Inovio gets DNA vaccine grant from DoD

The Department of Defense has granted Inovio Pharmaceuticals a Small Business Innovation Research Grant to develop a system that would deliver DNA vaccines by intradermal electroporation simultaneously to two or more spatially distinct sites on the body. That approach, the DoD hopes, would avoid potential immune interference that may result from formulating a dual vaccine. Financial details were not disclosed.

Inovio is developing its electroporation delivery platform, a painless, transdermal approach to administering DNA vaccines using a millisecond electrical pulse. Final testing of the technology will involve delivery of Lassa and Hantaan virus vaccines at the same time in two separate sites on the body. The funding will help Inovio test how far apart the two vaccines must be in order to avoid immune interference.

"This device would provide a means to painlessly deliver multiple vaccines simultaneously, bringing improved protection against infectious diseases to both military and civilian populations, said CEO Dr. J. Joseph Kim in a statement. "This collaboration builds on Inovio's strong relationship with the U.S. Department of Defense, in which Inovio is bringing medical innovation to multiple bio-defense projects."

- here's the Inovio release

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