INO Stock Edges Up After Hours As Partner Reports Success In Cervical Dysplasia Trial

• The trial also confirmed the therapy had a good safety profile with no major new side effects reported.
• ApolloBio, which has rights to the product in Greater China, said the positive results will support an application for approval in China. 
• Under the partnership deal, INOVIO could receive up to $20 million in milestone payments plus royalties if the treatment is approved and sold in the licensed region.

Shares of Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc. (INO) rose 3% in after-hours trading Thursday after its Chinese partner announced encouraging results from a major final-stage clinical trial of the company’s experimental treatment for cervical dysplasia.

The late-stage study, conducted by ApolloBio Corp., met its main goal. It showed that the treatment helped reverse precancerous changes in the cervix and clear the high-risk HPV virus that causes them in many patients. The trial also confirmed the therapy had a good safety profile with no major new side effects reported.

Cervical dysplasia is a common condition in which abnormal cells appear on the cervix — often caused by HPV-16 and HPV-18, the two strains linked to about 70% of cervical cancers. The treatment, called VGX-3100, is an experimental shot designed to train the immune system to fight those specific virus strains and help the body clear the abnormal cells without surgery.

ApolloBio, which has rights to the product in Greater China, said the positive results will support an application for approval in China.

“We believe these positive results highlight the promise of our technology and the value of strong partnerships,” said Inovio CEO Jacqueline Shea.

Under the partnership deal, INOVIO could receive up to $20 million in milestone payments (after taxes) plus royalties if the treatment is approved and sold in the licensed region.

How Did INO Retail Traders React?

On Stocktwits, retail sentiment around INO stayed within the ‘neutral’ territory over the past 24 hours, while message volume remained at ‘normal’ levels.  

A Stocktwits user applauded the “amazing news” and highlighted a buying opportunity before the royalties start to flow.

Another highlighted the significant market for cervical cancer in China.

INO stock has fallen 33% over the past 12 months. 

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