Inovio Pharmaceuticals has signed an agreement with German contract manufacturer Richter-Helm BioLogics for large-scale production of Covid-19 DNA vaccine candidate, INO-4800.
The deal, partially funded by a $1.3m initial grant from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), includes a total of $17.2m support for INO-4800 development.
Richter-Helm BioLogics has been manufacturing Inovio’s other DNA drug candidate VGX-3100 has been in manufacture since 2014, which is currently in Phase III clinical trials to treat precancerous cervical dysplasia caused by high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV).
Inovio commercial-scale plasmid manufacturing at Richter-Helm BioLogics for its DNA medicines platform.
The aim is to manufacture one million INO-4800 doses by the end of this year.
Any additional capacity offered by Richter-Helm could significantly boost manufacturing of the Covid-19 vaccine candidate to meet urgent needs during the pandemic.
Richter-Helm BioLogics managing director Dr Kai Pohlmeyer said: “We will mobilise all our resources to ensure sufficient supply of late-stage clinical and commercial batches of INO-4800 and contribute to the fight against the deadly Covid-19 pandemic.”
Source: Inovio Pharmaceuticals boosts Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing
