SAN DIEGO, June 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sorrento
Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SRNE, "Sorrento") announced it has
completed a preclinical batch of the STI-4398 (COVIDTRAP) protein
and is reporting the positive results from preclinical testing of
its ability to neutralize and inhibit SARS-CoV-2 virus from
infecting ACE2-expressing cells, VERO/E6.
Since the beginning of the year, Sorrento has embarked on a
multipronged strategy to search for and develop potent antidotes to
the SARS-CoV-2 virus of COVID-19. Sorrento previously announced on
May 15, 2020 that it had identified a
neutralizing antibody, STI-1499, that demonstrated 100% inhibition
of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection in an in vitro infection experiment
at a low concentration. Sorrento believes STI-1499 could be a
potent antidote for COVID-19 pending successful demonstration of
its safety and efficacy in pre-clinical and clinical studies.
Consistent with the ambition outlined above in searching for and
developing potential COVID-19 antidotes, Sorrento previously
announced on March 20, 2020 that it
had designed and produced its STI-4398 product candidate, a
proprietary ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2)-Fc fusion
protein (COVIDTRAP), as a binding protein to the spike protein of
the SARS-Cov-2 virus. The goal of STI-4398 is to produce a soluble
SARS-CoV-2 virus-binding decoy receptor protein that binds to the
spike protein and blocks the interaction of the spike protein of
the SARS-CoV-2 virus with the ACE2 receptors present on the target
respiratory epithelial cells. Sorrento is now reporting that
in an in vitro assay, STI-4398 completely inhibited the
ability of SARS-CoV-2 virus to infect VERO/E6 cells at a low
concentration.
Sorrento has discussed with the Food and Drug Administration the
development of this drug candidate and has received guidance on the
path forward to a clinical trial for STI-4398, COVIDTRAP, for both
the potential treatment of infected patients and as a potential
prophylactic treatment to COVID-19.
"STI-4398 COVIDTRAP protein and STI-1499 neutralizing antibody
have shown efficacy in an in vitro cellular infection model for
SARS-CoV-2 established in our laboratory and these results justify
now the progression into animal studies. We are planning to submit
all preclinical data for scientific publication in the next two to
three months," stated Dr. Slobodan Paessler, DVM, PhD,
Professor in the Department of Pathology, John S. Dunn
Distinguished Chair in Biodefense and Scientific Director of
the Animal Biosafety Laboratory 3 at the Galveston
National Laboratory at the University of
Texas Medical Branch, whose lab conducted the in
vitro viral infection tests for both STI-1499 and STI-4398.
"Our researchers and manufacturing scientists have worked
tirelessly to bring COVIDTRAP through preclinical profiling to the
brink of clinical trials. We look forward to evaluating the
safety and efficacy of STI-4398 in clinical trials and, assuming
receipt of all requisite approvals, ultimately manufacturing this
potentially life-saving compound as a potent anti-COVID-19 antidote
available in the armamentarium of physicians fighting the COVID-19
pandemic," stated Dr. Henry Ji,
Chairman and CEO of Sorrento Therapeutics.
About Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.
Sorrento is a clinical stage, antibody-centric,
biopharmaceutical company developing new therapies to treat
cancers. Sorrento's multimodal multipronged approach to fighting
cancer is made possible by its' extensive immuno-oncology
platforms, including key assets such as fully human antibodies
("G-MAB™ library"), clinical stage immuno-cellular therapies
("CAR-T", "DAR-T"), antibody-drug conjugates ("ADC"), and clinical
stage oncolytic virus ("Seprehvir®"). Sorrento is also
developing potential antiviral therapies and vaccines against
coronaviruses, including COVIDTRAP™, ACE-MAB™, COVI-MAB™,
COVI-GUARD™, COVI-SHIELD™ and COVI-KILLER™.
Sorrento's commitment to Saving-LifeTM and
Improving-LifeTM medicine and therapy for patients is
also demonstrated by our effort to advance a first-in-class (TRPV1
agonist) non-opioid pain management small molecule, resiniferatoxin
("RTX"), and ZTlido® (lidocaine topical system) 1.8% for the
treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia. Resiniferatoxin is completing
a phase IB trial for intractable pain associated with cancer and a
phase 1B trial in osteoarthritis
patients. ZTlido® was approved by the FDA on February 28, 2018.
For more information visit www.sorrentotherapeutics.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release and any statements made for and during any
presentation or meeting contain forward-looking statements related
to Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., under the safe harbor provisions of
Section 21E of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
and subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those projected. Forward-looking
statements include statements regarding the potency and potential
blocking capabilities of STI-4398 and STI-1499 and the impact of
each on SARS-CoV-2; the potential administration and applications
of STI-4398 and STI-1499; the therapeutic potential for STI-4398
COVIDTRAP and STI-1499 for late-stage COVID-19 disease; STI-4398
COVIDTRAP's and STI-1499's ability to treat and prevent
coronaviruses and Sorrento's potential position in the anti-viral
immunity industry. Risks and uncertainties that could cause
our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those
expressed in our forward-looking statements, include, but are not
limited to: risks related to Sorrento's and its subsidiaries',
affiliates' and partners' technologies and prospects and
collaborations with partners, including, but not limited to risks
related to conducting pre-clinical studies and clinical trials and
seeking IND regulatory approval for STI-4398 COVIDTRAP and
STI-1499; that prior test results may not be replicated in future
studies and trials; conducting and receiving results of clinical
trials for STI-4398 COVIDTRAP and STI-1499; the clinical and
commercial success of the treatment of the SARS-CoV-2 virus
infections using STI-4398 COVIDTRAP and STI-1499; the viability and
success of using STI-4398 COVIDTRAP and STI-1499 for treatments in
anti-viral therapeutic areas, including coronaviruses; clinical
development risks, including risks in the progress, timing, cost,
and results of clinical trials and product development programs;
risk of difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory approvals;
risks that clinical study results may not meet any or all endpoints
of a clinical study and that any data generated from such studies
may not support a regulatory submission or approval; risks of
manufacturing and supplying drug product; risks related to
leveraging the expertise of its employees, subsidiaries, affiliates
and partners to assist the company in the execution of its STI-4398
COVIDTRAP and STI-1499 strategies; and other risks that are
described in Sorrento's most recent periodic reports filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including Sorrento's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, and subsequent Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including the risk factors set forth in those filings.
Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this
release and we undertake no obligation to update any
forward-looking statement in this press release except as required
by law.
Media Contact
Contact: Dani
Frank
Email: sorrento@factoryPR.com
Sorrento® and the Sorrento logo are registered trademarks of
Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.
G-MAB™, COVI-GUARD™, COVI-SHIELD™, COVIDTRAP™, ACE-MAB™,
COVI-KILLER™ and COVI-CELL™, Saving-LifeTM and
Improving-LifeTM are trademarks of Sorrento
Therapeutics, Inc.
ZTlido® is a trademark owned by Scilex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Seprehvir® is a registered trademark of Virttu Biologics
Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of TNK Therapeutics, Inc. and
part of the group of companies owned by Sorrento Therapeutics,
Inc.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective
owners.
© 2020 Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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SOURCE Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.