PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA — INOVIO (NASDAQ: INO) announced that results from its Phase 1 proof-of-concept trial evaluating DNA-encoded monoclonal antibodies (DMAbs) for COVID-19 have been published in Nature Medicine. The study, titled “Safety and pharmacokinetics of SARS-CoV-2 DNA-encoded monoclonal antibodies in healthy adults: a phase 1 trial,” highlights the potential of synthetic DNA technology as a durable and scalable alternative to traditional monoclonal antibody delivery.
The research was led by The Wistar Institute in collaboration with INOVIO, AstraZeneca, and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. According to the publication, all 39 trial participants maintained biologically relevant levels of DMAbs through 72 weeks of follow-up, confirming long-term in vivo antibody production. The expressed antibodies bound to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and neutralized pseudovirus in all tested participants.
Importantly, no anti-drug antibodies (ADA) were detected in approximately 1,000 blood samples, addressing a key limitation of other gene-based delivery platforms such as adeno-associated viral vectors. The treatment was well tolerated, with only mild and transient injection site reactions reported.
INOVIO stated that the data, now published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, demonstrate the potential of DMAbs as a long-acting, scalable, and well-tolerated platform for antibody delivery. The company indicated that the findings support continued advancement of the technology through future collaborations and clinical development programs.
The open-label, single-center, dose-escalation trial began enrollment in May 2022 and concluded in March 2024. Participants received intramuscular injections of synthetic DNA plasmids encoding AstraZeneca’s monoclonal antibodies AZD5396 and AZD8076, delivered via INOVIO’s CELLECTRA 2000 electroporation device. This delivery method temporarily increases cell permeability to enhance DNA uptake and support sustained antibody expression.
INOVIO’s DNA medicines platform combines proprietary DNA plasmid design with CELLECTRA delivery technology, enabling cells to produce therapeutic proteins without viral vectors, lipid nanoparticles, or chemical adjuvants.
The company continues to explore applications of its DNA-based therapies across infectious diseases, cancer, and HPV-related conditions, positioning its platform as a next-generation approach to durable, in vivo biologic production.
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