Innovation Pharmaceuticals Inc (IPIX)

[KMBJN]

People can get tested for HPV infection by checking antibody titers in blood - I guess more in a research setting.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr6305a1.htm

Also can check HPV DNA in tumor samples, as well as P16 expression status as a surrogate for HPV status in HNSCC.

Inovio has a cancer vaccine in trials in cervical and head and neck cancer to teach the body to go after HPV (and tumors). Nice idea to go after early or pre-cancerous lesions in the cervix with their DNA vaccine, so no surgery required. There are also certain "benign" HPV tumors which cause recurrent respiratory pappilomatosis / warty lesions usually on the vocal cords.

HPV is a nasty little virus. Everyone should be vaccinated. Some day I hope we'll have DNA screening for all viral infections, and treatments to clear latent viruses that flare up at unexpected times, thus preventing the havoc and suffering they cause.