By The Life Science Report
Source: Streetwise Reports 07/19/2017
A U.S. biotech developing vaccines to fight a number of infectious diseases has generated promising preclinical results with a platform therapy targeting influenza, and expects to enter the clinic with a similar platform compound targeting Ebola in 2018.
Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc. (INO:NASDAQ) announced its “DNA-based monoclonal antibody [dMAb] product for flu produced broadly cross-reactive antibodies that provided complete protection from a lethal challenge with multiple viruses from both influenza A and B types in a preclinical study,” in a July 6 press release.
The results of the preclinical study were published in the journal npj Vaccines.
Inovio’s dMAb products “provide cross-strain protection and may offer prevention against unexpected changes of seasonal influenza strains,” H. C. Wainwright analyst Raghuram (Ram) Selvaraju stated in a July 7 research report. “We note that these data corroborate previous positive findings on dMAb products designed for HIV, dengue, and Chikungunya, and further validate the dMAb platform that aims to deliver DNA sequences that encode and rapidly generate therapeutic monoclonal antibodies directly in the recipients.”
“Management expects to advance the first dMab product葉he therapeutic Ebola product擁nto a human study in 2018,” Selvaraju wrote. Inovio’s Ebola therapy is funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
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The dMAb products work in tandem with the company’s DNA vaccines, “which attempt to incite the production of antibodies through the immune system,” according to the company press release. “In the case of influenza and other infectious disease, a dMAb product may provide immediate and short term protection while a DNA vaccine may provide long term immune memory and protection. Both products can be encoded to provide cross-strain protection.”
“These data suggest that passive immunization that results in broadly neutralizing anti-influenza monoclonal antibodies could complement or bypass traditional immunization against influenza, which typically seeks universal protection through recombinant antigens,” Selvaraju stated, further noting that “dMab products are inexpensive to produce, since DNA replication does not require mammalian cell culture.” According to the Centers for Disease Control, influenza vaccines are most commonly made “using an egg-based manufacturing process that has been used for more than 70 years.”
“With respect to influenza, our dMAb product offers a new game-changing model to address seasonal and pandemic influenza with a single dose,” Inovio’s CEO, Dr. Joseph Kim, stated in the release.
H. C. Wainwright rates Inovio a Buy with a $13 price target. Inovio stock currently trades at ~$7.80 per share.
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Disclosure:
1) Tracy Salcedo compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor. She or members of her household own securities of the following companies mentioned in this article: None. She or members of her household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None.
2) The following company mentioned in this article is a sponsor of Streetwise Reports: Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc. Streetwise Reports does not accept stock in exchange for its services. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers.
4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports’ terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.
5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article, until one week after the publication of the interview or article.
The results of the preclinical study were published in the journal npj Vaccines.
Inovio's dMAb products provide cross-strain protection and may offer prevention against unexpected changes of seasonal influenza strains, H. C. Wainwright analyst Raghuram (Ram) Selvaraju stated in a July 7 research report. We note that these data corroborate previous positive findings on dMAb products designed for HIV, dengue, and Chikungunya, and further validate the dMAb platform that aims to deliver DNA sequences that encode and rapidly generate therapeutic monoclonal antibodies directly in the recipients.
Management expects to advance the first dMab product葉he therapeutic Ebola product擁nto a human study in 2018, Selvaraju wrote. Inovio's Ebola therapy is funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
The dMAb products work in tandem with the company's DNA vaccines, which attempt to incite the production of antibodies through the immune system, according to the company press release. In the case of influenza and other infectious disease, a dMAb product may provide immediate and short term protection while a DNA vaccine may provide long term immune memory and protection. Both products can be encoded to provide cross-strain protection.
These data suggest that passive immunization that results in broadly neutralizing anti-influenza monoclonal antibodies could complement or bypass traditional immunization against influenza, which typically seeks universal protection through recombinant antigens, Selvaraju stated, further noting that dMab products are inexpensive to produce, since DNA replication does not require mammalian cell culture. According to the Centers for Disease Control, influenza vaccines are most commonly made using an egg-based manufacturing process that has been used for more than 70 years.
With respect to influenza, our dMAb product offers a new game-changing model to address seasonal and pandemic influenza with a single dose, Inovio's CEO, Dr. Joseph Kim, stated in the release.
H. C. Wainwright rates Inovio a Buy with a $13 price target. Inovio stock currently trades at ~$7.80 per share.
Read what other experts are saying about:
Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Want to read more Life Sciences Report articles like this? Sign up for our free e-newsletter, and you'll learn when new articles have been published. To see recent articles and interviews with industry analysts and commentators, visit our Streetwise Interviews page.
Disclosure: 1) Tracy Salcedo compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor. She or members of her household own securities of the following companies mentioned in this article: None. She or members of her household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None. 2) The following company mentioned in this article is a sponsor of Streetwise Reports: Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc. Streetwise Reports does not accept stock in exchange for its services. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. 3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. 4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports. 5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article, until one week after the publication of the interview or article. "}
Additional Disclosures for this Content
Disclosures from H.C. Wainwright & Co., Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc., Company Update, July 7, 2017
I, Raghuram Selvaraju, Ph.D. and Yi Chen, Ph.D. CFA, certify that 1) all of the views expressed in this report accurately reflect my personal views about any and all subject securities or issuers discussed; and 2) no part of my compensation was, is, or will be directly or indirectly related to the specific recommendation or views expressed in this research report; and 3) neither myself nor any members of my household is an officer, director or advisory board member of these companies.
None of the research analysts or the research analyst’s household has a financial interest in the securities of Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (including, without limitation, any option, right, warrant, future, long or short position).
As of June 30, 2017, neither the Firm nor its affiliates beneficially own 1% or more of any class of common equity securities of Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Neither the research analyst nor the Firm has any material conflict of interest in of which the research analyst knows or has reason to know at the time of publication of this research report.
The research analyst principally responsible for preparation of the report does not receive compensation that is based upon any specific investment banking services or transaction but is compensated based on factors including total revenue and profitability of the Firm, a substantial portion of which is derived from investment banking services.
The Firm or its affiliates did not receive compensation from Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for investment banking services within twelve months before, but will seek compensation from the companies mentioned in this report for investment banking services within three months following publication of the research report.
The Firm does not make a market in Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. as of the date of this research report.