SAN DIEGO, May 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Sorrento Therapeutics,
Inc. (Nasdaq: SRNE, "Sorrento") and Mount Sinai Health System
("Mount Sinai") have agreed to
join forces in the investigation and development of an antibody
cocktail (COVI-SHIELD™) to potentially treat COVID-19.
Carlos Cordon-Cardo, MD, PhD,
Irene Heinz Given and John LaPorte
Given Professor and Chair of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based
Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and his team screened
approximately fifteen thousand individuals who may have had and
recovered from COVID-19 for the presence of anti-COVID-19
antibodies. The screening used a diagnostic test developed by
Florian Krammer, PhD, Professor of
Microbiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and authorized for use in
Mount Sinai's laboratory under an
FDA Emergency Use Authorization. Sorrento will have access to
plasma containing antibodies against COVID-19 for the purpose of
identification and production of monoclonal antibodies with
potential neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2.
The collaboration between Mount
Sinai and Sorrento aims to generate antibody products that
would act as a "protective shield" against SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus
infection, potentially blocking and neutralizing the activity of
the virus in naïve at-risk populations as well as recently infected
individuals. It is expected that each dose of COVI-SHIELD, if
approved, will deliver a cocktail of three antibodies which
together would recognize three unique regions of the SARS-CoV-2
Spike protein.
Antibody cocktail therapy establishes a high barrier to
development of treatment resistance while providing a protective
therapy for the population at large. If approved, it is anticipated
that COVI-SHIELD will be offered for administration as a
prophylactic for those returning to work and as a therapeutic to
those who have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2. COVI-SHIELD prevention
and treatment is designed to be administered as often as necessary,
with each dose expected to provide antiviral protection for up to
two months.
"We're working with pharma and biotech partners, such as
Sorrento, to bring much needed therapies to the clinic," said
Erik Lium, Executive Vice President
and Chief Commercial Innovation Officer of the Mount Sinai Health
System. "We look forward to advancing the development of an
effective antibody cocktail with Sorrento."
"It is our belief that as we re-open the country and the
economy, we will see local flare-ups of infectious spread of
SARS-CoV-2. Unfortunately, with coronaviruses, mutations are part
of the equation and could render therapies ineffective over time"
stated Dr Henry Ji, Chairman and CEO
of Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., before adding "It is our intention
to develop a triple antibody prophylactic and therapeutic agent
that would shield healthcare workers and at-risk patients. This
therapy is designed to be resistant to future virus mutations and,
if approved, should be made available in support of testing,
tracing, vaccination and other therapeutic approaches to allow for
efficient management of viral infection by protecting those most at
risk for up to two months at a time".
Sorrento is completing all IND filing requirements for the
triple antibody combination therapy and expects to commence phase 1
trials of the drug candidate in the third quarter of 2020.
For inquiries related to commercial licensing of the
Mount Sinai serologic assay,
please visit www.mountsinai.org/covidantibodytest.
About Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.
Sorrento is a
clinical stage, antibody-centric, biopharmaceutical company
developing new therapies to turn malignant cancers into manageable
and possibly curable diseases. 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"), intracellular targeting antibodies
("iTAbs"), antibody-drug conjugates ("ADC"), and clinical stage
oncolytic virus ("Seprehvir®"). Sorrento is also developing
potential coronavirus antiviral therapies, including COVIDTRAP™,
ACE-MABTM COVI-MABTM,
COVI-SHIELDTM and
COVI-CELLTM. Sorrento's commitment to
life-enhancing therapies 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. RTX 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
About the Mount Sinai Health System
The Mount Sinai
Health System is New York City's
largest academic medical system, encompassing eight hospitals, a
leading medical school, and a vast network of ambulatory practices
throughout the greater New York
region. Mount Sinai is a national
and international source of unrivaled education, translational
research and discovery, and collaborative clinical leadership
ensuring that we deliver the highest quality care—from prevention
to treatment of the most serious and complex human diseases. The
Health System includes more than 7,200 physicians and features a
robust and continually expanding network of multispecialty
services, including more than 400 ambulatory practice locations
throughout the five boroughs of New York
City, Westchester, and
Long Island. The Mount Sinai
Hospital is ranked No. 14 on U.S. News & World Report's
"Honor Roll" of the Top 20 Best Hospitals in the country and the
Icahn School of Medicine as one of the Top 20 Best Medical Schools
in country. Mount Sinai Health System hospitals are consistently
ranked regionally by specialty and our physicians in the top 1% of
all physicians nationally by U.S. News & World
Report.
For more information, visit https://www.mountsinai.org
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 potential blocking and neutralizing capabilities of
COVI-SHIELD and the impact on the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein, the
expected length of any antiviral protection provided by
COVI-SHIELD, the potential administration and applications of
COVI-SHIELD, the potential for COVI-SHIELD to protect against
future mutations of coronavirus, the preclinical testing of
COVI-SHIELD; the safety and efficacy of COVI-SHIELD; the
therapeutic potential of COVI-SHIELD for SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19
disease; and Sorrento's potential position in the antiviral
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 trials and seeking IND regulatory approval for
COVI-SHIELD; conducting and receiving results of clinical trials
for COVI-SHIELD; the clinical and commercial success of COVI-SHIELD
against SARS-CoV-2 virus infections; the viability and success of
COVI-SHIELD 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 COVID-19 therapeutic product candidates
strategies; risks related to Sorrento's debt obligations; risks
related to the global impact of COVID-19; 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.
Contact
Factory PR
Email: Sorrento@factorypr.com
Sorrento® and the Sorrento logo are registered trademarks of
Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.
G-MAB™, COVI-MAB™, COVI-SHIELD™, COVIDTRAP™, ACE-MABTM
and COVI-CELLTM 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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