Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.
Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.
Sorrento already has the first of many EUA's for COVISTIX in Mexico. But in coming months there could be dozens more for all of the following...
COVISTIX
COVITRACK
COVITRACE
RESPISTIX
ABIVERTINIB(COVID)
COVIDROPS
COVIAMG
COVIMSC
These EUA's could come from Mexico, Brazil, UK, Europe, China, India, Africa and the US. I could see these EUA's being accompanied by worldwide marketing partnerships. Each product has blockbuster revenue potential.
A Sorrento job opening outlines the Sorrento family of tests...
"COVISTIX is a highly sensitive rapid antigen test for detecting SARS-CoV-2 that has demonstrated superior sensitivity at low levels of detection. Sorrento is also building a a robust pipeline of additional diagnostic tests, including COVITRACK (SARS-CoV-2 antibody serology test), COVITRACE (RT-LAMP colorimetric test for SARS-COV-2), and RESPISTIX (multiplexed SARS-CoV-2 and Flu A/B test). With Sorrento’s capability to rapidly screen and develop highly selective and potent antibodies, it is committed to being a leader in pandemic preparedness, bringing accurate, simple, and low-cost diagnostics to address current and future public health biothreats."
COVISTIX
COVITRACK
COVITRACE
RESPISTIX
"ACCURATE, SIMPLE AND LOW-COST"
COVISTIX has its first EUA, with more come. All four will each receive many EUA's and billions in revenue.
Here is one Dr. stressing need for monoclonal antibodies. COVI-DROPS could be the answer! Rapid delivery, low doses at a lower cost! Win, win, win!
"What people don't understand is that the protection you get from the vaccine seems so far to correlate with antibody titers (levels) achieved in the serum. These wane fairly quickly over time and so you depend on memory B cells to generate up antibody quickly when you are re-exposed to prevent serious illness. Some people aren't able to do that before becoming seriously ill. The monoclonal antibodies deliver a huge load of specific antibodies (far more than a body could ever make) that supercharge the serum. They are critical for high risk patients who have weaker immune systems (people over 60-65 and those with transplants and other diseases e.g. diabetes, obesity hypertension, etc). Monoclonals could save 10s of thousands if not hundred of thousands of lives in the US alone and take pressure off hospitals so other diseases can be treated. Monoclonal clinics should be the #1 national priority at this point. People that want the vaccine have already gotten it."
Here's an abstract of work done at Texas A&M on the MPRO inhibitors optioned by Sorrento. 2021 Jul 9. doi: 10.1002/cmdc.202100456. Online ahead of print.
MPI8 is Potent against SARS-CoV-2 by Inhibiting Dually and Selectively the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease and the Host Cathepsin L*
Xinyu R Ma 1, Yugendar R Alugubelli 1, Yuying Ma 1, Erol C Vatansever 1, Danielle A Scott 1, Yuchen Qiao 1, Ge Yu 1, Shiqing Xu 1, Wenshe Ray Liu
PMID: 34242492 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202100456
Abstract
A number of inhibitors have been developed for the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (MPro ) as potential COVID-19 medications but little is known about their selectivity. Using enzymatic assays, we characterized inhibition of TMPRSS2, furin, and cathepsins B/K/L by more than a dozen of previously developed MPro inhibitors including MPI1-9, GC376, 11a, 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3. MPI1-9, GC376 and 11a all contain an aldehyde for the formation of a reversible covalent hemiacetal adduct with the MPro active site cysteine and 10-1, 10-2 and 10-3 contain a labile ester to exchange with the MPro active site cysteine for the formation of a thioester. Our data revealed that all these inhibitors are inert toward TMPRSS2 and furin. Diaryl esters also showed low inhibition of cathepsins. However, all aldehyde inhibitors displayed high potency in inhibiting three cathepsins. Their determined IC50 values vary from 4.1 to 380 nM for cathepsin B, 0.079 to 2.3 nM for cathepsin L, and 0.35 to 180 nM for cathepsin K. All aldehyde inhibitors showed similar inhibition levels toward cathepsin L. A cellular analysis indicated high potency of MPI5 and MPI8 in inhibiting lysosomal activity, which is probably attributed to their inhibition of cathepsins. Among all aldehyde inhibitors, MPI8 shows the best selectivity toward cathepsin L. With respect to cathepsins B and K, the selective indices are 192 and 150, respectively. MPI8 is the most potent compound among all aldehyde inhibitors in cellular MPro inhibition potency and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in Vero E6 cells. Cathepsin L has been demonstrated to play a critical role in the SARS-CoV-2 cell entry. By selectively inhibiting both SARS-CoV-2 MPro and the host cathepsin L, MPI8 potentiates dual inhibition effects to synergize its overall antiviral potency and efficacy. Due to its high selectivity toward cathepsin L that reduces potential toxicity toward host cells and high cellular and antiviral potency, we urge serious consideration of MPI8 for preclinical and clinical investigations for treating COVID-19.
