Inovio, Parker Institute to jointly evaluate cancer immunotherapy combinations

The goal of the partnership is to design innovative studies that have the potential to address cancers with high unmet need.

The initial trial under consideration between Inovio and the Parker Institute would address muscle invasive bladder cancer with INO-5401 in combination with checkpoint inhibitors and immune modulators.

Under the agreement, the Parker Institute will have responsibility for clinical study execution, working in collaboration with its established network of the most pre-eminent clinical academic and industry cancer centers.

Based on Parker's novel approach to accelerating studies of cancer immunotherapies, Inovio will provide financial contributions if Inovio's product(s) studied under the collaboration reaches the initiation of a Phase 3 study.

The collaboration with Inovio represents the Parker Institute’s first agreement within the field of DNA-based Immunotherapeutics. Inovio will benefit from the Parker Institute’s innovative research model which brings together top academic cancer institutions and companies to share resources, data, and technology, accelerate research through unifying and managing clinical trial design, and conduct multi-center clinical trials.

Inovio's President and CEO J. Joseph Kim said: "We thank the Parker Institute for their confidence in our technology. This partnership aligns with our goal to address cancer with our ASPIRE™ immunotherapies. Through the Parker Institute’s unique business model, Inovio will be able to work with university research pioneers and combination oncology therapy partners while leveraging the Institute’s unique capabilities and expertise.”

Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy vice president of research Fred Ramsdell said: “This collaboration between the Parker Institute and Inovio exemplifies the mission of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy to unlock the promise of immunotherapy by rapidly progressing next generation treatments into clinical trials.

“If this collaboration leads to better cancer patient responses to immunotherapy, this would mark an important milestone for the field.”  

In addition to the work with the Parker Institute, Inovio also is collaborating to advance two immuno-oncology products through late-stage development for treatment of HPV-related cancers, advanced bladder cancer, and GBM.

The products are being studied in combination with checkpoint inhibitors, in collaboration with Medimmune, Genentech, and Regeneron respectively.