Inovio’s Vaccine Candidate Shows Promise in Early Trial

Inovio Pharmaceuticals has released data from the phase 1 clinical trial of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate showing it was safe and well-tolerated and induced immune responses in a majority of participants.

The vaccine, INO-4800, is among those short-listed by the Trump administrations’ Operation Warp Speed, which is aiming to deliver an effective vaccine by January 2021.

Inovio has expanded the phase 1 trial to include older participants in additional cohorts and it anticipates starting a phase 2/3 trial in July or August.

In addition, the firm is starting a phase 1/2 trial of INO-4800 in South Korea with 40 adults aged 19 to 20. — James Miessler