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Scancell ever closer to tackling most deadly form of cancer

Last updated: 20:20 21 Jul 2016 AEST, First published: 22:32 06 Jul 2016 AEST

Dendritic cells with T-lymphocytes
Dendritic cells present antigens to T-cells to be destroyed.

With around 13,000 new cases of melanoma diagnosed annually and 2,000 deaths a year, skin cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the UK.

In fact, recent studies have found that malignant melanoma diagnoses hit 10,000 a year for over 55s alone, compared with just 3,100 cases two decades ago, an increase of 155%.

Dr Anton Alexandroff, a consultant dermatologist at Leicester Royal Infirmary, said the increase was likely due to “reckless” lifestyles and improper protection from the sun, which is the main cause of most skin cancers.

But Scancell Holdings Plc’s (LON:SCLP) latest data from trials of its ImmunoBody SCIB1 immunotherapy offer some promising results in a breakthrough treatment for this form of deadly cancer.

Priming the body to fight cancer

Scancell’s immunotherapy vaccine primes the patient’s immune system to recognise and kill specific cancer cells.

SCIB1 targets and stimulates existing cells that make up the body’s defence mechanisms, in particular the dendritic cells already present at the site of the cancer.

Dendritic cells are found in all tissues that are in contact with the external environment, such as the skin, lungs and intestines.

The main function of these cells is to process antigens - foreign or toxic material - and present them to the immune system. Once activated, they migrate to the lymph nodes where the antigen is destroyed by the body’s T cells.

In the study, 19 of the 20 patients with resected - or surgically removed - tumours when they entered the study remained alive. Of 16 patients who received doses 2-4mg of SCiB1, only five patients saw the tumour progress and one died.

Read more- Scancell Holdings says SCIB1 survival data is compelling

“There has only been one new case of disease progression since November 2013 in the resected patients receiving 4mg doses of SCIB1, which gives us hope that SCIB1 might offer curative potential in this currently untreated patient group," said Dr Richard Goodfellow, chief executive of Scancell.

Commenting on the data, Dr Keith Flaherty, director of the Termeer Center for Targeted Therapy at the Massachusetts General Hospital, said the results went “well beyond established norms for this group of melanoma patients”.

The new data should renew confidence in a group that has been making huge leaps in cancer immunotherapy research.

Analysts at Panmure Gordon said that this recent announcement continued to reflect “compelling survival data”. The broker said the recent study was persuasive and reiterated its Buy rating and target price of 68p.

Next round of clinical trials in the US

In July, the group renewed its licencing agreement with Ichor, the electroporation systems group, for a further two years. The technology allows for the genetic material of cells to be altered by using pulses of electricity to open the pores of the cell membrane. 

"This extension of two years gives us confidence to embark upon the next round of clinical trials that we’re planning in the United States,” said Goodfellow.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, noted that shares in Scancell “put on a show of rude [health]” after it released a positive clinical trials update for SCIB1. Shares rose 10% following the announcement this to 16.5p.

Speaking to Proactive, Mould said shares were “way above their 12-month low of 12p, but well below the peak near 100p reached shortly after flotation back in 2010.”

But study results are not always enough to settle market sentiment. Mould said Scancell’s stock had come under pressure in the past year, amid wider concerns over valuations in the biotechnology sector on both sides of the Atlantic.

Over in the US, Hillary Clinton promised to intervene on drug pricing if she becomes President. The failure of some high-profile takeover deals in the US and the collapse of Valeant’s share price after an accounting scandal also contributed to concerns.

 

Scancell to raise up to £8mln to develop its three main drug candidates

Cliff Holloway, chief executive at Scancell Holdings Plc (LONSCLP), tells Proactive Investors they're raising up to £8mln through a placing and open offer – cash that will be used develop their three main drug candidates. A placing and subscription at 12 pence a share will account for...

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