Scancell

Scancell was founded in 1997 by Dr Lindy Durrant and IPO’d on AIM in July 2010. Scancell is developing novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer based on its ImmunoBody and Moditope technology platforms.

Cancer vaccines represent a highly attractive approach to cancer therapy. In contrast to current treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, small non-toxic doses of a vaccine may be administered to a patient to stimulate an immune response. It is generally accepted that to be effective against cancer, a vaccine needs to target dendritic cells to stimulate both parts of the cellular immune system; the helper cell system (known as the CD4-mediated response) which stimulates inflammation at the tumour site; and the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte or CTL response (known as the CD8-mediated response) in which cells of the immune system are primed to recognise and kill specific cells.

Rationale

Funds raised will enable Scancell to commence work on the pre-clinical development of the first Moditope immunotherapy product. The Moditope technology produces cancer killing cells that destroy tumours without toxicity.

John Chiplin, Scancell’s Chairman, has many years’ international experience in listed life science companies where he has fulfilled the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairma.