PharmaNet lands Scancell trial contract

US CRO PharmaNet will conduct early phase clinical trials of therapeutic cancer vaccines being developed by UK group Scancell under a contract announced yesterday.

The Phase I/II studies, scheduled to begin early next year, will assess the UK drugmaker's lead candidate, SCIB1, in the treatment of late-stage skin cancer. The DNA-based drug was developed using Scancell’s Immunobody T-cell boosting technology.

PharmaNet will be responsible for managing day-to-day trial operations during the study programme. Further details have not been announced.

CEO Jeffrey McMullen said: "This is our first project with Scancell. We are thrilled to work on Scancell’s innovative therapeutic cancer vaccine, SCIB1, and are very pleased that they have entrusted PharmaNet with their study.”