PPACA program provides $733,438 grant to Inovio

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE Amex: INO), a leader in the development of therapeutic and preventive vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases, announced today that it has received a $733,438 grant under The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA). The grant was related to three of the Company's projects, including the Phase II clinical trial of VGX-3100, a therapeutic vaccine for cervical dysplasia and cancer as well as development projects for SYNCON™ universal flu and dengue vaccines.

The PPACA provides small and mid-sized biotech, pharmaceutical and medical device companies with up to a 50% tax credit for investments in qualified therapeutic discoveries for tax years 2009 and 2010, or a grant for the same amount tax-free. The tax credit/grant program covers research and development costs from 2009 and 2010 for all qualified "therapeutic discovery projects."

A qualifying therapeutic discovery project is one designed to either treat or prevent diseases or conditions by conducting preclinical studies or clinical trials or carrying out research protocols for the purpose of securing approval from the Food and Drug Administration; or diagnose diseases or conditions or to determine molecular factors relating to diseases or conditions by developing molecular diagnostics to guide therapeutic decisions. Qualifying companies must not have more than 250 employees in all businesses of the taxpayer (e.g., a small biotech project at a large pharmaceutical company would not qualify).

Source: Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.