Sorrento is FOCUSED. It has 3 priority portfolios.
1.The immediate focus is Covid. It has 16 programs that deal with every stage of Covid. It already has one EUA with many to follow in the next few months. The latest C1 vaccine and oral MPro inhibitors have enormous potential. Each EUA will bring in a generous revenue stream.
2.The second area of focus is non-opioid pain. It already has a marketed product with sales projected to be about $100 million this year. SP-102 sales are expected in 2022 and are projected in the billions.
3. The longer term focus is cancer. Abivertinib sales in China could start any day and in ROW next year. ADNAB,CAR-T, DAR-T and several other technologies are targeting dozens of indications with many in phase two.
With hundreds of millions worth of very wise investments, many near-term potential worldwide partnerships, the large potential PSS lawsuit windfall and rapidly increasing revenue streams ... IMO Sorrento is very well funded to achieve success in all 3 priority portfolios!
Could there be an hostile buyout attempt? Certainly.
But why would Sorrento be interested?
Sorrento has a lot of near term income expected from Covid EUA's.
Next year it has huge income expected from Sp-102 and Abivertinib(nsclc).
We'll hear a lot about Covid EUA's in the next couple of months IMO.
The potential worldwide income from these products is enormous.
Sadly the Covid variants are not going away.
I wouldn't be surprised to see some news later this month!
SP-102 has already been granted Fast Track status, A drug that receives Fast Track designation is eligible for some or all of the following:
"More frequent meetings with FDA to discuss the drug's development plan and ensure collection of appropriate data needed to support drug approval
More frequent written communication from FDA about such things as the design of the proposed clinical trials and use of biomarkers
Eligibility for Accelerated Approval and Priority Review, if relevant criteria are met
Rolling Review, which means that a drug company can submit completed sections of its Biologic License Application (BLA) or New Drug Application (NDA) for review by FDA, rather than waiting until every section of the NDA is completed before the entire application can be reviewed. BLA or NDA review usually does not begin until the drug company has submitted the entire application to the FDA
Fast Track designation must be requested by the drug company. The request can be initiated at any time during the drug development process. FDA will review the request and make a decision within sixty days based on whether the drug fills an unmet medical need in a serious condition.
Once a drug receives Fast Track designation, early and frequent communication between the FDA and a drug company is encouraged throughout the entire drug development and review process. The frequency of communication assures that questions and issues are resolved quickly, often leading to earlier drug approval and access by patients."
We'll be hearing more about this in Q4!
I like M's lively craps table analogy ...except instead of one binary event...Sorrento has over 65!
"Biotech investing is a tough dirty business (HF shorts), where huge fortunes ultimately hinge on binary events. We call it investing but mostly feels like a Vegas craps table. You learn to expect the unexpected but when it pays off it’s PURE MAGIC !!
If you’re Long, in the next (3) months, we’re guaranteed (3) events with the potential to produce PURE MAGIC:
1. STI-5656 (Abivertinib) cytokine storm P2 Topline Data (next week ?)
2. Covi MSC P2 topline (my guess Oct)
3. SP-102 P3 topline (my guess Nov)
Then we’ve got multiple Wild Cards:
4. more EUA COVI-STIX – Who knows?
5. China Abivertinib / NSCLC approval – any time
6. STI-2020 AMG and STI-2099 DROPS P2 topline – my guess Dec/Jan
7. Enbrel + RTX readouts – likely end DEC
8. Global distribution agreements with Big Pharma for some of these indications"
We can all only guess at the timing...but we can all look forward to the PURE MAGIC!
SOFUSA : Sorrento's Needle-Free Delivery Technology Designed to Maximize Immunization Efficiency
Can be used to deliver vaccines and a wide range of immuno-therapy drugs.
Lymph nodes are the primary organs for generating adaptive immune responses as dendritic cells activate T and B cells. Thus, delivering therapeutics directly toward lymph nodes (versus most common method of delivery into muscle tissue or blood) presents an opportunity to potentially improve current vaccines.
Lymph Nodes provide specialized microenvironment in order to orchestrate immune responses.
Can provide more effective treatments at lower doses thus reducing adverse events.
Here's Sorrento's history(from the website)
Founded
2013
Acquired Resiniferatoxin (RTX) assets via the acquisition of Sherrington Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Acquired Antibody Drug Conjugation (ADC) technologies via acquisition of Concortis Biosystems Corp.
