Positive Results from Inovio’s Proprietary DNA Vaccine Development Program to Be Reported at Cancer Research Institutes Symposium

SAN DIEGO (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) September 14, 2008 -- Inovio Biomedical Corporation (AMEX:INO), a leader in enabling the development of DNA vaccines using electroporation-based DNA delivery, announced today that it achieved positive results from its proprietary research and development program for DNA-based cancer vaccines delivered using the company’s electroporation-based DNA delivery technology. The pre-clinical study results showed that in mice with metastatic melanoma treated with a DNA-based therapeutic vaccine via intramuscular delivery, six of eight (75%) were tumor-free at the conclusion of the study.

Regression of subcutaneous B16F10 melanoma following electroporation enhanced delivery of plasmids encoding xenogenic melanoma antigens and IL-12

Inovio’s research and development program is assessing multiple DNA vaccine candidates against infectious diseases and cancer using its proprietary electroporation-based DNA delivery technology. This experimental therapeutic vaccine formulation for melanoma utilizes a regime including depletion of immune-dampening regulatory T-cells along with immune-stimulating genetic components. The combination of this vaccine with intratumoral delivery of IL-12 (independent clinical results of which have been previously reported by Inovio) improved the efficacy and tumor regression achieved by the vaccine. These data will be presented in a poster session entitled, “Regression of subcutaneous B16F10 melanoma following electroporation enhanced delivery of plasmids encoding xenogenic melanoma antigens and IL-12,” at the Cancer Research Institute symposium, “Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy 2008,” being held at the Millennium Conference Center in New York City, September 15 – 17, 2008.

Avtar Dhillon, MD, president and CEO of Inovio, said: “Our pipeline has to date consisted of DNA vaccine products being advanced by partners, for which we are fortunate. However, our aim has always been to also develop novel proprietary DNA vaccines, delivered via our electroporation technology, to stimulate robust T-cell responses and produce potent anti-cancer and anti-infectious disease activity. Our intention is to rigorously evaluate the potential of these new agents – such as this melanoma vaccine and our recently highlighted preclinical universal influenza vaccine – in animal models and move selected candidates into the clinic with the goal of meeting unmet medical needs and increasing our pipeline’s value.”

About Inovio Biomedical Corporation

Inovio Biomedical (AMEX:INO) is focused on developing multiple DNA-based immunotherapies and DNA vaccines. Inovio is a leader in developing human applications of electroporation using brief, controlled electrical pulses to increase cellular uptake of a useful biopharmaceutical. Human data has shown that Inovio’s electroporation-based DNA delivery technology can significantly increase gene expression and immune responses from DNA vaccines. Immunotherapy partners include Merck, Wyeth, Vical, University of Southampton, Moffitt Cancer Center, the U.S. Army, National Cancer Institute, and International Aids Vaccine Initiative. Inovio’s technology is protected by an extensive patent portfolio covering in vivo electroporation. More information is available at www.inovio.com.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to our plans to develop our electroporation drug and gene delivery technology. Actual events or results may differ from our expectations as a result of a number of factors, including the uncertainties inherent in clinical trials and product development programs (including, but not limited to, the fact that pre-clinical and clinical results referenced in this release may not be indicative of results achievable in other trials or for other indications and that results from one study may not necessarily be reflected or supported by the results of other similar studies), the availability of funding to support continuing research and studies in an effort to prove safety and efficacy of Inovio’s technology as a delivery mechanism, the availability or potential availability of alternative therapies or treatments for the conditions targeted by Inovio or its collaborators, including alternatives that may be more efficacious or cost-effective than any therapy or treatment that Inovio and its collaborators hope to develop, evaluation of potential opportunities, issues involving patents and whether they or licenses to them will provide Inovio with meaningful protection from others using the covered technologies, whether such proprietary rights are enforceable or defensible or infringe or allegedly infringe on rights of others or can withstand claims of invalidity and whether Inovio can finance or devote other significant resources that may be necessary to prosecute, protect or defend them, the level of corporate expenditures, assessments of our technology by potential corporate or other partners or collaborators, capital market conditions, and other factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, our 10-Q for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and other regulatory filings from time to time. There can be no assurance that any product in our product pipeline will be successfully developed or manufactured, that final results of clinical studies will be supportive of regulatory approvals required to market licensed products, or that any of the forward-looking information provided herein will be proved accurate.

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