Roche, Inovio enter immunotherapy partnership

Roche is to pay US $10 million to Inovio in an exclusive, worldwide license agreement to research, develop and commercialize Inovio's highly-optimized, multi-antigen DNA immunotherapies targeting prostate cancer and hepatitis B. The licensed compounds are currently in preclinical development and have generated robust T-cell responses in animal models.

The Swiss pharma comany has acquired an exclusive license for Inovio's DNA-based vaccines INO-5150 (targeting prostate cancer) and INO-1800 (targeting hepatitis B) as well as the use of Inovio's CELLECTRA® electroporation technology for delivery of the vaccines.

Under the terms of the agreement, Roche will provide preclinical R&D support and payments for near-term regulatory milestones as well as payments upon reaching certain development and commercial milestones potentially up to US $412.5 million.

"At Roche we are always interested in finding first-in-class and best-in-class therapies that may become the next generation treatments for patients with different types of cancer. INO-5150 will allow promising combination opportunities with the Roche portfolio, particularly with our emerging cancer immunotherapy molecules."

Hy Levitsky, Head of Cancer Immunology Experimental Medicine at Roche.

"This partnership represents an important milestone in Inovio's growth and maturing product portfolio. Roche brings to our immunotherapy candidates its leadership position and track record for developing and marketing innovative first-in-class therapies. Collaborating with the world's preeminent oncology development partner allows us to rapidly advance two of our promising near-clinical stage immunotherapy products from our product pipeline as we continue development of our phase II lead product, VGX-3100, for treatment of HPV-related cancers and dysplasia."

Dr. J. Joseph Kim, Inovio's President and CEO.