2014
Out-licensed PD-L1 for Greater China market to Lee’s Pharm
2016
Formed ImmuneOncia JV with Yuhan Pharmaceuticals
Acquired ZTlido® via majority stake in Scilex Pharmaceuticals
Acquired Bioserv Corporation for cGMP manufacturing operations
Formed Levena Suzhou Biopharma Co. LTD for Antibody Drug Conjugation (ADC) services
2017
Acquired Oncolytic Virus platform via the acquisition of Virttu Biologics Limited
Formed Celularity with Celgene and United Therapeutics
2018
Acquired Sofusa® Lymphatic Delivery System from Kimberly-Clark
2019
Acquired Semnur Pharmaceuticals
Formed Scilex Holding to consolidate the merger of Scilex Pharma and Semnur Pharma
2020
Exclusively licensed Abivertinib from ACEA Therapeutics for all indications worldwide, excluding China
Exclusively licensed HP-LAMP diagnostic platform from Columbia University for the detection of coronaviruses and influenza viruses
Acquired SmartPharm Therapeutics
2021
Acquired ACEA Therapeutics
MY ONLY COMMENT IS THIS. THEY'VE MADE A LOT OF EXCELLENT ACQUISITIONS!
I want to thank Paul and all those who do careful research. We know there is steady progress on the first four, and IMO, most important Covid programs...COVISTIX, COVIDROPS, ABIVERTINIB(COVID) and COVI-MSC.
Sorrento has also amazed me with great acquisitions and collaborations e.g. SmartPharm, ACEA, ADNAB(Mayo Clinic) and C-1 based vaccine, to mention only a few!
I've been investing in small biotechs for over 25 years and this is by far the most exciting cancer, non-opioid pain and anti-viral portfolio that I have ever seen!
Phase 3, close to EUA or close to market (13 programs)
1. Abivertinib NSCLC NDA filed China
2. Abivertinib NSCLC ph.3 completed US
3. PD-L1 SCLC partnered
4. Erbitux biosimilar
5. Xolair biosimilar
6. Remicade biosimilar(approved in China. SRNE holds ROW rights!)
7. SP-102 sciatica
8. RTX Osteo Arthritis
9. RTX cancer pain
10. Covi-Stix EUA application(approval in Mexico...25million shipped!)DOD CRADA
11. Covi-Trace EUA application
12. Sofusa Enbrel
13. Cynviloq (part of PSS lawsuit)
Phase 2 (13 programs)
1. Seprehvir Oncolytic virus
2. Covi-MSC EUA potential
3. Covi-AMG EUA potential DOD CRADA
4. COVIDROPS EUA potential DOD CRADA
5. Covi-Track EUA pre-validation DOD CRADA
6. PD-L1 partnered
7. Herceptin delivery partnered
8. Abivertinib Lymphoma
9. Abivertinib Covid 19 EUA potential as soon as August
10. Abivertinib prostate cancer ph.2 IND
11. Abivertinib Lupus ph.2 IND
12. Abivertinib hairy cell leukemia
13. CD47 partnered
Phase 1, IND filed or pre-IND (40+ programs)
