New facilities at The Oxford Science Park

RNS Number : 4445P

Scancell Holdings Plc

19 October 2021

 

Scancell expands its R&D capabilities with new facilities at The Oxford Science Park

Oxford, UK, 19 October 2021 -   Scancell Holdings plc (AIM: SCLP), the developer of novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and infectious disease, has expanded its R&D capabilities by taking new laboratory and office space in the Bellhouse Building at The Oxford Science Park (TOSP), one of the UK's leading parks for science and technology companies. The new premises, which are complementary to Scancell's laboratories in the Biodiscovery Institute at the University of Nottingham, will allow the Company to further accelerate the development of its portfolio of immunotherapies.

Scancell, which raised £46 million last year to drive its pipeline through clinical trials, is now working from 1,900 sq ft of laboratory space and 1,800 sq ft of office facilities at TOSP. Scancell currently employs just over 40 staff, of which approximately half are located in the new premises and plans to recruit additional people to its clinical and product development teams in the next 12 months.

The Company is developing novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer based on its technology platforms, ImmunoBody^®, Moditope^® and AvidiMab^TM, with innovative products in multiple cancer indications and a vaccine in development for COVID-19. The new laboratories will support the Company's clinical trial activities and provide analytical and formulation facilities for future product development.

Professor Lindy Durrant, Chief Executive Officer, Scancell, said: "TOSP is the perfect location for Scancell's expansion, with access to an excellent local talent pool as we grow the business.  We are excited to be part of the creative and collaborative group of companies located in the Park and look forward to further developing our innovative products at this new site."

Rory Maw, CEO of TOSP, said: "We are delighted that Scancell has chosen to locate its new R&D facility at The Oxford Science Park, the Company's first laboratories outside of the university setting. Scancell joins Enara Bio, MoA Technology and Sitryx in the Bellhouse Building. With its leading research in cancer and infectious disease, the Company is a great addition to the innovation community here. This is exciting news for TOSP, following the announcement of our partnership with GIC to accelerate development of the Park."

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For more information, please contact:

The Oxford Science Park

Emma Palmer Foster

Tel: [phone]

[e-mail]

Scancell Holdings plc	[phone]
Dr John Chiplin, Executive Chairman
Professor Lindy Durrant, CEO
Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited (Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker)	[phone]
Freddy Crossley/Emma Earl (Corporate Finance)
Rupert Dearden (Corporate Broking)
Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited (Joint Broker)	[phone]
Nicholas Moore/Samira Essebiyea (Healthcare Investment Banking)
Nick Adams (Corporate Broking)
FTI Consulting	[phone]
Simon Conway/Natalie Garland-Collins

Notes to Editors

About Scancell

Scancell is developing novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer based on its technology platforms, ImmunoBody^®, Moditope^® and AvidiMab^TM, with four products in multiple cancer indications and development of a vaccine for COVID-19.

ImmunoBody^® vaccines target dendritic cells and stimulate both CD4 and CD8 T cells with the ability to identify, target and eliminate cancer cells. These cancer vaccines have the potential to be used as monotherapy or in combination with checkpoint inhibitors and other agents. The Directors believe that this platform has the potential to enhance tumour destruction, prevent disease recurrence and extend survival.

DNA vaccine 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. Initial research is underway and Scancell has initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial known as COVIDITY in October 2021.

Moditope^® represents a completely new class of potent and selective immunotherapy agents based on stress induced post-translational modifications (siPTMs). Examples of such modifications are citrullination, an enzyme-based conversion of arginine to citrulline, and homocitrullination (or carbamylation), in which lysine residues are converted to homocitrulline. Expression of peptides containing these modifications have been demonstrated to induce potent CD4 cytotoxic T cells to eliminate cancer. The Directors believe that this platform has the potential to eradicate hard to treat solid tumours.

AvidiMab™ has broad potential to increase the avidity or potency of any therapeutic monoclonal antibody (mAb) including those being developed for autoimmune diseases, as well as cancer. Scancell's development pipeline includes mAbs against specific tumour-associated glycans (TaGs) with superior affinity and selectivity profiles, that have now been further engineered using the Company's AvidiMab™ technology; this confers the Scancell anti-TaG mAbs with the ability to directly kill tumour cells. The mAbs targeting TaGs can also be used to deliver cytotoxic payload to cancer or to redirect T cells. The Company has entered into three non-exclusive research agreements with leading antibody technology companies to evaluate the Company's anti-TaG mAbs including those enhanced with the AvidiMab™ technology.

About The Oxford Science Park

The Oxford Science Park (TOSP) is majority owned and fully managed by Magdalen College, Oxford. It recently entered into a strategic partnership with global long-term investor GIC to accelerate development of the Park. Created in 1991, TOSP upholds the College's heritage and provides one of the most influential science & technology environments in the UK. There is high quality workspace accommodation across the Park, which is now home to 2,700 people and more than 130 businesses. These range from start-ups based in the Magdalen Centre innovation hub to major international companies, including Blue Earth Diagnostics, MiroBio, OrganOx, OxSonics Therapeutics, Oxford Nanopore Technologies, OXGENE, ProImmune, Evox Therapeutics, Vaccitech, Exscientia, Sensyne Health and Intuitive Surgical.

In addition to being a key property investment, the Park is at the heart of Magdalen College's strategy to support discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship. The Oxford Science Park will continue to be developed as a long-term strategic asset. Additional capacity will support the growth of businesses already based on the Park, providing flexible workspace accommodation, and enabling new companies to enjoy the Park's exceptional environment and collegiate and collaborative ethos.

The Oxford Science Park is located approximately four miles south-east of Oxford city centre, just off the City's southern ring road. It has easy access to the M40 and A34, as well as to Heathrow Airport and mainline train services. For further information, please visit: www.oxfordsp.com or follow us on twitter @OxfordSciencePK

 

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