Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc
.
SRNE
entered into a collaboration agreement with ViralClear Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a subsidiary of BioSig’s Technologies, Inc.
BSGM
, whereby both companies are exploring the synergistic potential of small molecules and antibodies combination therapies against COVID-19.
Sorrento will initiate testing with a few of its selected agents in combination with ViralClear’s anti-viral merimepodib for possible synergistic anti-viral effect against SARS-CoV-2 in the preclinical model of Golden Syrian hamster. ViralClear will contribute its oral antiviral, merimepodib (IMPDH inhibitor), which is currently in a phase II study in combination with Gilead Sciences’
GILD
remdesivir to treat COVID-19.
Earlier in the week, Sorrento was in the news after it released encouraging preclinical data on COVI-GUARD (STI-1499) and COVI-AMG (STI-2020; Affinity Matured COVI-Guard) neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) against SARS-CoV-2 as well as a D614G virus variant infection.
Both STI-1499 and STI-2020 demonstrated potent neutralizing activities against SARS-CoV-2 virus infection in preclinical models. At day 5, STI-2020 at 500 µg reduced virus load in hamster lungs to undetectable levels in 100% of animals tested, whereas STI-1499 at 2,000 µg reduced virus load below the detection limit in 60% of animals tested and showed a 10-fold reduction in the remaining 40% of animals.
STI-1499 nAb has obtained FDA clearance for a phase I study in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Sorrento intends to submit an IND for STI-2020 as soon as possible.
Currently, there are no FDA-approved treatments for this severe illness caused by SARS-CoV-2. The pharma/biotech sector is racing against time to come up with treatments and vaccines to cure the contagion. Given the alarming levels of the spread and severity of the pandemic, quite a few biotechs are developing antibodies, which can treat COVID-19.
Regeneron
REGN
too initiated studies on its novel investigational antibody “cocktail” treatment, REGN-COV2, which is designed to prevent and treat the SARS-CoV-2 virus. REGN-COV2 is currently being evaluated in multiple studies — the phase II/III clinical study for the treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients, the phase III open-label RECOVERY study of hospitalized patients in the U.K. and a phase III study for the prevention of COVID-19 in household contacts of infected individuals.
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