Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:INO) and MedImmune, the biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca (AZN), have been awarded $12.2 million from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency for a collaborative study on DNA-based monoclonal antibodies for infectious disease treatment. The companies will collaborate with scientists from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania to develop and assess the DNA mAbs in preclinical studies using technology developed by Penn and licensed by Inovio. The collaboration will focus on three disease areas -- influenza virus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.Cancer Genetics (NASDAQ:CGIX) said Tuesday it has received patent approval for its genomic probe used to detect biomarkers indicative of certain types of cancer, including cervical cancer. The patent covers the four-probe set used in the cancer diagnostic specialist's proprietary FISH-based HPV-associated cancer test, which identifies genomic aberrations associated with progression to cancer. The cervical cancer detection test has potential application for more than two million patients per year in the United States, the company noted in a release."While traditional pap smears and high-risk HPV testing have significantly reduced the number of cervical cancer deaths in the United States, there remains a critical need for better, more precise genomic testing to identify those women truly at risk of cervical cancer," Cancer Genetics said. The probe set recently received CE marking in Europe, which is required to promote medical devices, allowing it to be widely marketed in the European economic area, where approximately 34,000 new cervical cancer cases are diagnosed per year. Cancer Genetics (NASDAQ:CGIX) shares closed at $6.98 on Monday, in a 52-week range of $6.21 to $20.95."Monoclonal antibody technology has already achieved multiple market-proven product successes, and we believe DNA-based mAb technology could significantly extend the medical benefits and efficiency of this concept," said Dr. J. Joseph Kim, Inovio's President and CEO. "In previous preclinical studies our DNA-based mAbs demonstrated robust virus neutralization and protected treated animals challenged with a lethal virus." Shares of INO are at $12.19 within a 52-week range of $6.52 - $15.80. Shares of AZN are at $67.95 within a 52-week range of $51.01 - $82.68.Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:SGYP) reported positive results from the testing of the efficacy and safety of plecanatide in patients with constipation caused by irritable bowel syndrome. Data showed improved complete spontaneous bowel movement frequency, bowel habits, treatment satisfaction, and significantly reduced abdominal pain in patients throughout the 12-week treatment period using plecanatide. The biopharmaceutical company will move on to the pivotal phase 3 clinical development program in Q4 this year. Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:SGYP) finished higher at $2.74 on Monday, at the lower half of its 52-week range $2.45 - $6.70.
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