Scancell and ImmunoVaccine Technologies to advance DNA vaccine delivery
UK-based Scancell, a developer of therapeutic cancer vaccines, has signed a research agreement with ImmunoVaccine Technologies in Canada to explore the potential of using IVT's DepoVax delivery system for Scancell's novel ImmunoBody DNA vaccines.
UK-based Scancell, a developer of therapeutic cancer vaccines, has signed a research agreement with ImmunoVaccine Technologies in Canada to explore the potential of using IVT's DepoVax delivery system for Scancell's novel ImmunoBody DNA vaccines.
DepoVax is a vaccine-enhancement and delivery system comprising liposomes, adjuvants and oil. It increases the immunogenicity of antigens and can be used to enhance the delivery of polynucleotide-based antigens and SiRNA to lymph nodes. IVT has demonstrated its scale-up capabilities at a contract manufacturing plant, making DepoVax amenable to commercialisation.
Scancell of Nottingham is developing therapeutic vaccines for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases based on its ImmunoBody technology. The company's first cancer vaccine SCIB1 is being developed for the treatment of melanoma and will enter clinical trials using electroporation in early 2010.
"IVT's DepoVax represents a potentially attractive future delivery system for our ImmunoBody DNA vaccines, especially those for certain infectious diseases where alternative delivery methods such as electroporation may be less suitable," said David Evans, chairman of Scancell.
Dr Marc Mansour, vice president of r&d at IVT, added: "Our DepoVax technology has the potential better to deliver DNA vaccines to draining lymph nodes to produce high levels of immune response using conventional immunisation techniques."