Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (INO)
For informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Analysis by Sedat ANAK, Founder & Editor-in-Chief | AI-powered analysis. Data sourced from SEC filings and institutional-grade financial providers. Editorially reviewed. Not financial advice.
Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (INO) trades at $1.16 with AI Score 24/100 (Grade F). Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing DNA medicines for HPV-related diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases. Market cap: $62.16M, Sector: Healthcare.
Price live · AI analysis from May 10, 2026INO stock analysis for 2026: Analysts have set a consensus price target of $2.50 for Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., suggesting 115.5% upside from the current price of $1.16. The AI MoonshotScore is 24/100, indicating a strong bearish outlook. Key factors: analyst coverage, AI-driven quantitative scoring.
INO: 1/1 perspectives are bearish.
How is this calculated? →Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (INO) Healthcare & Pipeline Overview
Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. pioneers DNA-based medicines, leveraging its SynCon platform and CELLECTRA delivery system to target HPV-associated diseases, cancers, and infectious diseases. With a focus on innovative therapies, Inovio operates within the competitive biotechnology sector, collaborating with various partners to advance its clinical pipeline.
What Is the Investment Thesis for INO?
Inovio Pharmaceuticals presents a high-risk, high-reward investment opportunity. The company's DNA medicine platform, targeting a wide range of diseases from HPV-related cancers to infectious diseases, offers significant potential. However, the company's negative profit margin of -130000.0% and gross margin of -2189.0% highlight substantial financial challenges. Upcoming catalysts include the progression of its clinical trials for various DNA medicines. Success in these trials could drive significant stock appreciation. The company's collaborations with organizations like CEPI and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation provide validation and funding. However, potential risks include clinical trial failures, regulatory hurdles, and the need for additional capital. Investors should carefully weigh the potential upside against the significant risks before investing in Inovio.
Based on FMP financials and quantitative analysis
INO Key Highlights
- Market capitalization of $62.16M, indicating a small-cap company with potential for growth but also higher volatility.
- Negative profit margin of -130000.0%, reflecting significant losses and highlighting the need for successful product commercialization.
- Negative gross margin of -2189.0%, indicating that the cost of goods sold exceeds revenue, posing a major challenge to profitability.
- Beta of 1.70, suggesting that the stock is more volatile than the overall market.
- No dividend yield, as the company does not currently offer dividends, typical for growth-focused biotechnology companies.
Who Are INO's Competitors?
INO is benchmarked below against 8 industry peers on price, market cap, and our AI MoonshotScore.
| Company | Price | Change | Market Cap | AI Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRNA Moderna, Inc. | $81.80 | +2.56% | 33B | — |
| BNTX BioNTech SE | $94.88 | -2.73% | $23.99B | 59 |
| GILD Gilead Sciences, Inc. | $129.03 | -1.70% | $160.20B | 94 |
| SNDX Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | $22.11 | +1.33% | $1.96B | 79 |
| ANAB AnaptysBio, Inc. | $63.69 | +0.43% | $2.75B | 79 |
| CGEN Compugen Ltd. | $2.37 | +3.73% | $223.62M | 76 |
| XFOR X4 Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | $4.09 | -0.86% | $386.20M | 76 |
| DAWN Day One Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. | $21.53 | +0.00% | $2.22B | 68 |
AI Score by Stock Expert AI · Price data: FMP / Yahoo Finance
What Are INO's Key Strengths?
- Proprietary DNA medicine platform.
- CELLECTRA delivery technology.
- Extensive patent portfolio.
- Collaborations with leading institutions.
What Are INO's Weaknesses?
- Negative profit and gross margins.
- Dependence on clinical trial success.
- Limited commercialized products.
- High cash burn rate.
What Could Drive INO Stock Higher?
- Data readouts from ongoing clinical trials for HPV-associated diseases.
- Progress in the development of DNA vaccines for infectious diseases.
- Expansion of collaborations with strategic partners.
- Advancement of the CELLECTRA delivery technology.
What Are the Key Risks for INO?
- Weak fundamentals — a Piotroski F-Score of 1/9 flags soft profitability, leverage or efficiency.
- Clinical trial failures.
- Regulatory hurdles and delays.
- Competition from other biotechnology companies.
- Need for additional capital to fund operations.
- Intellectual property challenges.
What Are the Growth Opportunities for INO?
