Maxim Affirms Inovio (INO) at 'Buy' Following Positive DNA-Targeting dMAb Data

Maxim affirms Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: INO) with a Buy rating and $14 price target after INO announced preclinical data showing that a DNA-based monoclonal antibody (dMAbs) targeting the Chikungunya virus induced 100% protection against lethal challenge in mice.

Analyst Jason McCarthy noted the following points on Wednesday:

• The Chikungunya virus, affects millions of people and for the first time is moving toward the U.S. Like Zika virus and Dengue, Chikungunya is carried by the aedes mosquito. With increased incidence of CHIKV disease and death there is concern, like Zika, about a global outbreak.
• dMABs, encode the instzuctions for a CHIKV targeting antibody, which is administered like a vaccine...the body then pumps out antibody which rapidly clears virus. Mice were able to generate enough antibody against CHIKV in just two days to survive lethal challenge...this could take months with a vaccine.
• Conclusion. The dMAb approach offers the potential for rapid protection to clear the virus during an outbreak. A DNA-based vaccine could then be administered to induce permanent long-term protection from reinfection. Inovio is developing both platforms and it's not just for CHIKV, it's also for Ebola and other viruses.

For an analyst ratings summary and ratings history on Inovio Pharmaceuticals click here. For more ratings news on Inovio Pharmaceuticals click here.

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