INOVIO (NASDAQ: INO) has signed a non-binding MOU with the Ministry of Health and Social protection of Columbia, showing its intentions to advance initiatives to combat the pandemic and thereat COVID-19 poses and better plan for future public health emergencies.
INOVIO partners with Columbian government on COVID-19 vaccine initiatives
The MOU establishes a framework for partnership in which the company and the government will look into knowledge exchange, tech licensing, and capacity building to help Colombia develop and produce vaccines and other biopharmaceuticals. The development of local manufacturing capabilities for INOVIO’s DNA medicines and related products and technology could be among the outcomes of the collaboration.
CEO and President Joseph Kim said, “INOVIO’s memorandum of understanding with Colombia is a sign of our shared commitment to develop and advance potentially life-saving DNA medicines and vaccines to those in need. This partnership grew out of the intended advantages of INOVIO’s DNA medicines platform to address current and future global health threats due to the anticipated stability of its product candidates, speed of design and manufacture, as well as the immune response and tolerability that have been observed to date in clinical trials.”
Columbia completes cycle to start vaccine production
Columbia’s Health and Social Protection Minister, Dr. Fernandi Ruiz Gomez, said, “Today is very special for us. We have a complete circle of what is possible with a North American company for the production of vaccines, including the possibility of integrating the work being carried out by the WHO Solidarity vaccine trial in Colombia that includes INOVIO as one of the four vaccine candidates in the clinical studies. As we discussed in the previous meeting today, the possibility of moving forward quickly is due to INOVIO considering Colombia as a priority country, a gesture that we appreciate, and is indicative of the will of our country and the Ministry of Health to advance the development of vaccines in Colombia.”
