Pharma

Synthetic vaccine developer defense grant to counter bioterrorism threat

A synthetic vaccine developer is using a $750,000 small business innovation research grant from the […]

A synthetic vaccine developer is using a $750,000 small business innovation research grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to test the safety of its electrical drug delivery method with its DNA vaccines to guard against bioterrorism, according to a company statement.

The drug delivery system from Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NYSE AMEX:INO) uses an electrical charge to make cell membranes more porous to introduce a molecule or DNA code to change the cell’s function, a method called electroporation. It transmits the charge through a scratch on the skin surface.

The grant, which will provide funding for one year, was awarded based on the company’s two-year research project for the U.S. Army from 2008 to 2010 to identify suitable DNA vaccines to use with the device.

Inovio CEO Dr. J. Joseph Kim said: “Our human studies have already demonstrated that our existing intradermal delivery device is very tolerable and able to facilitate strong immune responses from our synthetic vaccines,” according to the statement.

The delivery system will be used with the Blue Bell, Pennsylvania-based company’s synthetic DNA vaccines against viruses associated with bioterrorism such as hanta, puumala, arenavirus and pandemic influenza

The first part of the project has focused on the design of the delivery device. The second phase will test the drug delivery device on animal subjects.

Biodefense funding was increased following the passage of the Project BioShield Act to help develop vaccines and bolster stockpiles of the drugs for use against bioterrorism.

 

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