The PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI) and Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced a follow-on collaboration to advance malaria vaccine development and new vaccination delivery technologies. Researchers “will test whether a novel vaccine approach that combines genetically engineered DNA with an innovative vaccine delivery technology called electroporation could induce an immune response in humans that protects against malaria parasite infection.” This follow-on agreement for clinical development builds on a 2010 research and development collaboration between Inovio and MVI.  Electroporation “deploys controlled electrical impulses to create temporary pores in a cell membrane, allowing uptake of the synthetic DNA. The cell then uses the DNA’s instructions to produce proteins that mimic the presence of the malaria pathogen, with the aim of inducing an immune response that provides protection against malaria.” Dr. David C. Kaslow , director of MVI, said, “We are excited to bring this innovative delivery technology into clinical testing to see whether the compelling immune responses seen in animal models translate to humans. Determining if and how these potent immune responses lead to protection against infection with the most deadly form of malaria is a high priority in our efforts to develop a next generation malaria vaccine.”

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/path-malaria-vaccine-initiative-and-inovio-pharmaceuticals-partner-to-accelerate-development-of-malaria-vaccines-and-innovative-delivery-technologies-185835962.html