Exhibit 5.1
Brian F. Leaf
(703) 456-8053
bleaf@cooley.com
August 13, 2024
Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
660 W. Germantown Pike, Suite 110
Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania 19462
We have acted as counsel to Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the offering by the Company of shares of its common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), having an aggregate offering price of up to $60,000,000 (the “Shares”), pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-275445) (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the prospectus included in the Registration Statement (the “Base Prospectus”), and the prospectus supplement dated August 13, 2024, filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”). The Shares are to be sold by the Company in accordance with the Equity Distribution Agreement dated August 13, 2024 (the “Agreement”) between the Company and Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. as described in the Prospectus.
In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon (a) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (b) the Agreement, (c) Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, each as currently in effect, and (d) such other documents, records, opinions, certificates, memoranda and instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinion expressed below. We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies, the accuracy, completeness and authenticity of certificates of public officials and the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by all persons other than the Company where authorization, execution and delivery are prerequisites to the effectiveness thereof. As to certain factual matters, we have relied upon a certificate of an officer of the Company and have not independently verified such matters.
We have assumed (i) that each sale of Shares will be duly authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company, a duly authorized committee thereof or a person or body pursuant to an authorization granted in accordance with Section 152 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), (ii) that no more than 30,000,000 Shares will be sold under the Agreement pursuant to the Prospectus, and (iii) that the price at which the Shares are sold will equal or exceed the part value of the Common Stock. We express no opinion to the extent that future issuances of securities of the Company, anti-dilution adjustments to outstanding securities of the Company or other matters cause the number of shares of Common Stock issuable under the Agreement to exceed the number of shares available for issuance by the Company.
Our opinion is expressed solely with respect to the DGCL. We express no opinion to the extent that any other laws are applicable to the subject matter hereof and express no opinion and provide no assurance as to compliance with any federal or state securities law, rule or regulation.
On the basis of the foregoing, in reliance thereon and subject to the qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when sold and issued against payment therefor in accordance with the Agreement, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
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