GeneOne, Inovio, AstraZeneca, Emory University, U.S. Department of Defense, University of Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt University infectious news

DoD’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) exercised its first option to provide an additional $24 million to a consortium led by Inovio to develop three programs to treat Ebola. In April, DARPA awarded the consortium the contract, which is worth up to $56 million and comprises a base contract of $21 million, an option award of $24 million and a second option of $11 million (see BioCentury, April 13).

The consortium has completed enrollment of 75 volunteers in a Phase I trial of Inovio’s INO-4212, with interim data expected in 4Q15. INO-4212 is a DNA-based vaccine against Ebola that is a combination of INO-4201 and INO-4202. ...