Scancell shares “highly encouraging” results from phase 1 COVID-19 vaccine trial
pharmafile | February 13, 2023 | News story | Research and Development |
Scancell Holdings PLC has shared “highly encouraging” results from its phase 1 clinical trial of its COVID-19 vaccines, says chief executive officer, Lindy Durrant.
The COVIDITY study was run at the University of Cape Town Lung Institute in South Africa, and assessed both the safety and immune response of two candidates, SCOV1 and SCOV2. Both vaccine candidates were tested in unvaccinated patients and as boosters in volunteers who had already been vaccinated or who had previously been infected with COVID-19.
The results appeared positive for both candidates. Both showed neutralising antibody and T cell responses with a seroconversion rate of 67% in unvaccinated patients, showing a strong efficacy at inducing immune responses.
The vaccines were both based on the company’s ImmunoBody technology, while also utilising its AvidiMab modifications which enhance the immune responses further. Both were able to be delivered with needle-free technology developed by PharmaJet.
Honourary professor Rod Dawson, managing director of the University of Cape Town Lung Institute, commented: “We are delighted to report the positive immune response data from the COVIDITY trial. 66 participants were immunised with SCOV1, targeting the original A lineage of SARS-CoV-2 and/or SCOV2, targeting the Beta variant of concern. The results from the trial were highly encouraging, inducing neutralising antibody and T cell responses with no safety concern.”
Professor Lindy Durrant, chief executive officer at Scancell, added: “These results are highly encouraging. Not only do they provide clinical proof of concept for the COVIDITY COVID-19 vaccine programme itself, more broadly they also provide important further validation and learnings for Scancell’s ImmunoBody and AvidaMab platforms. The success of a human trial demonstrating that an AvidiMab modified DNA vaccine, delivered via a needle-free injection, can induce both T cell and antibody responses, with no safety concerns, is a pivotal proof point for Scancell’s clinical strategy.”
Betsy Goodfellow
