Inovio reports ‘promising’ interim results from DMAbs trial

Inovio (INO) announced promising interim results from an ongoing Phase 1 proof-of-concept trial evaluating DMAbs for COVID-19. In the trial, 100% of participants who have reached week 72 maintained biologically relevant levels of DMAbs, confirming the durability of in vivo antibody production. Notably, no participant developed anti-drug antibodies, a common challenge observed in other gene-based delivery platforms, such as adeno-associated virus mediated antibody expression. Additionally, the DMAbs were well tolerated, with the most common side effects being mild, temporary injection site reactions, such as pain and redness. The trial is being led by The Wistar Institute in collaboration with Inovio, AstraZeneca (AZN), and clinical investigators at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. “This study provides the first clinical proof-of-concept that DNA-encoded monoclonal antibodies can be durably and tolerably expressed in humans,” said David B. Weiner, Ph.D, Executive Vice President of The Wistar Institute and lead investigator for the study. “These findings could represent a breakthrough as they demonstrate the potential of DMAb technology to overcome traditional monoclonal antibody production challenges, such as short half-life and anti-drug immune responses, making it a promising platform for a broad range of diseases. This technology has the potential to transform treatments for infectious diseases, as well as cancer and metabolic disorders by enabling long-term expression of therapeutic antibodies and other proteins.”