Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s (INO) shares were up 5.3% after the company announced that it will collaborate with GeneOne Life Science Inc., a company in which Inovio owns a minority stake, for the development of a DNA-based Ebola vaccine.
Both companies will collaborate on the development of the Ebola vaccine through a phase I study. Currently, the companies are conducting pre-Investigational New Drug (IND) activities and intend to start the human trial in the first half of 2015. Following the successful completion of the phase I study, both Inovio and GeneOne Life Science plan to seek additional third party support and resources for further development and commercialization of their Ebola vaccine.
Meanwhile, results from preclinical studies have revealed that Inovio’s Ebola vaccine can provide both preventive and treatment benefits. The Ebola vaccine, when administered to guinea pigs and mice, demonstrated 100% protection from death. Further, it was observed that 100% of vaccinated guinea pigs and mice were protected from weight loss after being exposed to the Ebola virus.
We note that Inovio’s Ebola vaccine has been designed using the company’s novel DNA-based Syncon technology. The Ebola vaccine has been designed to provide broad protective antibody and T-cell responses against multiple strains of Ebola virus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the recent outbreak of the Ebola epidemic a public health emergency of international concern. The disease has so far claimed more than 2,622 lives and at least 5,335 people have been infected with the virus in West Africa.
With no approved vaccine or treatment for this lethal disease, companies like GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) among others, are also developing Ebola vaccines.
We expect investor focus to remain on pipeline updates regarding Inovio/GeneOne Life Science’s DNA-based Ebola vaccine.
Inovio is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock. A better-ranked stock in the biotech sector is Amgen Inc. (AMGN) carrying a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
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