Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:INO) announced the receipt of funding from DOD (Department of Defense) and DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) to develop dMAb.
Preventive cure for coronavirus
Inovio’s team along with scientists from the University of Pennsylvania, the Wistar Institute, and Indiana University received a grant of $37.6 million for developing anti-SARS-CoV-2-specific dMAbs (DNA-encoded monoclonal antibody) using its dMAb technology. The innovative medicine would act as a preventing cure for coronavirus apart from offering therapeutic benefits.
CEO and President of Inovio, J. Joseph Kim said the company’s anti-SARS-CoV-2 dMAbs offer a unique complement to its INO-4800, its DNA vaccine candidate for the prevention of COVID-19. INO-4800 is undergoing Phase 2/3 clinical study with the funding received from JPEO-CBRND, and DOD. The private-public partnership allows the company to expand its application and scope of DNA medicines platform. It also opens ways for economical and better patient administration of the medicines and scale-up manufacture of monoclonal antibody products to treat cancers and other infectious diseases.
Rapid production of dMAbs
The company is pleased to receive funding to develop innovative medicines and provide treatment with minimal temperature requirements for stable storage. It facilitates rapid manufacturing of ASCS (anti-SARS-CoV-2-specific) dMAbs. The application of dMAbs in animal studies helped to prevent/ cure infections. It exhibits a great potential for applications in the biomedical field.
CEO and President of the Wistar Institute, Dario C. Altieri said DARPA noticed dMAb technology’s potential in improving the lives of people worldwide. The company is excited to work with Inovio to provide innovative and cutting edge solutions by offering its expertise and lend a helping hand in tackling the global health crisis.
The two-year grant from DARPA allows the teams of Wistar and Inovio to form coronavirus dMAb candidates that mirror the RMAC (recombinant monoclonal antibody candidates) of AstraZeneca. Within one year of the receipt of funding, the potential dMAb candidates will be engaged in preclinical trials and then into the clinical trials for human use.
Head and Vice President of AstraZeneca, Mark Esser said the company is pleased to combine its expertise with the talented team of Inovio and Wistar in evaluating the DNA delivered antibodies potential to cure or prevent coronavirus.
