DNA Medicines Technology

OPTIMIZED DESIGN AND
DELIVERY, TEACHING THE BODY TO FIGHT DISEASE

INOVIO uses proprietary technology to design DNA plasmids — small circular DNA molecules that work like software that the body’s cells can download to produce specific proteins to target and fight disease. Our proprietary investigational CELLECTRA® devices have been designed to optimally deliver the plasmids into the body’s cells, without the use of chemical adjuvants, lipid nanoparticles or viral vectors.

PRECISELY DESIGNED PLASMIDS (SynCon®)

INOVIO’s SynCon® technology uses a proprietary computer algorithm to help engineer precisely designed DNA plasmids that work like software your body’s cells can download to learn how to produce a target protein. Our versatile platform can design DNA medicine candidates intended to prevent or treat a variety of disease targets.

PROPRIETARY DELIVERY DEVICES (CELLECTRA®)

Nucleic acid-based medicines need a pathway into the cell to work effectively. INOVIO uses proprietary delivery technology to help ensure our DNA medicines get where they need to be to make an impact – inside the cell, providing instructions to produce proteins to fight disease. After injecting the DNA medicine into either skin or muscle tissue, CELLECTRA uses electroporation (brief electrical pulses) to momentarily open small pores in the cell membrane to help the DNA plasmids enter.

IN VIVO TARGET PROTEIN PRODUCTION

We can design our plasmids to teach the body’s cells to produce a wide range of proteins, including antigens to elicit a specific immune response, monoclonal antibodies to fight a specific pathogen, or therapeutic proteins to replace defective or missing proteins in the body. We are particularly encouraged by our platform's ability to generate antigen-targeted humoral and cellular immune responses, including antigen-specific cytotoxic or killer T cell responses that are important for fighting cancer and viral infections.

THE PROMISE OF DNA MEDICINE

Over 15,000 doses of DNA medicines have been administered using our proprietary CELLECTRA devices to more than 5,000 patients in various clinical trials, and the data is compelling: a growing body of research indicates that DNA medicines offer many potential advantages and are generally well-tolerated, versatile, immunogenic and scalable.

Tolerability

Favorable safety profile tested over decades of research
Does not use chemical adjuvants, lipid nanoparticles or viral vectors
Ability to be re-dosed and sustain immune responses
Highly localized protein expression

Versatility

Can design plasmids to produce antigen-specific cytotoxic or killer T cell responses, monoclonal antibodies or replacement proteins
Can target virtually any antigen, combine multiple antigens in a single vial
Potential use as a primary vaccine or booster

Immunogenicity

When targeting HPV or cancer: can elicit antigen-specific cytotoxic T-cells to treat disease
When targeting infectious disease: can elicit binding & neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses to prevent disease or monoclonal antibodies to prevent or treat disease

Scalability

Allows for rapid plasmid design and manufacture
No frozen storage or shipping required

NEXT GENERATION DNA MEDICINE

INOVIO is pioneering the next generation of DNA medicines with research in cutting-edge technologies and delivery systems, including:

DNA-encoded Monoclonal Antibodies (DMAbs^TM) – Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are designed to enhance the immune system’s ability to regulate cell functions. Using our core DNA medicines platform, we’re pushing this
technology further, encoding the DNA sequence for a specific mAb in a DNA plasmid. We deliver the plasmid directly into the body’s cells using our investigational CELLECTRA device, enabling these cells to manufacture the mAbs in vivo – unlike conventional mAb technology that requires manufacture outside of the body. This offers some potential advantages over conventional mAbs, including a less frequent need for administration and lower manufacturing costs, that may enable greater access to mAb-based technology for more people and a wider range of diseases. We believe DMAbs could be a transformative approach for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases and cancer.
DNA-launched Nanoparticles (dLNPs) – This approach brings together the high immunogenicity benefits of nanoparticle technology-based vaccines with the in vivo protein production abilities of our core DNA medicines technology. Plasmids are designed to encode a specific antigen and self-assembling nanoparticle elements, and can provide instructions to the body’s cells to make antigenic nanoparticles, which in turn stimulate the immune system to elicit robust binding and neutralizing antibody and T cell responses.
Innovative DNA Medicine Delivery Techniques – Our device engineering team is working on novel approaches to DNA medicine delivery that build on our decades of delivery device research.

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