INOVIO Pharmaceuticals
Empowering Human Immunity

OUR FOCUS: SERVING PATIENTS

Empowering Human Immunity

INOVIO is focused on serving people with urgent health needs. We are developing precisely designed DNA medicines to potentially treat and protect people from a range of serious and life-threatening diseases and infections. INOVIO’s first-of-their-kind DNA medicines are delivered directly into cells so that the body fights disease from within by producing a natural immune response robust enough to potentially treat or prevent diseases related to human papillomavirus (HPV), cancers, and infectious diseases.

PATIENT PERSPECTIVE

PRECANCEROUS CERVICAL DYSPLASIA

Nearly 80 million Americans are infected with human papillomavirus (HPV),1 and approximately 7 million HPV infections occur each year with high-risk HPV genotypes 16/18, which can lead to cervical, anal, and head and neck cancers, as well as other cancers.2

Cervical dysplasia refers to precancerous changes in cervical cells that, if left untreated, can advance to cervical cancer.3 It can only currently be treated by an invasive surgical procedure that does not clear the underlying HPV infection.4,5

I know HPV 16/18 can lead to cancer and that a scalpel can’t destroy a virus. I want a medicine that can destroy and clear the virus inside my body exactly where it’s hiding.”

– Precancerous cervical dysplasia patient

PATIENT PERSPECTIVE

RECURRENT RESPIRATORY PAPILLOMATOSIS (RRP)

RRP – a rare, debilitating, and potentially life-threatening disease caused by HPV genotypes 6/11 – causes noncancerous growths leading to airway obstructions. Occasionally, it can progress to cancer. Currently, the disease is incurable and is commonly treated by surgery, which temporarily restores the airway. The tumors almost always recur and the surgery must be repeated, often multiple times a year. RRP can severely impact the quality of life for those living with the disease.

See more from Robb, a patient living with RRP

References:

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) – About HPV. Available at CDC.gov. Accessed January 22, 2020.

  2. Saraiya M, Unger ER, Thompson TD, Lynch CF, Hernandez BY, Lyu CW, Steinau M, Watson M, Wilkinson EJ, Hopenhayn C, Copeland G, Cozen W, Peters ES, Huang Y, Saber MS, Altekruse S, Goodman MT. HPV Typing of Cancers Workgroup. US assessment of HPV types in cancers: implications for current and 9-valent HPV vaccines. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2015 Apr 29;107(6):djv086.

  3. NIH – MedlinePlus. Cervical dysplasia. Available at: medlineplus.gov. Accessed April 2, 2020.

  4. Xi LF, Kiviat NB, Wheeler CM, et al. Risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or 3 after loop electrosurgical excision procedure associated with human papillomavirus type 16 variants. J Infect Dis. 2007;195(9):1340-1344.

  5. Nobbenhuis MA, Meijer CJ, van den Brule AJ, et al. Addition of high-risk HPV testing improves the current guidelines on follow-up after treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Br J Cancer. 2001;84(6):796-801.

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