On May 7, 2020 Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American and TASE: LCTX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel cell therapies for unmet medical needs, reported that Cancer Research UK’s Commercial Partnerships has permitted Lineage to conduct an early exercise of its option to acquire data from Cancer Research UK’s ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial of VAC2 in non-small cell lung cancer (NCT03371485), and develop an allogeneic dendritic cell therapy platform ("VAC") (Press release, Lineage Cell Therapeutics, MAY 7, 2020, View Source [SID1234557319]). Lineage will assume responsibility for further development of the VAC2 product candidate as well as future development opportunities derived from the VAC platform, while Cancer Research UK concludes the ongoing trial. This decision was based on an early review of the data collected by Cancer Research UK in the VAC2 trial under a clinical trial and option agreement. In addition, Cancer Research UK will provide input on the potential use of VAC in the infectious disease space to develop a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19. Cancer Research UK is the world’s largest cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research.

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"Clinical data recently collected by Cancer Research UK in the ongoing trial of VAC2 has shown peripheral immunogenicity in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, providing validation of the underlying mechanism of using allogeneic dendritic cells to present antigens to the body’s immune system. Evidence of immunogenicity was a key clinical signal which was necessary before we would consider taking over the program," stated Brian M. Culley, Lineage CEO. "This encouraging evidence builds upon earlier clinical studies of VAC which supported not only the safety of the VAC platform, but also evidence that patients developed antigen-specific T cell immune responses. We are excited to assume responsibility for advancing this promising program and move Lineage more aggressively into the field of cancer immunotherapy. Given the scientific evidence supporting our approach, the opportunity to also apply our VAC program to SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development was another positive consideration and we are pleased that Cancer Research UK facilitated this decision. Presenting a viral antigen will require transferring the program from Cancer Research UK’s Centre for Drug Development to our cGMP facility, scaling the manufacturing process, and eventually submitting an IND for clinical testing. We also will be evaluating opportunities for non-dilutive funding for this new initiative."

Dr. Nigel Blackburn, Cancer Research UK’s Director of the Centre for Drug Development, said: "We are pleased that our development efforts on the VAC2 program over the past several years have generated initial evidence of an immune response in cancer patients and have resulted in an early exercise of the option by Lineage. We are excited to transfer the next phase of development to our partners and to assist the expansion of those efforts into SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development and other areas with significant unmet need."

About VAC2

VAC2 is an allogeneic, or non-patient specific, cancer vaccine product candidate designed to stimulate patient immune responses to an antigen commonly expressed in cancerous cells but not in normal adult cells. VAC2, which is produced from a pluripotent cell technology using a directed differentiation method, is comprised of a population of nonproliferating mature dendritic cells. As the most potent type of antigen presenting cell in the body, dendritic cells instruct the body’s immune system to attack and eliminate harmful pathogens and unwanted cells. Because the tumor antigen is loaded exogenously into the dendritic cells prior to administration, VAC2 is a platform technology that can be modified to carry any antigen, including patient-specific tumor neo-antigens or viral antigens. VAC2 is currently being tested in a Phase 1 study in adult patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the advanced and adjuvant settings (NCT03371485), conducted by Cancer Research UK.

About Cancer Research UK’s Centre for Drug Development

Cancer Research UK has an impressive record of developing novel treatments for cancer. The Cancer Research UK Centre for Drug Development has been pioneering the development of new cancer treatments for 25 years, taking over 140 potential new anti-cancer agents into clinical trials in patients. It currently has a portfolio of 21 new anti-cancer agents in preclinical development, Phase I or early Phase II clinical trials. Six of these new agents have made it to market including temozolomide for brain cancer, abiraterone for prostate cancer and rucaparib for ovarian cancer. Two other drugs are in late development Phase III trials.

About Cancer Research UK’s Commercial Partnerships Team

Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research. Cancer Research UK’s specialist Commercial Partnerships Team works closely with leading international cancer scientists and their institutes to protect intellectual property arising from their research and to establish links with commercial partners. Cancer Research UK’s commercial activity operates through Cancer Research Technology Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cancer Research UK. It is the legal entity which pursues drug discovery research in themed alliance partnerships and delivers varied commercial partnering arrangements.

About Cancer Research UK

Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research.
Cancer Research UK’s pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives.
Cancer Research UK receives no funding from the UK government for its life-saving research. Every step it makes towards beating cancer relies on vital donations from the public.
Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival in the UK double in the last 40 years.
Today, 2 in 4 people survive their cancer for at least 10 years. Cancer Research UK’s ambition is to accelerate progress so that by 2034, 3 in 4 people will survive their cancer for at least 10 years.
Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses.
Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK’s vision is to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.