- Advancement of HPV-Associated Disease Pipeline: Inovio has a significant opportunity in advancing its DNA medicines targeting HPV-associated diseases, including cervical dysplasia and cancers. The global market for HPV therapeutics is substantial, driven by the high prevalence of HPV infections and the need for effective treatments. Successful completion of clinical trials and regulatory approval could lead to significant revenue generation for Inovio. Timeline: Ongoing clinical trials with potential for data readouts in the next 1-2 years.
- Development of DNA Vaccines for Infectious Diseases: Inovio is developing DNA vaccines for various infectious diseases, including Ebola, MERS, and Lassa fever. The global market for vaccines is growing, driven by increasing awareness of the importance of preventative healthcare and the emergence of new infectious diseases. Inovio's DNA vaccine platform offers the potential for rapid development and deployment of vaccines in response to outbreaks. Timeline: Ongoing research and development efforts with potential for clinical trials in the next 2-3 years.
- Expansion of CELLECTRA Delivery Technology: Inovio's CELLECTRA delivery technology offers a competitive advantage in the delivery of DNA medicines. The company has the opportunity to expand the use of this technology through partnerships and collaborations with other biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. This could generate revenue through licensing agreements and technology transfer. Timeline: Ongoing efforts to establish partnerships and collaborations.
- Collaboration with Strategic Partners: Inovio's collaborations with organizations like CEPI, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and AstraZeneca provide access to funding, expertise, and resources. The company can leverage these partnerships to accelerate the development and commercialization of its DNA medicines. Further strategic partnerships could expand Inovio's reach and impact. Timeline: Ongoing collaborations with potential for new partnerships in the future.
- Exploration of DNA Medicines for Cancer Immunotherapy: Inovio is exploring the use of its DNA medicines in cancer immunotherapy. The cancer immunotherapy market is experiencing rapid growth, driven by the success of checkpoint inhibitors and other immunotherapeutic approaches. Inovio's DNA medicines offer the potential to stimulate the immune system to target and destroy cancer cells. Timeline: Ongoing research and development efforts with potential for clinical trials in the next 2-3 years.
What Opportunities Does INO Have?
- Advancement of HPV-associated disease pipeline.
- Development of DNA vaccines for infectious diseases.
- Expansion of CELLECTRA delivery technology.
- Strategic partnerships and collaborations.
What Threats Does INO Face?
- Clinical trial failures.
- Regulatory hurdles.
- Competition from other biotechnology companies.
- Need for additional capital.
What Are INO's Competitive Advantages?
- Proprietary DNA medicine platform with SynCon design and CELLECTRA delivery technology.
- Extensive patent portfolio protecting its technologies and products.
- Established collaborations with leading research institutions and pharmaceutical companies.
- Expertise in DNA medicine development and clinical trial execution.
- Focus on addressing unmet medical needs in HPV-associated diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases.
What Does INO Do?
Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of DNA medicines. The company's core technology revolves around its proprietary DNA medicines platform, which utilizes precisely designed SynCon DNA plasmids to target specific antigens associated with diseases. These SynCon plasmids are optimized to elicit a robust immune response, offering a potential therapeutic or prophylactic effect. A key component of Inovio's platform is the CELLECTRA smart devices technology, which facilitates the efficient delivery of the DNA plasmids into cells. This delivery system enhances the uptake and expression of the DNA, leading to improved immune activation. Inovio's research and development efforts are focused on addressing a range of diseases, including those associated with human papillomavirus (HPV), various cancers, and infectious diseases. The company is actively involved in conducting and planning clinical studies to evaluate the safety and efficacy of its DNA medicines. These studies target HPV-associated precancers, such as cervical, vulvar, and anal dysplasia, as well as HPV-associated cancers, including head and neck, cervical, anal, penile, vulvar, and vaginal cancers. Inovio is also exploring the potential of its DNA medicines to treat other HPV-associated disorders, such as recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Beyond HPV-related diseases and cancers, Inovio is also investigating the use of its DNA medicines in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme, prostate cancer, HIV, Ebola, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and Lassa fever. The company collaborates with a network of partners and collaborators, including ApolloBio Corp., AstraZeneca, Beijing Advaccine Biotechnology Co., Ltd., The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Department of Defense (DoD), HIV Vaccines Trial Network, International Vaccine Institute, Kaneka Eurogentec, Medical CBRN Defense Consortium (MCDC), National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Ology Bioservices, the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Plumbline Life Sciences, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Thermo Fisher Scientific, University of Pennsylvania, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, and The Wistar Institute. These collaborations provide Inovio with access to additional expertise, resources, and funding to support its research and development programs. Inovio also has an agreement with Richter-Helm BioLogics GmbH & Co. KG to support investigational DNA vaccine INO-4800 for COVID-19; and a partnership with International Vaccine Institute and Seoul National University Hospital.
