Near-100% immune response for new HIV vaccine candidate

Shares in USA-based Inovio Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: INO) have risen more than a quarter following news that the company’s HIV vaccine candidate, PENNVAX-GP, produced a near-100% response rate in an early stage trial.

The study, which has been supported by the HIV Vaccine Trials Network and the National Institutes of Health in the USA, tested the vaccine in combination with an immune activator, interleukin (IL)-12.

Chief executive Joseph Kim said: “These results are among the highest ever responses we’ve seen with an HIV vaccine, and they are remarkably consistent with our recent data reported from our Ebola, Zika and MERS clinical trials in terms of demonstrating nearly 100% vaccine response rates with very favorable safety profile.”