1. Seprehvec Oncolytic Virus
2. CD 38 CAR-T ph.1
3. CEA CAR-T ph.1
4. CD38 DAR-T IND
5. BCMA DAR-T pre-IND
6. PD-L1(C/DAR-T) pre-IND
7. CyCART-19 partnered
8. Covi-GeneMab pre-IND $34 million DARPA funding
9. PD1-GeneMab pre-IND
10. ERT (Enzyme Replacement Therapy) several pre IND programs
11. IL2Teff pre-IND
12. IL2Treg pre-IND
13. Sofusa anti-PD1 and anti-CTLA4
14. TNF-a (Enbrel) ph.1
15. CTLA-4 (Yervoy)
16. CD47 ph.1 basket trial partnered
17. TROP2 IND granted in China...partnered.
18. BCMA ADC pre-IND
19. ROR1 ADC pre-IND
20. CD25 ADNAB pre-IND
21. CD20 ADNAB (Rituxan) IIT-ph.1
22. VEGF(Avastin) ADNAB IIT-ph.1
23. PD-L1 ADNAB pre-IND
24. VEGFR2 ADNAB pre-IND
25. CBD immune diseases pre-IND
26. CBD insomnia pre-IND
27. CBD Parkinsons pre-IND
28. CBD CNS diseases pre-IND
29. PD-L1 CAR-NK partnered
30. CD38 CAR-NK to be partnered
31. CD38 ADC AL Amyloidosis
32. AC0058 ph.1b lupus
33. AC0058 pre-IND MS
34. AC0939 pre-IND CNS indications
35. A166 HER2 ADC phase 1
36. Karolinska off-the-shelf DAR-NK pre-IND
37. second generation mRNA COVID vaccine
38. C-1 COVID inexpensive, multi-valent vaccine for 60% of world
39. 1,000,000+ small molecule library
40. Twenty quadrillion antibody library
FUNDING? Sorrento has invested wisely and has 8.2 million shares of ImmunityBio, 20.4 million shares of Celularity and 35% of ImmuneOncia. These are worth many hundreds of millions and the PSS binding arbitration will be settled with very large potential gains. And it has many attractive programs to partner for upfront, milestone and royalty payments! The first of many EUA's will produce revenues within weeks(Mexico)as 25 million testkits are being shipped. Huge portfolio AND huge assets! Sorrento is in the early days of becoming(or being acquired by...) a Big Pharma!
Since this article was written the latest double vaccinated rates are...
SINGAPORE 89%
ICELAND 83%
ISRAEL 74%
CANADA 72%
UNITED STATES 47%
Iceland shows Vaccines work by reducing hospitalizations and deaths...but could work better...and Sorrento therapeutics and superior second generation, safer and better(both mRNA and C1) vaccines are needed around the world!
Iceland is proof that COVID-19 vaccines work, a leading US expert said. Infections are at record highs, but the nation hasn't recorded a single virus death since May.
*Iceland proves that COVID-19 vaccines work, a leading US infectious-disease expert said.
*Most new infections are among vaccinated people, but only a tiny number end up in the hospital.
*The country has not recorded a COVID-19 death since May 25.
The COVID-19 situation in Iceland is proof that vaccines work, a leading US infectious-disease expert said.
Iceland reported 2,847 new infections over the past month, mostly from the highly infectious Delta variant and mostly in fully vaccinated people, official statistics indicated. This is the highest number of new infections in a month since the start of the pandemic, but vaccines appear to be doing their job. The vast majority of new infections are mild at worst.
Of the 1,239 Icelanders who were recorded as having COVID-19 on Sunday, 3% were in the hospital, data showed.
The country hasn't recorded a single COVID-19 death since May 25, government statistics and Oxford University's Our World in Data indicated.
Carlos del Rio, a distinguished professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Emory School of Medicine, tweeted on Sunday that "Iceland proves vaccines work."
Brandon Guthrie, an epidemiologist and global health professor at the University of Washington, told The Washington Post that "having few deaths or severe cases of illness in the context of large surges should absolutely be seen as at least a partial victory."
Iceland ranks fourth in the world in vaccination rollout, having fully vaccinated 70.6% of its population. The three countries with higher vaccine rates are Malta (80.5%), United Arab Emirates (73.7%), and Singapore (73.1%).
For comparison, 50.7% of Americans are fully vaccinated, the CDC found. The world average is 23.6%.
Most Icelanders have received Pfizer's shot, which is about 88% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 caused by the Delta variant after two doses, real-world UK data indicated.
The country has also used vaccines from Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson.
As of Monday, there were 306 Icelanders ages 18 to 29 who were in isolation, compared with just four people over age 90, government data indicated. More than 98.2% of those over 90 in Iceland were fully vaccinated, compared with 79.8% of people ages 16 to 29.
Despite the country's vaccination success, Icelandic health officials are maintaining COVID-19 restrictions until at least August 27. That means a 200-person cap on gatherings, 1-meter social distancing, face masks recommended in crowded spaces, and an 11 p.m. curfew in bars and restaurants. Only seated customers can drink alcohol.
On Thursday, the country began giving booster doses to those who received J&J's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine and to those who are immunocompromised.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the country has recorded 9,522 infections and 30 deaths, government data indicated."
FDA approve very questionable Alzheimer's drug for big Pharma. Delay safe and effective DMD drug for little boys. Heartless.
Sorrento now has exclusive rights in 60% of the world ..."to utilize Dyadic’s C1 technology for the development and commercialization of vaccines, therapeutic antibodies, protein therapeutics, and diagnostics for coronaviruses, including DYAI-100, Dyadic’s lead COVID-19 vaccine candidate."
Quite apart from the vaccine DYAI-100, the C1 technology can be applied across Sorrento's entire Covid portfolio. It will greatly reduce costs. For example, Sorrento could now have not only the world's BEST COVID ANTIBODIES but also the world's MOST AFFORDABLE! We know that even now, because they are so powerful, they require only small doses. They can be delivered in 2 minute injections rather than 4 hour infusions. They can be delivered in small nasal drops. They can be delivered in small amounts utilizing the SOFUSA technology. Add to that substantial production cost savings using the C1 technology and Sorrento will have enormous pricing advantages which health systems like!
