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MedImmune acquires Inovio HPV cancer treatment for $700 million
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Inovio Pharmaceuticals has begun collaboration and sold the exclusive rights to an HPV types 16 and 18 vaccine to MedImmune, the biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca, for $700 million, according to a press release.
“[The] collaboration with Inovio leverages our deep internal expertise in the use of vaccines to drive antigen-specific, T-cell responses,” David Berman, MD, PhD, senior vice president and head of MedImmune’s oncology medicine development unit, said in the release.
The INO-3112 immunotherapy activates antigen-specific, T-cell responses that target HPV types 16 and 18 cancers, which the release said are responsible for more than 70% of cervical cancers and pre-cancers. MedImmune will fund all development costs during the study of INO-3112, and Inovio is eligible to receive up to double-digit tiered royalties on related product sales.
In addition, MedImmune and Inovio will develop up to two DNA-based cancer vaccine products, for which MedImmune will have the exclusive rights to commercialize.
“The unique combination of our broad immuno-oncology portfolio with Inovio’s T-cell activating INO-3112 has the potential to deliver real clinical benefits for patients,” Berman said.
IDO-3112 is currently undergoing phase 1/2 clinical trials for cervical and head and neck cancers.