Inovio Biomedical's DNA Delivery Technology for Immunotherapy to Be Presented at Drug Delivery Conference.SAN DIEGO -- Inovio Biomedical bi·o·med·i·cal adj. 1. Of or relating to biomedicine. 2. Of, relating to, or involving biological, medical, and physical sciences. Corp. (AMEX AMEX See: American Stock Exchange :INO Ino (ī`nō), in Greek mythology, daughter of Cadmus. She was the wife of Athamas, to whom she bore Learchus and Melicertes. She plotted to kill her stepchildren, Phrixus and Helle, but their mother, Nephele, saved them with the help of a winged ), which is focused on the development of DNA-based immunotherapy products and a novel tumor ablation therapy ablation therapy See Ablation–cardiology. , announced today that its Executive Director of Corporate Development, Dr. Michael Fons, will present new developments in Inovio's DNA DNA: see nucleic acid. DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid One of two types of nucleic acid (the other is RNA); a complex organic compound found in all living cells and many viruses. It is the chemical substance of genes. immunotherapy programs at the Arrowhead Drug Delivery 2007 conference to be held April 9 to 11 at the Crowne Plaza Union Square in San Francisco, CA. Dr. Fons' presentation will cover key aspects of non-viral DNA delivery via electroporation electroporation (i·lekˈ·trō·p Small cell lung cancer is a disease in which the cells of the lung tissues grow uncontrollably and form tumors. Description Lung cancer is divided into two main types: small cell and non-small cell. . The presentation will reference pre-clinical studies demonstrating safety and efficacy in animal models of cancer and infectious diseases and highlights of the regulatory approach used to permit clinical evaluation of these novel drug-device combination therapeutic products. "Our DNA-based immunotherapy programs have gained enormous momentum over the past year," stated Avtar Dhillon, MD, president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Inovio. "We believe we are on the verge On the Verge (or The Geography of Yearning) is a play written by Eric Overmyer. It makes extensive use of esoteric language and pop culture references from the late nineteenth century to 1955. of obtaining clinical data to validate the tremendous potential previously demonstrated in animal models of DNA-based immunotherapies delivered using Inovio's DNA delivery solution. We look forward to a number of exciting developments in immunotherapy development programs using our proprietary electroporation technology over the coming years." About Inovio's DNA Delivery Technology DNA-based immunotherapy products have the potential to by-pass scientific obstacles inherent in the development of conventional vaccines. For example, DNA-based immunotherapies may be better in stimulating cellular immunity necessary to fight chronic infection or diseases such as cancer. Despite this promise, vaccination using DNA plasmid alone, without enhanced delivery, has not been shown to reach the threshold for clinical benefit. Intramuscular intramuscular /in·tra·mus·cu·lar/ (-mus´ku-ler) within the muscular substance. in·tra·mus·cu·lar adj. Abbr. IM Within a muscle. delivery of DNA-based immunotherapy products using Inovio's proprietary electroporation technology has been shown in primate studies to boost the immune response by orders of magnitude over DNA plasmid alone. Plasmid-based immunotherapy products induced higher levels of antibodies and T-cell responses when delivered via electroporation, suggesting the potential to provide protection from infectious diseases such as HIV HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), either of two closely related retroviruses that invade T-helper lymphocytes and are responsible for AIDS. There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for the vast majority of AIDS in the United States. and hepatitis C. About Inovio Biomedical Corporation Inovio Biomedical (AMEX:INO) is focused on commercializing its Selective Electrochemical electrochemical /elec·tro·chem·i·cal/ (-kem´i-k'l) pertaining to interaction or interconversion of chemical and electrical energies. e·lec·tro·chem·i·cal adj. Tumor Ablation (SECTA) therapy and development of multiple DNA-based immunotherapies using its delivery platform for gene-based treatments. SECTA is a local ablation therapy for solid tumors designed to selectively kill cancerous cells and minimize cosmetic or functional impacts to predominantly healthy tissue typically treated around a tumor. Inovio is moving its lead product, the MedPulser[R], through pre-marketing studies for head & neck and skin cancers in Europe, where it has CE Mark accreditation, a U.S. Phase III pivotal study for head and neck cancer, and a Phase I/II trial for breast cancer. Inovio's DNA delivery partners include Merck, Wyeth, Vical, University of Southampton In the most recent RAE assessment (2001), it has the only engineering faculty in the country to receive the highest rating (5*) across all disciplines.[3] According to The Times Higher Education Supplement , Moffitt Cancer Center, and the U.S. Army, with four DNA-based immunotherapies in Phase I clinical studies. Inovio is a leader in developing human therapeutic applications of electroporation, which uses brief, controlled electrical pulses to increase both cellular uptake of a useful biopharmaceutical and, in the case of gene-based treatments, levels of gene expression. Inovio has the most extensive patent portfolio covering in vivo electroporation. More information is available at www.inovio.com. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to our plans to develop our electroporation drug and gene delivery technology. Actual events or results may differ from our expectations as a result of a number of factors, including the uncertainties inherent in clinical trials and product development programs (including, but not limited to, the fact that pre-clinical results referenced in this release may not be indicative of results achievable from testing in humans), the availability of funding to support continuing research and studies in an effort to prove safety and efficacy of Inovio's technology as a delivery mechanism, the availability or potential availability of alternative therapies or treatments for the conditions targeted by Inovio or its collaborators, including alternatives that may be more efficacious or cost-effective than any therapy or treatment that Inovio and its collaborators hope to develop, evaluation of potential opportunities, issues involving patents and whether they or licenses to them will provide Inovio with meaningful protection from others using the covered technologies, whether such proprietary rights are enforceable or defensible or infringe or allegedly infringe on rights of others or can withstand claims of invalidity and whether Inovio can finance or devote other significant resources that may be necessary to prosecute, protect or defend them, the level of corporate expenditures, assessments of our technology by potential corporate or other partners or collaborators, capital market conditions, and other factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 and other regulatory filings. There can be no assurance that any product in our product pipeline will be successfully developed or manufactured, or that final results of clinical studies will be supportive of regulatory approvals required to market licensed products. |
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