Sorrento now has the exclusive rights to rapidly produce C1 based Covid vaccines for 60% (SIXTY) of the world's population. Sorrento can immediately use existing manufacturing facilities in the US and China. The multi-variant vaccine can be cheaply produced and shipped and stored without a costly cold-chain. North and South America, Europe, China, Japan and other parts of Asia can all now be reached with an affordable, more effective, alternative to costly first generation cold-chain shackled mRNA vaccines.
Sorrento now can offer highly accurate affordable testing(COVISTIX),early treatment(COVIDROPS), cytokine storm prevention(ABIVERTINIB), late stage ICU rescue(COVIMSC) and long haul treatment(ARD-301). These are all potential EUA candidates and the Mexican EUA approval is only the first of many. The addition of two vaccine candidates (multi-variant C1 and multi-variant second generation mRNA) only strengthens the 15 item Covid portfolio.
Some interesting videos to explain why the C1 deal is important.
https://www.dyadic.com/
It is very important that Sorrento has exclusive rights to the C1 technology for vaccine development for 60% of the world population. North and South America, Europe, large parts of Asia including China and Japan.
Sorrento already has 500,000 sq.ft. of manufacturing capacity divided between the US and China.
These facilities, along with the C1 technology will allow for rapid, large scale manufacture of affordable vaccines that will control all potential Covid variants. Sorrento now will have both the second generation mRNA and C1 technologies to lead the world in dealing with current and future pandemics ! The following presentation from ZAPI is very enlightening...
https://irdirect.net/prviewer/release_only/id/4651797
There's a lot of exciting things happening with Sorrento that we don't know about(and for business reasons shouldn't know about!). For example the use of Dyadic's C1 technology has been going on for SIX MONTHS.
Dr.Ji said, “Over the past six months we have carried out several promising preclinical animal trials using the C1 produced RBD antigen in Dyadic’s lead COVID-19 vaccine candidate, DYAI-100. Our goal is to manufacture a COVID-19 vaccine that will provide protection across the variants of concern, including Delta, and in addition, apply the C1 protein production platform broadly across our current and future coronavirus programs.”
*The DYAI-100 vaccine is inexpensive but is effective against all "known and emerging VoCs."
*Sorrento will have exclusive rights to about 60% of the worlds population...including North and South America, Europe, China and Japan!
* Sorrento now has over 15 Covid programs...and its first of many EUA's in Mexico.
Another SOFUSA patent. Interesting that the microneedle technology is mentioned in delivery of Sorrento's second generation mRNA! It's easy to underestimate the value of SOFUSA. It can be a big winner.
A lot of South America was forced by the "America First" policy to use inferior Chinese and even Russian(Sputnik 5!) vaccines . If Sorrento builds good connections with Mexico and Brazil everyone will benefit!
Could Mexico be serious about funding a mRNA facility as a partner with Sorrento? Why would they do that?
Why did Canada today announce a deal is in the works to fund a Moderna mRNA facility in Canada? Why did they do that?
Although both countries are traditional Allies of the US both got shut out of early vaccine supplies by the American "America First" policy.
In Canada's case they secured vaccines from Europe and now have 81% single shots and 70% double vaccinated. This far exceeds the US where only 59% have the first dose and 46% have both doses.
Mexico however has only 45% with a single dose and 25% with both doses.
Both the Canadian and Mexican governments want to INSURE a rapid vaccine response to future pandemics. Could the Mexican government assist Sorrento in building a mRNA facility in Mexico? Will they? We shall soon see. But remember, mRNA is not only a cutting edge Covid technology ...it also is a cutting edge Cancer and immunotherapy technology! This is Sorrento's wheelhouse! Sorrento apparently is well advanced with some exciting second generation mRNA technology.
The development of a Sorrento mRNA vaccine is a large undertaking. It looks like outside funding could be helpful. I see at least 3 possible routes.
1. US government funding through the DoD or DARPA. Sorrento already has growing connections with these sources.
2. Poster Sal suggested a Mexican government route.
a. Mexican president rails against big pharma, vaccines, and access...
b. Sorrento creates a fully owned subsidiary in Mexico: Sorrento Therapeutics Mexico (“Sorrento Mexico”) and INMEGEN have executed an MOU to further collaborate on clinical development of a broad pipeline of COVID products, including "diagnostics, MULTIVALENT mRNA-based VACCINES and therapeutics". Sorrento provides its most comprehensive portfolios and a “one-stop-shop" of potential solutions for governments interested in a multi-modal “detect and treat” approach to the COVID-19 pandemic.
c. Sorrento gets a Mexican Warp Speed grant from Mexico.
