The warehouse purchased by REL

The new vaccine has the potential to provide long-lasting immunity against Covid-19.

Immunotherapies developer Scancell Holdings has entered into a collaboration agreement with Cobra Biologics to manufacture the firm's Covid-19 vaccine.


A North Staffordshire biologics business has entered a collaboration which will see it manufacture a Covid-19 vaccine for an Oxford-based medical firm.

Keele-based Cobra Biologics has signed a good manufacturing practice (GMP) agreement with Scancell for the production of a new vaccine which has the potential to provide long-lasting immunity against Covid-19 - by generating protection not only against this strain, but also against new strains of coronavirus that may arise in the future.

The GMP production of plasmid DNA represents a crucial development in the production of a COVID-19 vaccine for use in the Phase 1 clinical trial, COVIDITY. The initial stages of GMP manufacture are scheduled to start imminently.

Dr Cliff Holloway, Chief Executive Officer, Scancell, commented: “Our collaboration with Cobra is critical to us moving forward with our novel SARS-CoV-2 vaccine into the planned Phase 1 clinical trial, COVIDITY. Cobra has the expertise needed to produce clinical grade plasmid at scale and we look forward to working with them to advance our vaccine and demonstrate its potential effectiveness and protection against COVID-19.”

Peter Coleman, Chief Executive Officer, Cobra Biologics, added: “We are excited by this further collaboration with Scancell, with whom we share a long-standing relationship, to provide plasmid DNA for a promising new vaccine and its Phase 1 clinical trial. Our in-house expertise in quality assurance and production will ensure the delivery of GMP quality plasmid and we have great faith that Scancell’s DNA vaccine will show promise against SARS-CoV-2.”