Roche in exclusive cancer vaccine development deal with Inovio Pharmaceuticals

Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG and US-based Inovio Pharmaceuticals yesterday said that they have entered into an exclusive global license agreement to develop and commercialise Inovio's vaccines for prostate cancer and hepatitis B.

Under the deal, Basel-based Roche will pay $10 million up front, with development and commercial milestones of up to $412.5 million for exclusive access to Inovio's DNA-based vaccines INO-5150 for prostate cancer and INO-1800 for hepatitis B.

In addition, Inovio will receive up to double-digit tiered royalties on product sales.

Pennsylvania-based Inovio develops vaccines to prevent and treat cancers and other infectious diseases.

Its lead vaccine, a therapeutic against HPV-caused pre-cancers and cancers, is in phase II. Other phase I and preclinical programs target prostate, breast, and lung cancers as well as HIV, influenza, malaria and hepatitis C virus.

Commenting on the deal, Hy Levitsky, Roche's head of cancer immunology experimental medicine, said, "At Roche we are always interested in finding first-in-class and best-in-class therapies that may become the next generation treatments for patients with different types of cancer. INO-5150 will allow promising combination opportunities with the Roche portfolio, particularly with our emerging cancer immunotherapy molecules."

"This partnership represents an important milestone in Inovio's growth and maturing product portfolio. Roche brings to our immunotherapy candidates its leadership position and track record for developing and marketing innovative first-in-class therapies," said Dr J Joseph Kim, Inovio's president and CEO.

"Collaborating with the world's preeminent oncology development partner allows us to rapidly advance two of our promising near-clinical stage immunotherapy products from our product pipeline as we continue development of our phase II lead product, VGX-3100, for treatment of  HPV-related cancers and dysplasia," he added.