(RTTNews) - Friday, biotechnology company Inovio Biomedical Corp.(INO: News ) said a combination of its synthetic consensus H1N1, H2N2, H3N2, and H5N1 influenza vaccine candidates achieved protective antibody responses against several different influenza sub-types and strains in ferrets, considered to be the most relevant animal model for influenza vaccine development. The stock is currently up more than 26% on AMEX.

The company noted that ferrets immunized with its SynCon universal flu vaccine combinations were 100% protected against death and sickness in a challenge with the A/H1N1(2009) swine-origin influenza.

Presenting the data at the Influenza Congress USA 2009 in Washington, DC, Joseph Kim, Inovio's President and Chief Executive Officer said, "Inovio is proud to be one of the first organizations to demonstrate a vaccine capable of providing protection against a broad set of unmatched influenza sub-types and strains, both seasonal and pandemic."
The San Diego, California-based Inovio noted that the conventional influenza vaccines can only provide protection if they substantially match the genetic makeup of the circulating virus strain(s). They have limited ability to protect against genetic shifts of the virus. As a result, a new vaccine is created each year in anticipation of the next flu season's new strain(s). If a significantly different new strain emerges, such as the current swine-origin pandemic strain, then the current vaccine will provide little or no protective capability.

INO is trading at $1.53, up $0.33 or 27.50%, on a volume of about 5.37 million shares.

To receive FREE breaking news email alerts for Inovio Biomedical Corp. and others in your portfolio

by RTT Staff Writer

For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com