Cancer therapy company makes strong clinical progress

Oxford-based Scancell, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company which is developing immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, says it has made strong progress this year, especially with its lead cancer vaccine SCIB1 for advanced melanoma.

The biotech reports its iSCIB1+, a next generation vaccine expressing additional melanoma-specific epitopes that make it suitable for a broader patient population, has been added as additional cohort to the Phase 2 SCOPE trial.

It has also agreed a strategic partnership with USA-based PharmaJet for use of the Stratis® needle-free delivery for clinical development and commercial sales of SCIB1/iSCIB1+.

Professor Lindy Durrant, Chief Executive Officer, Scancell, said: "Scancell has made strong clinical progress, especially with its lead cancer vaccine SCIB1 for advanced melanoma.

"In the first stage of the Phase 2 study, 11 out of 13 patients achieved at least a partial response, exceeding the 70 per cent ORR that the trial was configured to show.

"During the period, we added iSCIB1+, the next generation of SCIB1, as an additional cohort to the SCOPE trial. 

"The addition of SCIB1 or iSCIB1+ to CPI has the potential to set the new standard for first line treatment of unresectable melanoma. 

"We have also taken steps to strengthen our organisational capabilities and ensure readiness for a pivotal Phase 2/3 registration study in 2025. We are now well prepared and well positioned for future development."