Scancell: Publication Of Moditope Patent

free biotech news Get the latest biotech news where you want it. Sign up for the free GenePool newsletter today!

18 February 2014 -- Scancell Holdings Plc, (AIM: SCLP), the developer of novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, is pleased to announce the publication of the patent application underpinning the Company’s Moditope® platform. When granted, this patent will protect the platform to at least 2033.

The patent application, describes how the Moditope® immunotherapy platform harnesses CD4+ T cells to eradicate tumours. Moditope® deploys certain tumour-associated peptide epitopes as immunotherapeutic agents to overcome self-tolerance and eradicate tumour cells, with no requirement for blockade inhibitors. Planning is underway for the manufacture, preclinical testing and first-in-man clinical development of the Modi-1, the first Moditope® immunotherapeutic. The PCT patent application which has a priority date of 7 August 2012 was published on 13 February 2014 as WO2014/023957.

Prof. Lindy Durrant Professor of Cancer Immunotherapy at the University of Nottingham and Joint CEO of Scancell, said: “The publication of the patent application is another important milestone in the development of a range of novel immunotherapeutics from the Moditope® platform. Recent data suggests that Modi-1 may exhibit potent anti-tumour effects even against established aggressive tumours, dramatically improving survival rates. We look forward to a busy and exciting year in which we continue to prepare Modi-1 for clinical trials which are on schedule to start in early 2016.”

For Further Information:

Dr Richard Goodfellow, Joint CEO
Professor Lindy Durrant, Joint CEO Scancell Holdings Plc
Scancell Holdings Plc + 44 (0) 20 7831 3113

Camilla Hume/Stephen Keys Cenkos Securities plc + 44 (0) 20 7397 8900

Mo Noonan/Simon Conway FTI Consulting + 44 (0) 20 7831 3113

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 produced a melanoma-specific immune response and promising survival trend.

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 T-lymphocyte or CTL response where immune system cells are primed to recognise and kill specific cells.

Scancell has also identified and patented a series of modified epitopes that stimulate the production of killer CD4 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.

Help employers find you! Check out all the jobs and post your resume.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC