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Scancell: Development of vaccine against COVID-19
Scancell: Development of vaccine against COVID-19.
About this update from Scancell Holdings Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n \n \n RNS Number : 7221K\n Scancell Holdings Plc\n 24 April 2020\n \n \n \n \n 24 April 2020\n \n \n \n \n \n Scancell Holdings plc\n \n \n (\"Scancell\" or the \"Company\")\n \n \n \n \n \n Scancell to initiate development of novel DNA vaccine against COVID-19\n \n \n \n \n \n Scancell Holdings plc, (AIM:SCLP), the developer of novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, announces that it has initiated a research programme to develop a vaccine for COVID-19. \n The project will be led by Professor Lindy Durrant, Chief Scientific Officer and Professor of Cancer Immunotherapy at the University of Nottingham, in collaboration with scientists in the newly established Centre for Research on Global Virus Infections and the new Biodiscovery Institute at the University of Nottingham, and Nottingham Trent University1. \n \n \n \n \n \n Scancell's DNA vaccines target dendritic cells to stimulate high avidity T cells that survey and destroy diseased cells. This approach was highly successful with Scancell's lead ImmunoBody® cancer vaccine, SCIB1, which was safely administered to patients with malignant melanoma, and mediated excellent 5-year survival in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial. Scancell's aim is to \n utilise\n its proven clinical expertise in cancer to produce a simple, safe, cost-effective and scalable vaccine to induce both durable T cell responses and virus neutralising antibodies (VNAbs) against COVID-19. As research data emerges, it is becoming increasingly clear that the induction of potent and activated T cells may play a critical role in the development of long-term immunity and clearance of virus-infected cells. Although other vaccines may reach the clinic earlier, the Company believes its combined T cell and antibody approach should give more potent and long-lasting responses, ultimately leading to better protection. \n \n \n \n \n \n SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19. Scancell's DNA vaccine will target the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein and the key receptor-binding domain of the spike (S) protein to generate both T cell responses and VNAbs against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The N protein is highly conserved amongst coronaviruses; therefore, this new vaccine has the potential to generate protection not only against SARS-CoV-2, but also against new strains of coronavirus...