What Products and Services Does INO Offer?
- Discovers and develops DNA medicines for various diseases.
- Focuses on treating and protecting people from diseases associated with human papillomavirus (HPV).
- Develops DNA medicines for cancer, including glioblastoma multiforme and prostate cancer.
- Creates DNA vaccines for infectious diseases like HIV, Ebola, MERS, and Lassa fever.
- Utilizes SynCon DNA design to optimize DNA sequences for targeted antigens.
- Employs CELLECTRA smart devices technology for efficient DNA plasmid delivery.
- Conducts clinical studies to evaluate the safety and efficacy of its DNA medicines.
- Collaborates with various partners to advance its research and development programs.
How Does INO Make Money?
- Develops and patents DNA medicine technologies.
- Conducts research and clinical trials to validate the efficacy of its products.
- Partners with other companies and organizations for funding and development support.
- Seeks regulatory approval for its DNA medicines.
- Commercializes its approved products through sales and licensing agreements.
What Industry Does INO Operate In?
Inovio Pharmaceuticals operates within the highly competitive biotechnology industry, characterized by rapid innovation and high regulatory hurdles. The industry is driven by the increasing demand for novel therapies to treat a wide range of diseases, including cancer and infectious diseases. Inovio's focus on DNA medicines positions it within a niche segment of the market, competing with companies developing other innovative therapeutic modalities. The biotechnology industry is experiencing significant growth, fueled by advances in genomics, proteomics, and personalized medicine. However, companies in this sector face challenges such as high research and development costs, lengthy clinical trial timelines, and the risk of clinical trial failures.
Who Are INO's Key Customers?
- Patients suffering from HPV-associated diseases and cancers.
- Individuals at risk of contracting infectious diseases.
- Healthcare providers seeking innovative treatment options.
- Government agencies and organizations involved in public health initiatives.
- Pharmaceutical companies interested in licensing or acquiring Inovio's technologies.
INO Valuation & Market Position
With a $62.16M market cap, Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. sits in the micro-cap segment of the market. Relative to its peer group, INO's quantitative score of 24/100 is below the peer average of 78/100.
FY2026 estForward Outlook
Wall Street analysts project Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. revenue of about $10.9M for fiscal 2026, with EPS near $-0.89. The estimate reflects 3 contributing analysts.
F-Score 1/9Financial Health
Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s Piotroski F-Score is 1/9, a 9-point checklist of profitability, leverage and efficiency — flagging fundamental weakness worth scrutiny.
Key Financial Metrics
A current ratio of 1.04 indicates the company holds enough short-term assets to cover its near-term obligations. Its earnings yield is -11.2%, the inverse of the P/E and a quick read on earnings relative to price.
INO Financials
Fundamental Snapshot
Based on FMP financials and quantitative analysis · FY 2025
Bull Case vs Bear Case
Bull Case
- Proprietary DNA medicine platform.
- CELLECTRA delivery technology.
- Extensive patent portfolio.
- Collaborations with leading institutions.
Bear Case
- Negative profit and gross margins.
- Dependence on clinical trial success.
- Limited commercialized products.
- High cash burn rate.
AI-generated arguments based on insider flow, news sentiment and technicals — not financial advice · July 2026
INO Latest News
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WHO Director-General Ghebreyesus Says He Considers The Cruise Ship-Linked Hantavirus Outbreak To Be Over
benzinga · Jul 2, 2026
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CDC Raises Its Response Level To Congo Ebola Outbreak To Level 1 Activation, Its Highest Level; Says Risk Of Ebola Spreading In The U.S. Remains Low
benzinga · Jun 26, 2026
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U.S. CDC Says Will Enhance Screening And Monitoring Of Travelers Arriving From Areas Affected By Ebola Outbreaks; Will Coordinate With Airlines, Others To Manage Travelers Who May Have Already Been Exposed To Ebola; Will Enhance Contract Tracing, Hospital Readiness Nationwide
benzinga · May 18, 2026
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Earnings Scheduled For May 13, 2026
benzinga · May 13, 2026
INO Analyst Consensus
Consensus Rating
Aggregated Buy/Hold/Sell recommendations from Benzinga, Yahoo Finance, and Finnhub for INO.
Price Targets
Consensus target: $2.50
INO MoonshotScore
What does this score mean?
