Inovio is working closely on this project with Dr Connie Schmaljohn, chief of the department of molecular virology at the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick in Maryland.
The Inovio gene delivery system is a proprietary system for genetic immunization. It utilizes intramuscular electroporation of DNA, encoding selected antigens to induce immune responses.
Compared to conventional vaccines, DNA vaccines delivered using electroporation afford several important advantages in enhancing the onset and level of immunity generated, which may be critical in attempting to address threats posed by pandemics or bioterrorism.
Numerous genes can be isolated from potential infectious organisms, sequenced, and then synthesized for vaccination of the population or military in order to induce a protective immune response.
“We believe that this grant reflects the high level of interest within the vaccine industry and now the government for the potential of the Inovio gene delivery system as well as the strength of our development efforts in the delivery of gene-based vaccines,” said Dr Avtar Dhillon, Inovio’s president and CEO.