Scancell Holdings Plc, (AIM:SCLP), today announces the appointment of John Chiplin as Non-Executive Chairman, succeeding current Chairman David Evans who has offered his resignation to the Board in line with his personal decision to reduce his number of Non-Executive Chairman roles. John Chiplin will take on this position with immediate effect.
John Chiplin joined the Board of Scancell as a senior Non-Executive Director on 14 October 2015. John is based in the United States and his appointment as Chairman is in line with the Company’s strategy of increased focus in the US. As previously announced on 18 December 2015, the Company has formed its core US investigator team to lead a Phase 2 checkpoint inhibitor combination study with Scancell’s lead cancer vaccine SCIB1.
David Evans joined the Board of Scancell as Non-Executive Chairman in 2007. During his time at the Company, David has played a key role in building Scancell into a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of novel therapeutics that stimulate the immune system to treat or prevent cancer.
David Evans, outgoing Chairman, said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my 8 years as Chairman of Scancell and I am proud of its many accomplishments. During this very productive time I have overseen the Company develop two platform technologies at the cutting edge of immuno-oncology. Scancell has also successfully progressed its lead ImmunoBody® product, SCIB1, into the clinic where it has generated compelling data that warrant its further development.
“John has a wealth of international experience in this sector, particularly in the US, and I am confident that he will successfully guide the Board and management team as the Company embarks on the next stage of development and growth.”
Dr Richard Goodfellow and Prof Durrant, joint CEOs, commented: “David’s leadership of our Board has been exemplary and his partnership and sage advice as a colleague and mentor to the management team has been invaluable. His many years of service have ensured a long and strong period of stability for Scancell, despite the challenges we have faced. His wisdom and experience have successfully guided us to the strong position we are in today, with a solid pipeline of development projects. We thank David for his contribution to Scancell and wish him well for the future.
“We are delighted that John will be taking on the role of Chairman. His significant Board experience and strong track record in the life science and technology industries makes him a clear successor and we look forward to working with him at this important time in the Company’s development.”
-ENDS-
For Further Information:
Dr Richard Goodfellow, Joint CEO
Professor Lindy Durrant, Joint CEO
Scancell Holdings Plc
+ 44 (0) 20 3727 1000
Robert Naylor (Corporate Finance)
Panmure Gordon & Co
+44 (0) 20 7886 2905
Maisie Atkinson (Sales)
+44 (0) 20 7886 2714
Mo Noonan/Simon Conway
FTI Consulting
+ 44 (0) 20 3727 1000
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 T-lymphocyte 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.
