# Intratumoural gene electrotransfer (IL-12 plasmid)

Source: https://onco.cc/technologies/il12-electroporation/  
OnCo record `il12-electroporation` (Technology). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Intratumoural gene electrotransfer injects a plasmid carrying the interleukin-12 gene into a tumour and pushes it into cells with electric pulses, so this T-cell-activating cytokine is made locally instead of at the toxic doses intravenous IL-12 needed. It produced responses with pembrolizumab in anti-PD-1-resistant melanoma, but the sponsor's programmes have stalled.

## Summary

Tavokinogene telseplasmid with electroporation produced systemic responses when combined with pembrolizumab in anti-PD-1-refractory melanoma, and Moffitt ran a neoadjuvant study with nivolumab (NCT04526730, completed). The sponsor's TNBC study (NCT03567720) has unknown status, a head and neck study was terminated, and the company's programmes stalled. The concept, local cytokine expression without systemic toxicity, remains attractive and is being pursued with other constructs.

## Fields

- Kind: Technology
- Status: phase-2
- Last checked: 2026-09-08
- Tags: frontier
- Principle: Short electric pulses transiently permeabilise cell membranes, letting plasmid DNA enter tumour cells that then secrete IL-12 locally, recruiting and activating T cells.
- Strengths: Avoids the systemic toxicity that killed intravenous IL-12; Produces responses in uninjected lesions; Cheap plasmid manufacturing
- Limitations: Needs accessible lesions and a specialised applicator; Sponsor programmes have stalled; No randomised efficacy data

## Sources

- Neoadjuvant Tavo plus nivolumab (NCT04526730): https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04526730

## Connected records

- cancers: [Melanoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/melanoma/), [Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)](https://onco.cc/cancers/tnbc/)
- fronts: [Devices & Physical Therapies](https://onco.cc/fronts/devices/), [Immunotherapy](https://onco.cc/fronts/immunotherapy/)
- technologies: [Cytokines & engineered cytokines](https://onco.cc/technologies/cytokine-therapy/), [Immune checkpoint inhibitors](https://onco.cc/technologies/checkpoint-inhibitor/), [Irreversible electroporation (NanoKnife)](https://onco.cc/technologies/irreversible-electroporation/), [Oncolytic viruses](https://onco.cc/technologies/oncolytic-virus/)
- trials: [Phase 3 Trial Evaluating the Safety & Efficacy of IMNN-001 Administered in Combination w/ Standard NACT & Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Newly Diagnosed Pat](https://onco.cc/trials/nct06915025/)
- pathways: [Cold tumours: immune deserts and exclusion](https://onco.cc/pathways/immune-desert-exclusion/)
- roadmaps: [Devices and physical therapies roadmap: heat and light → electric fields and focused sound → drug-releasing implants](https://onco.cc/roadmaps/devices-roadmap/)

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