WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc. (INO) said the United States Patent and Trademark Office granted U.S. Patent No. 8,168,769, covering Inovio's SynCon vaccine for cervical dysplasias and cancers caused by human papillomavirus or HPV. The patent granted to the Trustees of The University of Pennsylvania has been exclusively licensed to Inovio under its existing license deal with the university. The patent comprises claims that cover Inovio's synthetic consensus HPV antigens and DNA constructs and vaccines that include these antigens, including Inovio's cervical dysplasia/cancer vaccine, VGX-3100. Moreover, this patent covers methods of treating a patient using the SynCon cervical dysplasia/cancer vaccine.
Inovio's President and CEO, said: 'This additional patent grant bolsters the strong intellectual property portfolio around our SynCon synthetic vaccines. Because there is neither a therapeutic live virus vaccine nor non-replicating vaccine available for cervical dysplasias and cancers, Inovio's synthetic vaccine for these diseases answers an unmet need by providing a non-invasive and potentially more effective approach for treating women with this condition.'
Currently, Inovio is recruiting candidates for its Phase II study of VGX-3100, designed to enroll 148 patients with cervical dysplasia at about 25 study centers. This randomized, placebo-controlled study would assess regression of cervical lesions from CIN 2/3 or CIN 3 to CIN 1 or less and clearance of HPV 16 or 18. The secondary endpoint is to assess immune responses to VGX-3100. Subjects would also be monitored for tolerability and safety.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
© 2012 AFX News
