Patients with an advanced type of skin melanoma in England will be given expedited access to a new vaccine being developed by Scancell as part of a National Health Service (NHS) clinical trial.
UK-based biotech Scancell developed its off-the-shelf DNA vaccine – dubbed iSCIB1+ – to help improve the recognition of cancer cells by the patient’s immune system, which enhances response to immunotherapy treatments. The vaccine uses a needle-free injection device system and is administered for up to 85 weeks.
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Shares in London-listed Scancell were up 6% at market open today (14 April) following the news. The company has a market cap of £102.1m.
The clinical trial (NCT04079166) is part of the NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP), a framework launched in May 2024 to help fast-track eligible patients into studies at nearby hospitals evaluating vaccines against cancers. It is part of a government push to boost the medical research landscape in the UK.
The Phase II study, called SCOPE, is already underway and is slated to enrol more than 140 patients. The first referrals for patients who are part of the CVLP fast-track are expected next month. Southampton Clinical Trials Unit has agreed to be the trial site for the CVLP partnership with Scancell.
Scancell stated that data from one of the cohorts in the trial, who received a first iteration of the vaccine alongside two checkpoint inhibitors, demonstrated an 80% progression-free survival (PFS) and 20% complete response rate (CR). Other cohorts are testing the latest generation of the vaccine, in addition to evaluating an intradermal administration route. The first clinical data from iSCIB1+ is expected in mid-2025.
Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the UK, accounting for around 4% of all new cancer cases. Around half of melanoma patients respond to standard care of immunotherapy, but those who do not are at higher risk of cancer progression. iSCIB1+, developed using Scancell’s Immunobody DNA vaccine platform, targets activated antigen-presenting cells via CD64 and activates T cells. According to the biotech, this creates an immune memory that prevents the cancer from recurring.
The SCOPE trial is the latest expansion of the CVLP. Its debut last year marked the start of a clinical trial sponsored by BioNTech that is fast-tracking access to the company’s personalised mRNA vaccine against bowel cancer in an ongoing study. The NHS stated that more than 350 patients have been referred for consideration to date.
“It’s incredibly exciting that the NHS is expanding its world-leading programme so more patients with different types of cancer could benefit from the development of new vaccines that could stop their cancer coming back,” said Professor Peter Johnson, the NHS’ national cancer director.
“We want to ensure as many eligible NHS patients as possible have access to these vital trials, which is why we are working with a range of industry partners as more studies get up and running to ensure patients are fast-tracked to a vaccine that could transform lives.”
Scancell’s chief medical officer Dr Nermeen Varawalla said: “Cancer vaccines have the potential to transform immunotherapy, redefine treatment options and ultimately save lives.
“Recent clinical data has demonstrated that our potent, tumour-targeted ‘off-the-shelf’ cancer vaccine delivers strong efficacy, with the potential for meaningful long-term survival benefits in patients with advanced metastatic melanoma.”
