BRIEF—Scancell Holdings soars 16% on news of Cancer Research UK deal

UK-based immuno-oncology firm Scancell Holdings (LON: SCLD) looked set to close around 16% up on Thursday after announcing a deal with Cancer Research UK (CRUK).

They have agreed a clinical development partnership with the charity to develop Scancell’s ImmunoBody vaccine, SCIB2, for the treatment of patients with solid tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

SCIB2, Scancell’s second ImmunoBody therapy, targets an antigen called NY-ESO-1, which is expressed on a range of solid tumours, including NSCLC and oesophageal, ovarian, bladder and prostate cancers, as well as neuroblastoma, melanoma and sarcoma.

Under the terms of the deal, CRUK will fund and sponsor a UK-based Phase I/II clinical trial of SCIB2 in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor in patients with solid tumors, focusing on NSCLC in the first instance.

Following completion of the trial, Scancell will have the option to acquire the rights to the data to support further development of SCIB2 itself. If the company elects not to exercise the option, CRUK UK will retain the right to take the SCIB2 program forward in all indications.