SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Inovio Biomedical Corporation (NYSE Amex: INO), a leader in DNA vaccine
design, development and delivery, has unveiled its new CELLECTRA®-SP
series of hand-held, cordless electroporation devices at the DNA
Vaccines 2010 conference being held in New Orleans, LA.
Existing generations of electroporation systems consist of an electrical
pulse generator box the size of a large laptop attached by a cord to a
separate needle-electrode applicator. The new CELLECTRA®-SP devices
bring together groundbreaking design and engineering advancements to
combine all components into a self-contained, easy-to-use portable
device the size of a cordless hand tool.
Inovio's electroporation-based DNA vaccine delivery systems can increase
levels of gene expression (i.e. production of the
immune-system-stimulating protein the vaccine was coded to produce) of
“naked” DNA vaccines by 100-fold or more compared to delivery of naked
DNA vaccines via conventional injection alone. Delivery of Inovio’s
SynCon™ DNA vaccines into muscle or skin tissue with Inovio’s
electroporation systems have generated robust immune responses in
disease models including influenza (H5N1 and H1N1), smallpox, and HIV.
The strong immune responses have resulted in protection of immunized
animals, most notably ferrets and primates, from death and illness
following a challenge with the respective pathogens.
More significantly, Inovio has translated these animal study findings
into positive clinical results. Inovio’s clinical studies with
electroporation delivery of DNA vaccines in cancer patients have been
among the first to demonstrate generation of potent antigen-specific
immune responses in humans. Inovio recently announced that its
therapeutic cervical cancer vaccine VGX-3100 showed significant
dose-related T-cell and antibody responses in an on-going Phase I study.
The new CELLECTRA®-SP products combine the functionality of its current
generation of skin and intramuscular electroporation devices in clinical
testing with enhanced form, design, and portability. All components from
the pulse generator and applicator are integrated into a cordless,
rechargeable device. The rechargeable battery can enable vaccination of
several hundred subjects, making the device highly amenable to mass
vaccination. The devices are designed to accommodate different electrode
arrays to meet the requirements of the particular vaccine and tissue for
delivery (skin or muscle).
Dr. J. Joseph Kim, president and CEO, stated, “The new CELLECTRA®-SP
device is a testament to the skills of Inovio’s engineering and research
teams. As we look beyond the proof-of-concept stage for our DNA vaccine
and delivery programs, our goal is to continue our industry leadership
in developing and commercializing new vaccines which could improve the
lives of millions of people around the world.”
About Inovio Biomedical Corporation
Inovio Biomedical is focused on the design, development, and delivery of
a new generation of vaccines, called DNA vaccines, to prevent and treat
cancers and infectious diseases. The company’s SynCon™ technology
enables the design of “universal” vaccines capable of protecting against
multiple – including newly emergent, unknown – strains of pathogens such
as influenza. Inovio’s proprietary electroporation-based DNA vaccine
delivery technology has been shown by initial human data to safely and
significantly increase gene expression and immune responses. Inovio’s
clinical programs include HPV/cervical cancer (therapeutic) and HIV
vaccines. An IND has been filed for the first component of its universal
influenza vaccine. Inovio is developing its universal influenza vaccines
in collaboration with scientists from the University of Pennsylvania,
the National Microbiology Laboratory of the Public Health Agency of
Canada, and the NIH’s Vaccine Research Center. Other partners and
collaborators include Merck, Tripep, University of Southampton, National
Cancer Institute, and HIV Vaccines Trial Network. More information is
available at www.inovio.com.
This press release contains, in addition to historical information,
forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management’s
current estimates and expectations and are subject to a number of
uncertainties and risks that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those described in the forward-looking
statements. Inovio is providing this information as of the date of this
press release, and expressly disclaims any duty to update information
contained in this press release.
Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without
limitation, express and implied statements relating to Inovio’s
business, plans to develop electroporation-based drug and gene delivery
technologies and DNA vaccines and pre-clinical and clinical studies.
Actual events or results may differ from the expectations set forth
herein as a result of a number of risks, uncertainties and other
factors, including but not limited to: Inovio has a history of losses;
all of Inovio’s potential human products are in research and development
phases; no revenues have been generated from the sale of any such
products, nor are any such revenues expected for at least the next
several years; Inovio’s product candidates will require significant
additional research and development efforts, including extensive
preclinical and clinical testing; uncertainties inherent in clinical
trials and product development programs, including but not limited to
the fact that pre-clinical and clinical results may not be indicative of
results achievable in other trials or for other indications, that
results from one study may not necessarily be reflected or supported by
the results of other similar studies, that results from an animal study
may not be indicative of results achievable in human studies, that
clinical testing is expensive and can take many years to complete, that
the outcome of any clinical trial is uncertain and failure can occur at
any time during the clinical trial process, and that Inovio’s
electroporation technology and DNA vaccines may fail to show the desired
safety and efficacy traits in clinical trials; all product candidates
that Inovio advances to clinical testing will require regulatory
approval prior to commercial use, and will require significant costs for
commercialization; the availability of funding; the ability to
manufacture vaccine candidates; 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; whether Inovio’s
proprietary rights are enforceable or defensible or infringe or
allegedly infringe on rights of others or can withstand claims of
invalidity; and the impact of government healthcare proposals. Readers
are also referred to Inovio’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2008 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended September 30, 2009 filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission which identify important risk factors that could cause actual
results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.
Contacts
Investors:
Inovio Biomedical Corporation
Bernie Hertel,
858-410-3101
bhertel@inovio.com
or
Media:
Richardson
& Associates
Jeff Richardson, 805-491-8313
jeff@richardsonglobalpr.com