporate Finance) Tom Salvesen (Corporate Broking)		[phone]
FTI Consulting Mo Noonan/Simon Conway		[phone]

About Scancell

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

ImmunoBody® vaccines target dendritic cells and stimulate both parts of the cellular immune system. They can be used as monotherapy or in combination with checkpoint inhibitors. This platform has the potential to enhance tumour destruction, prevent disease recurrence and extend survival. 

·      SCIB1, the lead programme, is being developed for the treatment of melanoma. A phase 1/2 clinical trial has so far successfully demonstrated survival data of more than five years.

·      SCIB2 is being developed for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and other solid tumours. Scancell has entered into a clinical development partnership with Cancer Research UK for SCIB2. 

Moditope® represents a completely new class of potent and selective immunotherapy agents. It stimulates the production of killer CD4 T cells which overcome the immune suppression induced by tumours, allowing activated T cells to seek out and kill tumour cells that would otherwise be hidden from the immune system.  Moditope® alone, or in combination with other agents, has the potential to treat of a wide variety of cancers.

·      Modi-1 is being developed for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer, ovarian cancer and sarcomas.

For further details, please see our website:  www.scancell.co.uk

 

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