Inovio Pharmaceuticals
Inovio Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing DNA medicines delivered via its proprietary CELLECTRA electroporation devices, targeting HPV-related diseases, oncology, and infectious diseases, with lead candidate INO-3107 under FDA review for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersPlymouth Meeting, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Inovio Pharmaceuticals does
Inovio Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing DNA medicines for HPV-related diseases, oncology, and infectious diseases, built around its proprietary CELLECTRA electroporation delivery platform and SynCon plasmid design technology. Its lead candidate, INO-3107, is a DNA immunotherapy targeting HPV-6 and HPV-11 that cause Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (RRP); the FDA accepted its Biologics License Application in December 2025 with a PDUFA target date of October 30, 2026. The pipeline also includes VGX-3100 for cervical dysplasia (licensed to ApolloBio for Greater China), INO-5401 and INO-5412 in oncology, and infectious disease vaccines (INO-4800 for COVID-19, INO-4500 for Lassa, INO-4700 for MERS, PENNVAX-GP for HIV), with next-generation platforms spanning DMAbs, dLNPs, and DPROT.
The company is pre-revenue with no approved products and has funded operations primarily through repeated public equity offerings totaling approximately $103.5 million between April 2024 and April 2026, ending Q1 2026 with $37.7 million in cash plus an additional $16 million from the April 2026 offering, projected to fund operations into Q1 2027. Revenue is expected to derive from US specialty/rare-disease product sales of INO-3107 through ENT specialists and academic medical centers upon approval, supplemented by licensing and milestone payments (e.g., up to $20 million plus tiered royalties from ApolloBio upon VGX-3100 approval in China) and co-development partnerships with Akeso (glioblastoma), Coherus (HPV-associated cancers), AstraZeneca, Regeneron, the NIH, and DARPA. Leadership and board depth is anchored by veterans of Merck's HPV Vaccines Franchise, Pfizer Oncology, Seagen, Novartis, and Sanofi, with a recently hired Chief Commercial Officer focused on launching the first US DNA medicine.
Inovio Pharmaceuticals firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals
- Legal name
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- Website
- https://inovio.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing DNA medicines delivered via its proprietary CELLECTRA electroporation devices, targeting HPV-related diseases, oncology, and infectious diseases, with lead candidate INO-3107 under FDA review for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Inovio Pharmaceuticals industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biopharmaceuticals (DNA Medicines)
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Plasmid DNA & mRNA Manufacturing Services (HLAAAKAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Gene Therapy Regulatory, Pharmacovigilance & Clinical Operations Services (HLAAACAM), mRNA & Nucleic Acid Manufacturing Services (mRNA/saRNA/Plasmid DNA) (HLAGAGAC)
Keywords
Where Inovio Pharmaceuticals is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Plymouth Meeting
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Inovio Pharmaceuticals business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Product Sales (Future): Pre-revenue clinical stage biotech preparing for commercial launch. Revenue expected from sales of INO-3107 and other DNA medicine candidates upon regulatory approval.
- Licensing and Milestone Payments: Partnership with ApolloBio for VGX-3100 in Greater China entitles INOVIO to up to $20 million in milestone payments plus tiered royalty payments upon regulatory approval
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Inovio Pharmaceuticals product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Inovio Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing and preparing to commercialize DNA medicines for HPV-related diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases. Its core offering centers on a proprietary DNA plasmid platform delivered via CELLECTRA electroporation devices, with lead candidate INO-3107 under FDA review (BLA accepted December 2025, PDUFA October 30, 2026) for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP).
Product overview
INOVIO is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing DNA medicines using a proprietary platform centered on the CELLECTRA electroporation delivery device. The company's core products include INO-3107 (lead candidate for RRP), VGX-3100 (cervical dysplasia), and various cancer immunotherapies (INO-5401, INO-5412). Their technology platforms include SynCon plasmid design, DNA-encoded Monoclonal Antibodies (DMAbs), DNA-launched Nanoparticles (dLNPs), and DNA-encoded Protein Technology (DPROT). The company has developed next-generation DNA medicines targeting HPV-related diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases, with over 19,000 doses administered to more than 6,000 patients in clinical trials.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SynCon: Proprietary technology using a computer algorithm to engineer precisely designed DNA plasmids that work like software the body's cells can download to learn how to produce a target protein.