3. Sorrento said back on June 2,2021 that it "..is seeking major global partnership(s) to co-develop and co-commercialize Abivertinib." Abivertinib has many applications to cancers, autoimmune diseases and Covid anti-cytokine storm. Wouldn't any large pharma interested in a global partnership for Abivertinib also be interested in a second generation mRNA Covid vaccine? It is very possible. Clearly Sorrento has been working on the mRNA vaccine for at least 6 months. And global partnerships have been on the table for over 2 months.
These are 3 plausible routes. We may soon learn which path Sorrento has chosen!
1776...they have more than 500,000 square feet of Research and cGMP Manufacturing Facilities. This Sorrento vaccine is intended to deal with the many new Covid variants that the first generation of vaccines all struggle with. I think it will require a partner. DARPA? DOD? A Big Pharma partner? If it's a Big Pharma this partnership may be the prelude to a buy-out dance IMO!
There are "adverse reactions" to EVERY MEDICATION". Next time you open your medications look at the warning labels. This is also true of every vaccination. In fact it is true of aspirin. And of many foods(ask my wife). Vaccinations have saved multi-millions of lives. I had two Pfizer Covid shots...and like most people I had a sore arm. However it was sorer when I had my Shingrix vaccinations. I am glad I had them both.
The Sorrento mRNA vaccine can be expected to have the 90+% efficacy of other mRNA vaccines but have two important advantages. It will NOT require a cold-chain. It will however be MORE effective against the new more agressive and more lethal variants. Both of these advantages are significant!
I understand that J&J has a viral vector vaccine that does not require a cold-chain. However it is only 66% effective, unlikely to handle the variants, and has the following rather scary warning from the CDC.
"Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen (J&J/Janssen) COVID-19 Vaccine: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended that use of (J&J/Janssen) COVID-19 Vaccine resume in the United States, effective April 23, 2021. However, women younger than 50 years old should especially be aware of the rare risk of blood clots with low platelets after vaccination. There are other COVID-19 vaccines available for which this risk has not been seen."
SWEET!
I could be wrong...but I'm guessing things will happen in this order.
1. ANP acquisition completed.(temporary roadblock removed!)
2. News flow begins(eg.Abivertinib Covid news, Covistix sales, several more Covid EUA's granted, SP-102 progress, Abivertinib cancer news, etc).
3. Share price moves up dramatically.
This is why people talk it down even as they are accumulating shares! Why do people bother bashing a stock except to try to buy more!
This is important !..." Importantly, because it acts inside cells rather than on viral spikes, questions about whether it would work in new variants like Delta and Lambda aren’t a concern, he adds. “This mechanism is not dependent on the virus spike protein, so these new variants coming up aren’t going to relegate us to finding new molecules as is the case with vaccines or antibodies,” Janda says."
1776...your second link labelled "Covi-MSC" is to SP-102.
August 04 2021 - 12:57PM GlobeNewswire Inc.
'Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SRNE, "Sorrento"), in collaboration with The Scripps Research Institute of La Jolla, today announced that the American Chemical Society has published the article “Salicylanilides Reduce SARS-CoV-2 Replication and Suppress Induction of Inflammatory Cytokines in a Rodent Model,” which describes a salicylanilide library screened in a SARS-CoV-2 cell activity assay.
Based on this screening effort, the most efficacious derivative (Salicyn-30) was further evaluated in a prophylactic mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This analysis demonstrated that Salicyn-30 can potentially reduce viral loads, modulate key cytokines, and mitigate severe weight loss involved in COVID-19 infections. Moreover, based on their mechanism of action, Salicyn-30 and other lead compounds may be equally effective against recent emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. The combination of anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity, cytokine inhibitory activity, variant indifference and a previously established favorable pharmacokinetic profile for the lead Salicyn-30 renders salicylanilides in general, and Salicyn-30 in particular, as promising therapeutics for COVID-19."
