Sorrento Announces Updated Positive Results of Phase 1b Study of COVI-MSC™ for Treatment of ICU COVID-19 Patients

Rhea-AI Summary

Sorrento Therapeutics (SRNE) reported positive results from its Phase 1b study of COVI-MSC™, a treatment for COVID-19-induced acute respiratory distress. All nine patients in the trial were discharged within days after their third infusion, showing significant improvements in respiratory function. No safety events were reported. The company is preparing for a Phase 2 placebo-controlled study across the US, Brazil, and Mexico, working with the FDA to support emergency use authorization.

Positive

• All nine patients in the Phase 1b study discharged from the hospital within days after the third COVI-MSC infusion.
• No infusion-related safety events reported.
• Planning for Phase 2 placebo-controlled study set to expand to multiple sites.

Negative

• None.

• All nine patients with acute respiratory failure due to COVID-19 discharged from hospital within days after 3^rd COVI-MSC infusion
  
• Preparations are ongoing for initiating Phase 2 placebo-controlled study

SAN DIEGO, March 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SRNE, "Sorrento") announced today updated positive results from its Phase 1b study of human allogeneic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (COVI-MSC™) for patients suffering from COVID-19-induced acute respiratory distress (ARD) or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This ongoing study (MSC-COV-101) is a single arm, non-randomized Phase 1b study of the safety and preliminary efficacy of COVI-MSCs administered every other day for three infusions for a total of 1 x 10⁶ cells/kg. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the safety of intravenous infusion of allogeneic adipose MSC cells in patients with COVID-19-induced ARD or ARDS. 

Intensive care unit (ICU) patients with COVID-19-induced respiratory failure, diffuse pulmonary infiltrates and evidence of poor oxygenation: ratio of arterial partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO₂/FiO₂) ranging from an average of 135 to 225 (normal range ˃ 400) were enrolled. All nine patients responded rapidly with markedly reduced need for high inspired oxygen concentration and were able to be transferred out of the ICU and discharged from the hospital within several days of their 3^rd COVI-MSC infusion. No infusion related safety events have been reported. Dr. Eyad Almasri, Associate Professor of Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at UCSF Fresno, is the principal investigator in this ongoing study.

Currently, Sorrento is working with the FDA to plan a placebo-controlled Phase 2 study to be conducted across multiple sites in the United States, Brazil and Mexico, and to determine the sample size and data necessary to support an emergency use authorization (EUA).

Dr. Henry Ji, President and CEO of Sorrento Therapeutics, stated, “It brings us great pleasure to see our treatments help to save lives, which is our primary goal at Sorrento. We look forward to advancing this important product into Phase 2 development.”

More information on the Phase 1 trial can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04486001). Information on the proposed Phase 2 trial is expected to be available soon. 

Stem cells have been demonstrated to support resolution of symptoms in multiple disease settings and have the potential to reduce the long-term effects associated with pulmonary tissue damage. More information on the potential use and benefits of MSCs for patients with COVID-19 can be found in the recently published review at: https://translational-medicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12967-020-02380-2.

Personalized Stem Cells, Inc. (PSC) is Sorrento’s GMP manufacturing partner for COVI-MSC. 

About Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.

Sorrento is a clinical stage, antibody-centric, biopharmaceutical company developing new therapies to treat cancers and COVID-19. 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 (“ADCs”), and clinical stage oncolytic virus (“Seprehvir™”). Sorrento is also developing potential antiviral therapies and vaccines against coronaviruses, including COVIGUARD™, COVI-AMG™, COVISHIELD™, Gene-MAb™, COVI-MSC™ and COVIDROPS™; and diagnostic test solutions, including COVITRACK™, COVISTIX™ and COVITRACE™.

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 SP-102 (10 mg, dexamethasone sodium phosphate viscous gel) (SEMDEXA™), a novel, viscous gel formulation of a widely used corticosteroid for epidural injections to treat lumbosacral radicular pain, or sciatica, and to commercialize ZTlido^® (lidocaine topical system) 1.8% for the treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia. RTX has completed a Phase IB trial for intractable pain associated with cancer and a Phase 1B trial in osteoarthritis patients. SEMDEXA is in a pivotal Phase 3 trial for the treatment of lumbosacral radicular pain, or sciatica. 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 safety and potential efficacy of an adipose-derived allogeneic MSC product candidate in patients with COVID-19 and in respiratory distress; the clinical testing of an adipose-derived allogeneic MSC product candidate; the preliminary results of the Phase 1b trial to date; the continued enrollment and potential commencement of any future clinical trials for an adipose-derived allogeneic MSC product candidate; the ongoing plans to conduct a Phase 2 study across multiple sites in the US, Brazil and Mexico; the potential for preliminary data results to be replicated or continue to show improved clinical safety or efficacy as the ongoing trial continues; and our 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 technologies and prospects, including, but not limited to risks related to seeking regulatory approval for any adipose-derived allogeneic MSC product candidate; 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 that prior test, study and trial results may not be replicated in future studies and trials; risks of manufacturing and supplying drug product; risks related to leveraging the expertise of its employees, subsidiaries, affiliates and partners to assist Sorrento in the execution of its therapeutic antibody product candidate strategies; 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, 2020, 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 and Investor Relations Contact
Alexis Nahama, DVM (SVP Corporate Development)
Email: mediarelations@sorrentotherapeutics.com

Sorrento^® and the Sorrento logo are registered trademarks of Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.

G-MAB™, DAR-T™, SOFUSA™, COVIGUARD™, COVI-AMG™, COVISHIELD™, Gene-MAb™, COVIDROPS™, COVI-MSC™, COVITRACK™, COVITRACE™ and COVISTIX™ are trademarks of Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.

SEMDEXA™ is a trademark of Semnur Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

ZTlido^® is a registered trademark owned by Scilex Pharmaceuticals Inc.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

©2021 Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

FAQ

What were the results of the Phase 1b study of COVI-MSC for COVID-19?

All nine patients showed significant improvement and were discharged within days after the third infusion.

What are the next steps for Sorrento Therapeutics regarding COVI-MSC?

Sorrento is preparing for a Phase 2 placebo-controlled study across the US, Brazil, and Mexico.

Did the Phase 1b study report any safety issues?

No infusion-related safety events were reported in the trial.

What is the purpose of the upcoming Phase 2 study for COVI-MSC?

The study aims to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of COVI-MSC for patients with COVID-19-induced respiratory distress.