Jiangsu Recbio Technology Co. Ltd. announced that it has received a notice of acceptance from...

Genexine Co. Ltd.’s DNA vaccine, GX-188E, showed potential in extending overall survival in patients with advanced cervical cancer in a phase II study when given in combination with Merck & Co. Inc.’s anti-PD-1 therapy, Keytruda (pembrolizumab). The Seoul, Korea-based company analyzed 60 patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-16 or HPV-18-positive advanced cervical cancer who had progressed after standard-of-care therapy.

Genexine Co. Ltd.’s DNA vaccine, GX-188E, showed potential in extending overall survival in patients with advanced cervical cancer in a phase II study when given in combination with Merck & Co. Inc.’s anti-PD-1 therapy, Keytruda (pembrolizumab).

Dartmouth College spinoff Nanopath Inc. closed a $10 million series A funding round to commercialize a point-of-care biosensing platform with ultrasensitive optical detection. The startup is developing a rapid test that provides genetic information in less than 15 minutes without the need for nucleic amplification. To date, the company has generated preliminary data in two clinical indications focused on women’s health: human papillomavirus genotyping and urinary tract infection characterization.

Newly appointed President and CEO Jackie Shea looks to have her work cut out for her, as Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc. decided to ditch its phase II/III COVID-19 vaccination trial in favor of pursuing a booster strategy with INO-4800. That update, disclosed during Inovio’s first-quarter earnings late May 10 alongside a likely delay in filing for approval of HPV immunotherapy candidate VGX-3100, sent the stock (NASDAQ:INO) falling 27% May 11. Over the past year, shares have fallen more than 70%.

Shares in Bavarian Nordic A/S fell sharply after its development partner Johnson & Johnson terminated collaboration and license agreements in hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human papillomavirus (HPV). Shares in the Danish company (OMX:BAVA) fell nearly 13% to DKK 115.75 (US$16.39) following the announcement. The partnerships, with J&J’s Janssen pharma unit, began with a $187 million tie-up in 2014, to develop an Ebola vaccine that is now approved in the EU. That led to an $171 million HPV vaccine research agreement in December 2015 and an $879 million deal covering HIV-1 and HBV research in 2017.