BACKGROUND TO SALICYN-30
"Potential COVID-19 Medication Found Among Tapeworm Drugs"
August 8, 2021 Eurasia Review
By Eurasia Review
A group of medications long prescribed to treat tapeworm has inspired a compound that shows two-pronged effectiveness against COVID-19 in laboratory studies, according to a new publication appearing online in the journal ACS Infectious Disease. The compound, part of a class of molecules called salicylanilides, was designed in the laboratory of Professor Kim Janda, PhD, the Ely R. Callaway, Jr. Professor of Chemistry and director of the Worm Institute for Research and Medicine at Scripps Research, in La Jolla, CA. “It has been known for 10 or 15 years that salicylanilides work against certain viruses,” Janda says. “However, they tend to be gut-restricted and can have toxicity issues.” Janda’s compound overcomes both issues, in mouse and cell-based tests, acting as both an antiviral and an anti-inflammatory drug-like compound, with properties that auger well for its use in pill form.
Salicylanilides were first discovered in Germany in the 1950s and used to address worm infections in cattle. Versions including the drug niclosamide are used in animals and humans today to treat tapeworm. They have also been studied for anti-cancer and antimicrobial properties.
The modified salicylanilide compound that Janda created was one of about 60 that he built years ago for another project. When the SARS-CoV-2 virus became a global pandemic in early 2020, knowing that they may have antiviral properties, he started screening his old collection, first in cells with collaborators from Sorrento Therapeutics and The University of Texas Medical Branch, and later, after seeing promising results, working with Scripps Research immunologist John Teijaro, PhD, who conducted rodent studies.
One compound stood out. Dubbed simply “No. 11,” it differs from the commercial tapeworm medicines in key ways, including its ability to pass beyond the gut and be absorbed into the bloodstream—and without the worrisome toxicity.
“Niclosamide is basically digestive-track restricted, and that makes sense, because that’s where parasites reside,” Janda says. “For that reason, simple drug repurposing for a COVID treatment would be counterintuitive, as you want something that is readily bioavailable, yet does not possess the systemic toxicity that niclosamide has.”
About 80 percent of salicylanilide 11 passed into the bloodstream, compared to about 10 percent of the antiparasitic drug niclosamide, which has recently entered clinical trials as a COVID-19 treatment, Janda says.
The experiments showed that of the many modified salicylanilides he had built in his laboratory, No. 11 affected pandemic coronavirus infections in two ways. First, it interfered with how the virus deposited its genetic material into infected cells, a process called endocytosis. Endocytosis requires the virus to form a lipid-based packet around viral genes. The packet enters the infected cell and dissolves, so the infected cell’s protein-building machinery can read it and churn out new viral copies. No. 11 appears to prevent the packet’s dissolution.
“The compound’s antiviral mechanism is the key,” Janda says. “It blocks the viral material from getting out of the endosome, and it just gets degraded. This process does not allow new viral particles to be made as readily.” Importantly, because it acts inside cells rather than on viral spikes, questions about whether it would work in new variants like Delta and Lambda aren’t a concern, he adds. “This mechanism is not dependent on the virus spike protein, so these new variants coming up aren’t going to relegate us to finding new molecules as is the case with vaccines or antibodies,” Janda says.
In addition, No. 11 helped quiet potentially toxic inflammation in the research animals, Janda says, which could be important for treating acute respiratory distress associated with life-threatening COVID infections. It reduced levels of interleukin 6, a signaling protein which is a key contributor of inflammation typically found in advanced stages of COVID-19.
Better medications against COVID-19 are urgently needed, as highly infectious new variants drive renewed surges of illness and death globally... "
1776- All I know is summarized in the Aug.2,2021 American Chemical Society Abstract...
"SARS-CoV-2 virus has recently given rise to the current COVID-19 pandemic where infected individuals can range from being asymptomatic, yet highly contagious, to dying from acute respiratory distress syndrome. Although the world has mobilized to create antiviral vaccines and therapeutics to combat the scourge, their long-term efficacy remains in question especially with the emergence of new variants. In this work, we exploit a class of compounds that has previously shown success against various viruses. A salicylanilide library was first screened in a SARS-CoV-2 activity assay in Vero cells. The most efficacious derivative was further evaluated in a prophylactic mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection unveiling a salicylanilide that can reduce viral loads, modulate key cytokines, and mitigate severe weight loss involved in COVID-19 infections. The combination of anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity, cytokine inhibitory activity, and a previously established favorable pharmacokinetic profile for the lead salicylanilide renders salicylanilides in general as promising therapeutics for COVID-19."
I could find no mention of RSV.
I can only think of 15 Covid related tests, antibodies and drugs mentioned by Sorrento!
