Scancell suspends dosing with current supplies of SCIB1 for melanoma

Shares in drug developer Scancell Holdings plunged almost 17% after it suspending dosing with current clinical trial supplies of SCIB1 for melanoma with immediate effect.

Patients would be notified as soon as possible.

AIM-quoted Scancell said quality-control analysis showed the stored drug product was no longer within the original specification. Some trial materials has been stored for more than seven years.

After talks with the MHRA Clinical Trials Unit, and considering patient safety, Scancell had concluded that it was no longer suitable for further use. It noted no new patient side effects.

"The suspension of dosing affects eight patients in the long term extension arm of the Phase 1/2 trial, SCIB1-001 (out of the 35 patients that have been dosed), investigating SCIB1 as a monotherapy for the treatment of melanoma," the company said.

Scancell was planning to make a fresh batch of SCIB1 and has recently signed an agreement with a new GMP manufacturer.

At 12:23 BST, Scancell's shares were down 16.22% to 15.5p.