Inovio Jumps After Announcing Successful Zika, MERS Vaccine Studies

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. INO said Thursday it’s observed a 100-percent antibody response in a phase I study for a Zika virus vaccine and a 92 percent antibody response in a phase I study for a MERS vaccine.

The findings were presented at a Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation conference in Paris, according to Inovio.

Inovio shares were up nearly 9 percent as of midmorning Thursday.

“Advancing DNA vaccine technology for broadly applicable, rapid response against infectious diseases of epidemic potential is one of Inovio’s priorities,” CEO Dr. J. Joseph Kim said in a statement.

“We quickly designed and manufactured vaccines for two recent emerging infectious pathogens, MERS CoV and Zika, and these products join our Ebola program in generating significant immune responses with a favorable safety profile in phase I studies.”

Related article: Positive Zika Vaccine Update May Ignite Inovio Short Squeeze

Building Immunity To A Widespread Threat

The mosquito-borne Zika virus, which can cause major birth defects in fetuses infected in the womb, is widespread in countries such as Brazil. Zika cases in the United States attributed to local mosquito bites began appearing in South Florida and Texas in 2016.

Inovio’s trial Zika vaccine, known as GLS-5700, is being codeveloped with GeneOne. The vaccine generated Zika antibodies in 100 percent of study subjects, Inovio said.

GLS-5700 is the first Zika vaccine tested in humans, and the study results represent the first human clinical data showing immune responses to a Zika vaccine, according to the company.

The First Vaccine For An Often-Fatal Disease

MERS, or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, has been reported in 27 countries since 2012, and about 36 percent of the 1,905 people with confirmed cases have died, according to the World Health Organization.

In addition to the high antibody response in Inovio’s MERS study, the vaccine is known as GLS-5300 and also generated T-cell responses in 98 percent of subjects, according to Inovio.

“Generation of antibody and/or T-cell response is believed to be important for generating immediate and long-lasting protection against the disease,” the company said in its announcement.

Inovio’s trial is the first instance in which a MERS vaccine has been tested on humans, according to the company.