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http://static.cdn-seekingalpha.com/u...upload_ino.pngWith the global vaccine market expected to hit $52 billion by 2016, certain biotech innovators pushing the edge in this field are garnering a further in depth look. One particular company in this sector which could potentially revolutionize vaccine technology at the foundational level is Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc. (INO). Specializing in DNA based vaccines and therapeutics, Inovio's platform works by stimulating a patient's own immune system to produce greater quantities of cancer and disease fighting T-cells. With a recent deal inked out with Roche this week, around $50M in cash and equivalents and a cutting edge patented technology platform, there appears to be an overwhelmingly bullish outlook on the company's future prospects.
Clinical Efficacy
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Unlike biologic vaccines, Inovio's vaccines are comprised of computer-generated strands of synthetic DNA mixed with water. This works to give Inovio's product candidates a huge edge, as these synthetic therapies don't run the risk of producing the viruses which they aim to treat and can also be easily manufactured and stored at room temperature. Likewise, being that these vaccines are synthetic and not biologic has enabled Inovio to build a large IP and patent portfolio for its products. Currently the company's pipeline hosts over 400 patents and shows no sign of slowing its IP expansion. Specifically what Inovio has been patenting so aggressively thus far are its coded DNA sequences which are the foundational mechanism of action for its vaccines and therapies. Through these synthesized DNA transcription codes, Inovio's vaccines work to activate targeted immunological responses triggering the patient's own body to fight their disease more effectively. Along with the numerous published studies demonstrating the efficacy of the company's technology, recent pre-clinical data revealed that the company's hTERT DNA cancer vaccine generated a T-Cell immune system response 18-fold higher than the next best peer technology found in Merck's (MRK) DNA Plus Adenovirus Vector.