- CELLECTRA
- DMAbs
Products and services
- INO-3107 DNA immunotherapy designed to elicit an immune response against HPV-6 and HPV-11 strains that cause Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (RRP), a rare HPV-related disease of the respiratory tract. Lead candidate currently under FDA BLA review.
- VGX-3100 DNA immunotherapy candidate targeting HPV-16/18 E6 and E7 proteins for cervical dysplasia and HPV-associated diseases. Licensed to ApolloBio for Greater China; Phase 3 results reported positive in May 2026.
- CELLECTRA Delivery Devices Proprietary electroporation device designed to deliver DNA medicines into cells using brief electrical pulses to open cell membranes, without chemical adjuvants, lipid nanoparticles, or viral vectors.
- INO-5401 DNA vaccine targeting hTERT (human telomerase reverse transcriptase) for cancer immunotherapy applications.
- INO-4800 DNA vaccine candidate for COVID-19 targeting SARS-CoV-2 virus.
- INO-4700 DNA vaccine targeting Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
- INO-4500 DNA vaccine candidate targeting Lassa virus.
- PENNVAX-GP Synthetic consensus HIV-1 DNA vaccine targeting HIV envelope proteins, being developed with the HIV Vaccines Trial Network.
- INO-5412 DNA immunotherapy candidate for glioblastoma, being evaluated in combination with cadonilimab (Akeso) in Phase II INSIGhT adaptive platform trial sponsored by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Quantifiable outcome
- 72% of RRP patients saw 50-100% reduction in surgeries in first year with INO-3107
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Inovio Pharmaceuticals
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Inovio Pharmaceuticals technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Inovio Pharmaceuticals partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ApolloBio CorporationcoreLicensed VGX-3100 to ApolloBio for Greater China in 2018. ApolloBio reported positive Phase 3 results for VGX-3100 in cervical dysplasia. INOVIO entitled to up to $20 million in milestone payments plus tiered royalties upon regulatory approval in China.
- Akeso Inc.coreClinical trial collaboration to evaluate INO-5412 (INOVIO's DNA immunotherapy) combined with Akeso's cadonilimab (PD-1/CTLA-4 bispecific antibody) for glioblastoma treatment. Part of Phase II INSIGhT adaptive platform trial sponsored by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, with dosing expected H2 2026.
- AstraZenecaminorCollaborative partnership for development of DNA medicines in unspecified therapeutic areas.
- Coherus BioSciencesminorPartnership to advance DNA-based cancer immunotherapies combining INO-3113 with LOQTORZ for HPV-associated cancers (announced January 2024).
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)minorGovernment partnership for development of DNA medicines for defense-related applications.
- National Cancer Institute, NIHminorCollaboration with National Cancer Institute for cancer immunotherapy research and development.
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesminorGovernment partnership for infectious disease vaccine development.
- Regeneron PharmaceuticalsminorCollaboration for development of DNA medicines in oncology.
- University of PennsylvaniaminorAcademic collaboration for DNA medicine research and development.
- The Wistar InstituteminorAcademic partnership with David B. Weiner, Ph.D. who serves as Executive Vice President and Director of the Vaccine Center at Wistar. Dr. Weiner is an inventor of over 100 patents and pioneer in DNA vaccine technology.
- Plumbline Life SciencesminorCollaboration for unspecified DNA medicine development.
- HIV Vaccines Trial NetworkminorCollaboration for HIV vaccine research through PENNVAX-GP candidate.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Inovio Pharmaceuticals competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Vical Incorporated: Vical develops plasmid DNA-based vaccines and immunotherapies using a similar nucleic-acid-therapeutic modality as INOVIO. Both target infectious disease and oncology indications via direct in vivo protein expression, though Vical uses polymer-based delivery rather than electroporation.
- Ichor Medical Systems: Ichor develops electroporation-based delivery systems for plasmid DNA and other nucleic acid therapeutics — a direct counterpart to INOVIO's CELLECTRA device. The two companies have historically collaborated and compete for the same DNA-delivery platform positioning.
