LONDON: Scancell Holdings plc (AIM: SCLP), the developer of novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and infectious disease, today announces it will develop GlyMab® antibodies into T cell redirecting bispecific (TCB) antibodies and take them into the clinic.
This is a promising new therapeutic approach to treat cancer. TCB antibodies have dual-binding specificity which crosslinks tumour cells via their glycans with an activating receptor CD3 on T cells. This results in activation of killer T cells and tumour cell death.
These antibodies are particularly potent in tumours which have lost the T cell recognition molecule major histocompatibility antigen (MHC) or where there is limited T cell infiltration as they by-pass normal T cell activation pathways and redirect the host immune system to the tumour. The Company is currently in the preclinical research phase and expects to take this novel product into a Phase 1 clinical study in due course. The Board believes this will provide a strong validation and demonstration of value for the whole GlyMab® antibody platform.
To create TCB antibodies, Scancell will combine its proprietary GlyMab® antibodies, which target sugar motifs rather than proteins and are designed to have superior affinity and selectivity profiles, with in-licenced Fc silencing technology from Oxford-based mAbsolve. The technology from mAbsolve reduces the likelihood of toxicity caused by cytokine storms, which can be associated with clinical antibodies engaging the immune system. Scancell will leverage its deep understanding of cancer immunotherapy and T cell immunology together with its strong development capabilities to bring the TCB antibodies to clinical validation, thereby adding value to the entire GlyMab® platform.
In parallel, the Company will utilise the GlyMab® platform to deliver cytotoxic drugs (ADC) or cell therapies (CAR). The Board of Scancell intends to realise the potential of these approaches for the GlyMab® antibodies through strategic partnerships with third parties.
Prof Lindy Durrant, Chief Executive Officer, Scancell, commented: “Over the past year we have been evaluating the optimal products for Scancell to develop through exploiting our Glymab® platform. We believe we can add considerable value to the antibody portfolio by taking TCB products into the clinic, as opposed to outlicensing them at the preclinical stage. At the same time, the Board continues to evaluate opportunities to enter into revenue generating deals for our antibodies with ADC or CAR companies.”
Dr Geoff Hale, Chief Executive Officer, mAbsolve, commented: “We are delighted that Scancell has selected our technology for the development of their TCB products. We are convinced that our technology is the most effective approach to inhibit unwanted immune activation associated with antibodies redirecting T cells.”
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