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Inovio Biomedical Grants VGX Pharmaceuticals License to Develop Novel Cancer Therapeutic.


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 ), a leader in enabling the development of 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.
 vaccines using electroporation-based DNA delivery, announced today it has granted VGX VGX - Variational Graphics eXtended  Pharmaceuticals a worldwide non-exclusive license to its DNA delivery technology for intratumoral delivery of a proprietary gene to control the growth of melanoma and other cancers. Under the terms of the agreement, Inovio will receive from VGX an upfront license fee and payments based on successful completion of clinical and regulatory milestones. Inovio will exclusively supply VGX with electroporation electroporation (i·lekˈ·trō·p·rāˑ·sh  devices for the therapy included in the license agreement and will receive royalties on the sale of products covered by the license.

The peer-reviewed journal Molecular Therapy recently published a scientific paper1 describing VGX data from a mouse model showing complete regression of established melanoma tumors after delivery, using electroporation, of the VGX gene in the form of a plasmid (VGX 150). Dr. David Weiner, VGX co-founder and co-author of the scientific paper, said, "Bringing together the combination of exciting Inovio technology for drug delivery with VGX's innovative technology for tumor killing provides a novel and important opportunity to attack and treat previously untreatable Un`treat´a`ble

a. 1. Incapable of being treated; not practicable.
 cancers. In my opinion, this partnership will significantly propel the field of biotechnology forward."

VGX is preparing to file an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) for VGX-150 and expects to initiate a Phase I clinical trial Noun 1. phase I clinical trial - a clinical trial on a few persons to determine the safety of a new drug or invasive medical device; for drugs, dosage or toxicity limits should be obtained
phase I
 in the first quarter of 2007.

"Our enabling MedPulser([R]) DNA EPT EPT European Poker Tour
EPT Éducation Pour Tous
EPT English Placement Test
EPT Early Pregnancy Test
EPT Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera
EPT El Paso, Texas (border patrol sector)
EPT Error Proof Test
 System is currently being tested in melanoma with a number of cytokine Cytokine

Any of a group of soluble proteins that are released by a cell to send messages which are delivered to the same cell (autocrine), an adjacent cell (paracrine), or a distant cell (endocrine).
 genes. VGX's proprietary viral gene sequence may have important anti-tumor effects independent of immune response and represents a new approach to treating cancer," 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. "Dr. Weiner is well-recognized for his leadership in helping pioneer the field of DNA vaccines and we are delighted to add VGX to the growing list of corporate licensees using our technology."

About Inovio's DNA Delivery Technology for Tumors

Direct intratumoral delivery of genes encoding therapeutic proteins, using electroporation to dramatically enhance cellular uptake and expression of plasmid-based genes, represents a novel form of cancer therapy that along with skin and muscle DNA vaccination is a key part of the overall DNA delivery franchise being developed by Inovio. Intratumoral delivery of therapeutic genes may bypass some of the detrimental systemic effects of conventional cancer therapy. Recent studies in a mouse model of melanoma demonstrated considerable efficiency in causing the regression of established tumors after delivery of VGX's gene with Inovio's electroporation technology.

About VGX Pharmaceuticals

VGX Pharmaceuticals is a leading biopharmaceutical company with strong product candidates for the treatment of infectious diseases including 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 virus
This page is for the virus. For the disease, see Hepatitis C.
The Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a small (50 nm in size), enveloped, single-stranded, positive sense RNA virus in the family Flaviviridae.
 (HCV HCV
abbr.
hepatitis C virus


HCV 1 Hepatitis C virus, see there 2. Human coronavirus. See Coronavirus.
) as well as cancer and inflammatory diseases. The Company's clinical development programs include PICTOVIR[TM] for HIV infection and VGX-410C for chronic HCV infection, which are currently in Phase II clinical trials. A Phase I clinical trial will be initiated in 2007 for the Company's lead cancer drug compound, VGX-150, for the treatment of melanoma. VGX Pharmaceuticals' therapeutic platform is designed to advance a strong and continual pipeline of additional drug candidates into the clinic with VGX-100 for cancer therapy and VGX-1027 and VGX-750 for inflammatory diseases currently in development. The product candidates and technology programs are protected by the Company's extensive global intellectual property portfolio. More information about VGX can be found at www.vgxp.com.

About Inovio Biomedical Corporation

Inovio Biomedical Corporation is a late stage biomedical company focused on commercializing its proprietary 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 vaccines using its delivery platform for gene-based treatments. SECTA is designed for local treatment of solid tumors, with selective killing of cancer cells while preserving surrounding healthy tissue. Inovio is moving its lead product, the MedPulser[R], through pre-marketing studies for head and neck cancer 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 trial for breast cancer. Inovio's DNA delivery partners include Merck, Wyeth, Vical, Tripep, 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 , H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, U.S. Army, Innogenetics and Pharmexa, with six gene-based therapies and DNA vaccines in Phase I clinical studies. Inovio is a leader in developing human therapeutic applications of electroporation and DNA vaccination, with the industry's 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 the our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, our Form 10-Q for the nine months ended September 30, 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.

(1) Molecular Therapy, November 2006, Complete regression of established subcutaneous B16 murine murine /mu·rine/ (mur´en) pertaining to, derived from, or characteristic of mice or rats.

mu·rine
adj.
 melanoma tumors after delivery of an HIV-1 Vpr-expressing plasmid by in vivo electroporation. McCray AN, Ugen KE, Muthumani K, Kim JJ, Weiner DB, Heller R.
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Publication:Business Wire
Date:Nov 14, 2006
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