- OncoSec Medical (now called ImmunoSec): OncoSec combines electroporation delivery with immuno-oncology DNA payloads (similar to INO-5401/INO-5412) and treats solid tumors. Directly comparable in the combination of electroporation device + DNA-based cancer immunotherapy.
- Arcturus Therapeutics: Arcturus develops mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics using a self-amplifying RNA platform, with infectious disease and rare disease focus (including an approved product, Kostaive). Comparable to INOVIO as a clinical/commercial-stage nucleic-acid therapeutics developer.
- CureVac: CureVac develops mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics for infectious diseases and oncology. Comparable to INOVIO as a nucleic-acid modality platform focused on prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines, with multiple clinical-stage assets.
Broad incumbents
- Moderna: Moderna is the dominant mRNA therapeutics platform, the closest nucleic-acid therapeutic analog to INOVIO's DNA approach. Operates at vastly larger scale with multiple approved products (Spikevax) and a broader infectious disease / oncology pipeline.
- BioNTech: BioNTech pioneered mRNA-based vaccines (Comirnaty with Pfizer) and is now expanding into cancer immunotherapies. Comparable to INOVIO as a nucleic-acid therapeutics developer targeting oncology and infectious diseases, though at a vastly larger commercial scale.
- Translate Bio (Sanofi): Translate Bio (acquired by Sanofi in 2021) developed mRNA therapeutics for infectious disease and rare diseases — directly comparable in modality to INOVIO. Now embedded in Sanofi's broader vaccine and rare disease franchise.
Emerging players
- Hookipa Pharma: Hookipa develops arenavirus-based vaccine platforms targeting infectious disease and oncology, with a Gilead partnership for HIV. An emerging nucleic-acid-adjacent vaccine company comparable in therapeutic area focus to INOVIO's infectious disease pipeline.
Others
- Merck & Co. Merck is the dominant HPV franchise holder (Gardasil) and the most relevant strategic partner/acquirer profile for INOVIO given multiple ex-Merck executives on INOVIO's board and management. Although not a direct competitor in DNA medicines, Merck defines the competitive standard in HPV therapeutics.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Inovio Pharmaceuticals social profiles
Digital presenceInovio Pharmaceuticals financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Inovio Pharmaceuticals leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
Inovio Pharmaceuticals funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds18 records
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Inovio Pharmaceuticals M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments3 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Inovio Pharmaceuticals
What does Inovio Pharmaceuticals do?
Inovio Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing and preparing to commercialize DNA medicines for HPV-related diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases. Its core offering centers on a proprietary DNA plasmid platform delivered via CELLECTRA electroporation devices, with lead candidate INO-3107 under FDA review (BLA accepted December 2025, PDUFA October 30, 2026) for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP).
Is Inovio Pharmaceuticals a public or private company?
Inovio Pharmaceuticals is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Inovio Pharmaceuticals founded?
Inovio Pharmaceuticals was founded in 2002. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Inovio Pharmaceuticals based?
Inovio Pharmaceuticals is headquartered in Plymouth Meeting, United States, in the North America region.
How does Inovio Pharmaceuticals make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Product Sales (Future) is the primary driver. The others are licensing and Milestone Payments.
Who are Inovio Pharmaceuticals's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Vical Incorporated, Ichor Medical Systems, OncoSec Medical (now called ImmunoSec), Arcturus Therapeutics and CureVac. Broad incumbents are Moderna, BioNTech and Translate Bio (Sanofi). Hookipa Pharma is listed as an emerging player. Merck & Co. is listed as an others.
Does Inovio Pharmaceuticals have an API?
No public API is recorded for Inovio Pharmaceuticals.
What industry is Inovio Pharmaceuticals in?
Inovio Pharmaceuticals's product category is Biopharmaceuticals (DNA Medicines). Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAKAE, Plasmid DNA & mRNA Manufacturing Services, with a secondary code of HLAAACAM, Gene Therapy Regulatory, Pharmacovigilance & Clinical Operations Services. Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2834.