Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE MKT: INO) announced today that its novel DNA-based therapeutic monoclonal antibody targeting Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) completely protected mice from a lethal CHIKV challenge. In this preclinical study, a prototype DNA plasmid construct encoding for a monoclonal antibody for CHIKV envelope protein was created using Inovio’s patented DNA optimization technology and delivered with its CELLECTRA® device. The results were presented as a poster at the 17th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene Cell Therapy in Washington, DC.
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has re-emerged as a serious mosquito-borne alpha-virus responsible for several recent epidemics in tropical Africa and Asia. Recent evidence suggests that CHIKV, which is primarily transmitted to humans from mosquitoes, could spread to other parts of the world. There is no vaccine or therapeutic against this virus.
In this presented study, Inovio scientists and collaborators developed a novel DNA plasmid encoding a highly engineered immunoglobulin encoding a CHIKV monoclonal antibody (mAb) to directly generate in vivo production of an anti-CHIKV mAb in mice. They demonstrated that the serum of transfected animals exhibited the specific ability to bind to the CHIKV envelope antigen and this serum possessed CHIKV-neutralizing activity. Importantly, the treatment of the animals with anti-CHIKV mAb plasmids protected 100% of the treated animals from a lethal injection of CHIKV virus while 100% of the control animals died. The treated animals were also spared of virus-related morbidity, as measured by dramatic weight loss and lethargy.Â
Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) were a transformational scientific innovation designed to enhance the immune system’s ability to regulate cell functions. They are designed to bind to a very specific epitope (area) of an antigen or cell surface target and can bind to almost any selected target. mAbs have the unique ability to alert the immune system to attack and kill specific cancer cells (as in the case of Yervoy®) or block certain biochemical pathways (such as those leading to rheumatoid arthritis, as in the case of Remicade®). However, mAb technology has limitations. Delivered by passive administration, meaning they are manufactured outside the body, mAbs typically require costly large-scale laboratory development and production. Additional limitations include the necessity for repeat administrations and their limited duration of in vivo potency.