The MoonshotScore rates INO's growth potential on a scale of 0-100 across multiple factors including innovation, market disruption, financial health, and momentum.
Latest News
WHO Director-General Ghebreyesus Says He Considers The Cruise Ship-Linked Hantavirus Outbreak To Be Over
CDC Raises Its Response Level To Congo Ebola Outbreak To Level 1 Activation, Its Highest Level; Says Risk Of Ebola Spreading In The U.S. Remains Low
U.S. CDC Says Will Enhance Screening And Monitoring Of Travelers Arriving From Areas Affected By Ebola Outbreaks; Will Coordinate With Airlines, Others To Manage Travelers Who May Have Already Been Exposed To Ebola; Will Enhance Contract Tracing, Hospital Readiness Nationwide
Earnings Scheduled For May 13, 2026
Latest Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Analysis
Leadership: Jacqueline E. Shea
President and Chief Executive Officer
Jacqueline E. Shea serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Inovio Pharmaceuticals, bringing extensive experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Prior to joining Inovio, she held leadership positions at various companies, including serving as Chief Operating Officer at Arbutus Biopharma Corporation and as Senior Vice President at GlaxoSmithKline. Shea has a strong background in commercial operations, strategic planning, and business development. She holds a B.S. in Biology from Boston College and an M.B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business.
Track Record: Since assuming the role of President and CEO, Jacqueline E. Shea has focused on advancing Inovio's DNA medicine platform and pipeline. Key initiatives include prioritizing clinical programs, securing strategic partnerships, and strengthening the company's financial position. Under her leadership, Inovio has continued to progress its clinical trials for various DNA medicines and has expanded its collaborations with organizations like CEPI and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
INO Healthcare Stock FAQ
What does Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. do?
Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of DNA medicines. The company's core technology revolves around its proprietary DNA medicines platform, which utilizes precisely designed SynCon DNA plasmids and the CELLECTRA smart devices technology to deliver these plasmids into cells. Inovio's research and development efforts are focused on addressing a range of diseases, including those associated with human papillomavirus (HPV), various cancers, and infectious diseases. The company aims to provide innovative therapeutic and prophylactic solutions to unmet medical needs.
What do analysts say about INO stock?
Analyst coverage of Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is mixed, reflecting the inherent risks and uncertainties associated with biotechnology companies. The consensus view is that Inovio is a high-risk, high-reward investment opportunity. Key valuation metrics are difficult to assess due to the company's negative profit and gross margins. Growth considerations are primarily tied to the successful advancement of its clinical pipeline and the potential for regulatory approvals. Investors should conduct their own thorough research and consider their risk tolerance before investing in Inovio.
What are the main risks for INO?
The main risks for Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. include clinical trial failures, regulatory hurdles, competition from other biotechnology companies, and the need for additional capital. Clinical trial failures can significantly impact the company's stock price and future prospects. Regulatory hurdles and delays can also impede the progress of its DNA medicines. Competition from other biotechnology companies developing similar therapies poses a threat to Inovio's market share. The company's negative profit and gross margins necessitate the need for additional capital to fund operations, which could dilute existing shareholders.
What are the key factors to evaluate for INO?
Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (INO) holds an AI score of 24/100 (low). Analysts target $2.50 (+116%). Not financial advice.
How frequently does INO data refresh on this page?
INO prices update in real time during U.S. market hours. Fundamentals refresh after quarterly filings; analyst ratings and AI insights update daily; news is aggregated continuously.
What has driven INO's recent stock price performance?
Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (INO) moves on earnings results, analyst revisions, sector rotation, and market sentiment. Notable catalyst: Proprietary DNA medicine platform. See the News tab for the latest drivers. Past performance does not predict future results.
Should investors consider INO overvalued or undervalued right now?
Valuing Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (INO) requires multiple metrics. Analysts target $2.50 (+116%) — upside seen. Compare P/E, P/S, and EV/EBITDA against sector peers for a full view.
What research should beginners do before buying INO?
Before investing in Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (INO), research these four areas: (1) the company's revenue model and competitive position (see Company Overview), (2) financial health through revenue growth, margins, and cash flow (see MoonshotScore), (3) what Wall Street analysts recommend and their price targets (see Analyst tab), and (4) specific risk factors that could impact the stock (see Risk Factors section).
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always do your own research and consult a financial advisor.
Official Resources
Data provided for informational purposes only.
- Financial data is based on the most recent available information.
- Analyst opinions may vary.
- Investment in biotechnology companies is inherently risky.