Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| NEWS RELEASE |
CONTACTS
Investors: |
| Bernie Hertel, Inovio Biomedical, 858-410-3101 |
Media: |
| Ron Trahan, Ronald Trahan Associates Inc., 508-359-4005, x108 |
Inovio Awarded US Army Contract for Bio-Defense Vaccine Research Using its Electroporation Delivery Technology
SAN DIEGO, Sept 23, 2008 — Inovio Biomedical Corporation (AMEX:INO), a leader in enabling the development of DNA vaccines using electroporation-based DNA delivery, announced today it has received a contract for $933,000 from the Department of Defense (US Army) to continue research and development of DNA-based vaccines delivered via its proprietary electroporation system. The contract, titled “Design and Engineering of the Elgen Gene Delivery System for Screening and Validation of Vaccine Candidates of Military Relevance,” will run through May 2010. This project is focused on identifying DNA vaccine candidates with the potential to provide rapid, robust immunity to protect against bio-warfare and bioterror attacks.
Dr. Avtar Dhillon, president and CEO of Inovio, said: “We have a productive working relationship with the US Army and are enthusiastic that they are supporting yet another research project with Inovio focused on the use of electroporation for biodefense vaccine development. Furthermore, we believe that knowledge developed from this research is also relevant to the research and development of commercially attractive therapeutic vaccines for targets such as cancer and chronic infectious diseases.”
About Inovio Biomedical Corporation
Inovio Biomedical (AMEX: INO) is focused on developing multiple DNA-based immunotherapies and DNA vaccines. Inovio is a leader in developing human applications of electroporation using brief, controlled electrical pulses to increase cellular uptake of a useful biopharmaceutical. Initial human data has shown that Inovio’s electroporation-based DNA delivery technology can significantly increase gene expression and immune responses from DNA vaccines. Immunotherapy partners include Merck, Wyeth, Vical, University of Southampton, Moffitt Cancer Center, the U.S. Army, National Cancer Institute, and International Aids Vaccine Initiative. Inovio’s technology is protected by an extensive patent portfolio covering in vivo electroporation. More information is available at www.inovio.com.
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