Scancell Receives GBP250,000 emda Grant

26/01/2009

GB00B39J5N63

                             Scancell Holdings Plc                             

                    (`Scancell Holdings' or the `Company')                     

               Scancell Receives £250,000 emda Development Grant                

Scancell Holdings plc, the parent company of Scancell Limited (`Scancell'), the
developer of therapeutic cancer vaccines based on its patented ImmunoBodyâ„¢
platform, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a £250,000 Grant for
Research and Development (`GRD') by the East Midlands Development Agency
(`emda'). The GRD will be used towards the costs of progressing Scancell's
SCIB1 ImmunoBody DNA vaccine as it commences Good Manufacturing Practice
(`GMP') production in 1Q2009 and applies for Clinical Trial Authorisation
(`CTA') to commence clinical trials of SCIB1 in the UK in 1Q2010.

Scancell is developing SCIB1, a DNA vaccine for the potential treatment of
late-stage melanoma cancer patients. There are 8000 new cases of melanoma every
year in the UK with 1800 deaths per year. Early stage melanoma is often cured
by surgery but advanced disease has a very poor prognosis with late stage
(stage IV) disease having a median survival of approximately 6 months. SCIB1
was developed using Scancell's ImmunoBodyâ„¢ technology and is engineered to
express the TRP-2 and gp100 cytotoxic T-cell epitopes from tumour antigens. In
animal models, SCIB1 prevented the development of lung metastases and
significantly inhibited the growth of established tumours.

The emda grant will be used to help fund the preparatory programme for phaseI/
IIa clinical trials that are anticipated to commence in 2010. The programme
includes: optimisation of the ImmunoBodyâ„¢; GMP process manufacture,
formulation, stability and scale-up; pre-clinical efficacy and safety testing,
and; toxicological assessment. The data derived from these studies will be
utilised by Scancell in order to obtain CTA to allow the first clinical trial
of SCIB1 in melanoma patients.

emda is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England, set up in 1999 to
bring a regional focus to economic development. Its primary goal is to increase
the economic growth of the region while reducing disparities between the East
Midlands and other English regions. The key role of emda is to be the strategic
driver of sustainable economic development, working in partnership with public,
private and voluntary organisations to deliver the goals of the Regional
Economic Strategy.

David Evans, Chairman of Scancell, commented:

"We are delighted to have received a £250,000 grant from emda, the proceeds of
which will be used to further progress SCIB1 and to further explore the
manifold opportunities we expect that our ImmunoBodyâ„¢ platform will present for
the treatment of cancer, and other serious diseases. We are also pleased to be
recognised by emda as a contributor to the economic growth prospects of the
East Midlands region and appreciate the support that emda is providing towards
building our business and the successful development of our innovative
technology."

John O'Reilly, Business Support Director at emda, commented:

"Scancell is just the kind of innovative company that we are looking to support
through the Grant for Research and Development. The grant will help it to
develop a revolutionary new treatment which will not only help thousands of
people affected by cancer, but which will also enable the business to develop
and grow, creating new jobs for the region."

The Directors of the issuer accept responsibility for this announcement.

                                    -ENDS-                                     

For Further Information:

Professor Lindy Durrant         Scancell Holdings Plc    + 44 207 245 1100   
                                                                             
Adam Reynolds/Vikki Krause      Hansard Group            + 44 7515 922906    
                                                                             
Duncan Vasey/Barry Hocken       St. Helen's Capital Plc  + 44 207 628 5582   

About the Grant for Research and Development (GRD)

  * The GRD scheme helps businesses carry out research and development work
    that will lead to technologically innovative products or processes.
   
  * It is aimed at individuals planning to start up businesses in any part of
    the East Midlands and at small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) already
    operating within the region. The aim of the GRD is to help businesses carry
    out projects they normally wouldn't undertake, and to encourage further
    private investment into them. 
   
  * For further information on the Grant for Research and Development scheme
    contact emda's Business Investment Team on 0115 988 8300 or email 
    [e-mail]
   
About emda

  * East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is one of nine Regional Development
    Agencies in England, set up in 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic
    development.
   
  * Working in partnership with public, private and voluntary organisations the
    aim is to deliver the 2006 Regional Economic Strategy (RES) `A Flourishing
    Region', which sets out regional priorities until 2020.
   
  * The RES, coordinated by emda, highlights the themes of productivity,
    sustainability and equality and builds on the previous two strategies;
    `Prosperity Through People' and `Destination 2010'.
   
  * In early 2007 the National Audit Office announced emda had received the
    highest possible grade of 'performing strongly' in an independent
    assessment of our work - scoring 22 out of 24.
   
  * For more details visit www.emda.org.uk.