Inovio Pharmaceuticals Announces Strategic Cancer Vaccine Collaboration and License Agreement With AstraZeneca's MedImmune Unit

Inovio Pharmaceuticals INO today announced that it has entered into a license agreement and collaboration with MedImmune, the global biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca. Under the agreement, MedImmune will acquire exclusive rights to Inovio's INO-3112 immunotherapy, which targets cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18. INO-3112, which is in phase I/II clinical trials for cervical and head and neck cancers, works by generating killer T-cell responses that are able to destroy HPV 16- and 18-driven tumors. These HPV types are responsible for more than 70 percent of cervical pre-cancers and cancers. MedImmune intends to study INO-3112 in combination with selected immunotherapy molecules within its pipeline in HPV-driven cancers. Emerging evidence suggests that the benefits from immuno-oncology molecules, such as those in MedImmune's portfolio, can be enhanced when they are used in combination with cancer vaccines that generate tumor-specific T-cells. Under the terms of the agreement, MedImmune will make an upfront payment of $27.5 million to Inovio as well See full press release