Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc. has promoted Dr. Keiko Simon to vice president of Alliance and Program Managment, and Jeffrey Richardson to vice president of Strategic Relations.

"This is a transformative time for Inovio," Inovio President and CEO Dr. Joseph Kim said. "We are moving forward in Phase 3 with a cervical pre-cancer treatment; advancing multiple immunotherapy clinical programs; and collaborating with multiple strategic partners.

Simon, who has been with Inovio since 2013, will now be in charge of managing company relationships with partners and working with product development projects including Regeneron and Genentech and MedImmune. Simon who joined Inovio following a 20-year career with Merck, will also be involved with the internal project management of pipeline programs.

Richardson, who has been with Inovio since 2012, will be in charge of Inovio's media relations, HR and governmental affairs and communications. He came from Amgen and GSK where he held global communications roles.