NEW YORK: Inovio Pharmaceuticals has received US health regulator's clearance to begin a mid-stage study of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, the vaccine maker said on Monday (Nov 16).

The trial for the vaccine, INO-4800, will be funded by the US Department of Defense, the company said.

The US Food and Drug Administration in September put Phase 3 of the mid-to-late stage trial on hold, as it sought more information, including details on a delivery device used to inject genetic material into cells.

READ: Where are we in the COVID-19 vaccine race?

INO-4800 is administered through a device called Cellectra, which sends out electrical pulses to open pores in a cell so DNA molecules can enter. The device is portable and runs on AA batteries.

Phase 3 portion of the trial will remain on partial clinical hold until Inovio has satisfactorily resolved FDA's remaining concerns, the company said.

In June, the US defense department granted US$71 million to Inovio to scale up production of Cellectra.

It has also agreed to provide additional funding for advanced clinical trials of the vaccine candidate, Inovio said.

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