Scancell Holdings plc, (AIM:SCLP), the developer of novel immunotherapies is pleased to announce that they have selected theirCOVID-19 vaccine candidate, SN14,for further development and clinical trials. SN14targets both the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein and the key receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike (S)protein, and is based on a modification of Scancell’s Immuno Body®DNA vaccine technology.
Fifteen vaccine candidates containing different S and N components combined with a variety of targeting technologies were evaluated for the bestT cell and antibody responses. SN14 reproducibly elicited high-titre anti-S virus neutralising antibodies (VNAbs) together with high avidity T cells against both the S and N proteins. SN14 also incorporates Scancell’s Avidi Mab™technology to further enhance this immune response demonstrating the broad potential of this platform technology to generate improved vaccines for both infectious diseases and cancer.
SN14 is asecond generation vaccine which offers several potential advantages over currently approved and late-stage COVID-19vaccines:
•Not only does SN14target the S protein to induce VNAbs that prevent the COVID-19 virus from entering cells but also induces strong T cell responses to both the S and N proteins to destroy virally-infected cells and prevent further viral replication.
•As the N protein is well-conserved between coronaviruses, the SN14 vaccine has the potential to be effective against any variant or new strain of coronavirus in addition to the current COVID-19 strain.
•Use of the Avidi Mab™ technology increases the potency of the T cell response which, in turn,should lead to long-term protection and immunological memory.
•DNA vaccines are exceptionally stable, do not require ultra-low temperature storage and are manufactured using relatively simple processes.
