Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NYSE MKT: INO) reported Monday that preliminary results from a phase I trial of its H1N1 universal flu vaccine in elderly patients showed a doubling of the response rate of subjects generating infection-preventing antibodies. 

Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NYSE MKT: INO) says that its synthetic and therapeutic hepatitis B vaccine generated strong T cell responses that eliminated targeted liver cells in mice, pointing to the vaccine's potential to clear the infection and prevent liver cancer. 

Inovio's SynCon® vaccines are designed to provide two capabilities not achievable with conventional vaccines: stimulation of T-cell immune responses to provide therapeutic capabilities, and universal cross-strain protection and treatment against known as well as newly emergent unmatched strains of pathogens. 

Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NYSE MKT:INO) (AMEX:INO) said today that its subsidiary, VGX Animal Health, has received approval to market LifeTide SW 5.0, what it called the world's first approved growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) therapy for food animals, in New Zealand. 

Inovio Pharmaceuticals (AMEX:INO) saw its stock surge this afternoon after it showed for the first time that its therapeutic synthetic vaccine VGX-3100 can kill cells changed by the human papillomavirus (HPV) into precancerous cervical dysplasias. 

U.S. stocks are getting a lift from Federal Reserve comments about the central bank's bond-buying program. 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) rose nearly 70 points after dipping below the previous close early in the trading session. 

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (INDEXSP:.INX) began a short five-point climb from the opening bell to 1,671.55.

If the momentum continues, both indexes are set to once again reach record closes.

The NASDAQ Composite Index (INDEXNASDAQ:.IXIC) is rising nearly eight points higher to 3,505.72.

U.S. stock market futures shifted lower on Tuesday as investors look for more clues on any tapering of the Federal Reserve’s easing program. Two Fed presidents with voting rights on the interest-rate setting committee are due to speak later in the day. Futures for the Dow industrials rose less than 0.1 percent to 15,323,00 while those for the Standard & Poor’s 500 index was little changed at 1,664.60 and the Nasdaq 100 index futures slipped less than 0.1 percent to 3,018.25.

U.S. markets rose on Friday after positive economic reports that boosted investor sentiment to recover losses from the previous session, with benchmark indexes set to record their fourth straight week of gains and close at another set of record highs. 

With a fresh round of financing at its disposal, Sirona Biochem (CVE: SBM) is poised to follow through with its strategy of pursuing patent opportunities, partners and joint ventures. Earlier this month, the Vancouver-based biotechnology firm announced it had raised nearly $1 million, which brings its total debt and equity financing to $2.4 million so far this year.

Soligenix (OTCQB:SNGX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on products for inflammatory diseases and biodefense countermeasures, has taken yet another step toward advancing one of its drugs, saying it has started the first clinical study for the development of SGX203, its treatment for pediatric Crohn's disease.