INOVIO and Akeso Announce Clinical Collaboration to Advance Novel Combination Therapy for Glioblastoma (GBM)

Core Insights - INOVIO and Akeso have announced a clinical collaboration to evaluate a novel combination therapy for glioblastoma (GBM), which includes INO-5412 and cadonilimab [1][2] - The combination therapy will be part of the INSIGhT Phase 2 adaptive platform trial, aiming to find new treatments for GBM [1][2] - Dosing for the trial is expected to begin in the second half of 2026 [1] Company Overview - INOVIO is focused on developing DNA medicines for cancer and infectious diseases, utilizing proprietary technology for the design and delivery of its therapies [2] - Akeso is a biopharmaceutical company committed to innovative biological medicines, with a robust pipeline of over 50 assets in various disease areas, including cancer [2] Treatment Details - INO-5412 combines INO-5401 and INO-9012, showing potential for enhanced immune responses and improved patient outcomes when used with checkpoint inhibitors [1][2] - Cadonilimab is a first-in-class PD-1/CTLA-4 bispecific antibody, already approved in China for multiple cancer indications, demonstrating effectiveness regardless of PD-L1 expression [1][2] Clinical Trial Insights - The INSIGhT trial is designed to test multiple investigational therapies simultaneously, with the collaboration between INOVIO and Akeso focusing on the safety and efficacy of the combination therapy in patients with confirmed GBM [1][2] - GBM has a poor prognosis, with a median overall survival of approximately 15 months for patients receiving standard care [2] Market Context - The estimated annual incidence of GBM in the U.S. is 11,362 cases, highlighting the significant unmet medical need in this area [2] - The collaboration aims to leverage the strengths of both companies to address the challenges of treating this aggressive form of brain cancer [1][2]