1.COVITRACE™ (Diagnostic Test for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Nasal Swab and Saliva)
2.COVISTIX™ (Antigen Test for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Virus in Nasal Swab)Mexico EUA APPROVED
3.COVITRACK™ Platinum (Antibody Test for the Detection of Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in Blood)
4.COVIGUARD™ (Neutralizing Antibody – STI 1499)
5.COVI-AMG™ (Affinity Matured COVI-GUARD Neutralizing Antibody – STI 2020)
6.COVIDROPS™ (Intranasal COVI-AMG Neutralizing Antibody – STI 2099)
7.COVISHIELD™ (Neutralizing Antibody Cocktail)
8.COVIDTRAP™ (ACE2 Receptor Decoy – STI 4398)
9.ABIVERTINIB (Cytokine Storm – STI 5656)
10.SALICYN-30 (Anti-viral – STI 2030)
11.COVI-MSC (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome – STI 8282)
12.ARK-301 long-haul Covid symptoms
13.mRNA-based multivalent vaccine
14.Combination Covid/seasonal flu tests
15.Combination Covid/seasonal flu vaccines
Does Sorrento's additional funding of Aardvark indicate that ARD-301 is looking good to treat fibromyalgia and long term Covid symptoms? If so, this is an impotant investment in two HUGE indications!
SAN DIEGO, Calif., March 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sorrento Therapeutics (NASDAQ: SRNE, “Sorrento”) and Scilex Holdings Company (“Scilex”), a majority owned subsidiary of Sorrento, have entered into an exclusive licensing term sheet with Aardvark Therapeutics (“Aardvark”) to acquire Aardvark’s proprietary formulation, Delayed Burst Release Low Dose Naltrexone (DBR-LDN), or ARD-301, for the treatment of chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and chronic post-COVID syndrome (“long haul COVID” or “long COVID”) in multiple Phase 2 programs planned to be initiated this year.
Following execution of the definitive agreement between the parties, Scilex plans to work with Aardvark to initiate a new Phase 2 trial this year for fibromyalgia, which Scilex believes will be an important milestone for treating physicians, and most importantly for the estimated 10 million U.S. adults suffering from this chronic, frequently debilitating central pain condition with limited treatment options.1 Approximately one-third of those diagnosed with fibromyalgia in the U.S. are reported to receive chronic prescription opioids, which is part of the opioid crisis, since opioids are not believed to be an effective solution for chronic central pain.2 ARD-301 is comprised of a non-opioid, non-addictive therapy option that has been shown to have activity for improving a broad array of fibromyalgia symptoms in prior clinical studies with LDN. Currently, there are only three FDA approved pharmacologic treatments for fibromyalgia, but they have demonstrated limited efficacy and burdensome side effects in many patients.
All studies start with mice. So far Salicyn-30 looks interesting. There are lots of anti-virals out there. Are they better? Are they as good? This is what interests me..."Moreover, based on their mechanism of action, Salicyn-30 and other lead compounds may be equally effective against RECENT EMERGING SARS-CoV-2 VARIANTS. The combination of anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity, cytokine inhibitory activity, VARIANT INDIFFERENCE and a previously established favorable pharmacokinetic profile for the lead Salicyn-30 renders salicylanilides in general, and Salicyn-30 in particular, as promising therapeutics for COVID-19."
Time will tell!
The full paper is available to read at: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00253.
The ANP acquisition should close soon. Between SmartPharm and ANP Sorrento will have several new technologies. This is from the ANP website...
"ANP's Nanoencapsulation platform technology is also ideal for delivery of gene-based therapies for personalized medicine, particularly for efficiently delivering Oligodeoxynucleotides(ODN)/DNA/mRNA or peptide based vaccines/neo-antigens for cancer or infectious disease therapies.
Advantages?
*Significantly improved delivery efficiency of ODN/DNA/mRNA payloads compared to other delivery methods/platform systems.
*Superb in vivo animal efficacy data across a multitude of different cargo types
*Custom Formulations to fine tune specific drug attributes (targeting, PK/PD profile, safety, etc.)"
SmartPharm was awarded $34 million by DARPA to develop a plasmid DNA injection. Sorrento said they would be seeking further DARPA funding. Would DARPA give another award to develop a multivariant plasmid mRNA injection? I wouldn't be surprised !
I could be wrong about an acquisition being required .Sorrento's SmartPharm may already be working on this! From the SmartPharm website...
"A subset of gene therapy seeks to insert nucleic acids (mRNA or DNA) into cells to make normal versions of a missing or abnormal program or to produce an entirely new type of protein that has therapeutic benefit. This approach eliminates the need for administering a recombinant therapeutic protein—the body itself becomes the factory for protein production. SmartPharm Therapeutics is focused on this approach to gene therapy, which we call “gene-encoded therapeutics.”
So it could be quite advanced!
There is new elephant in the room that's being ignored! Sorrento today announced for the first time that they plan to develop
... "Multivalent mRNA Vaccines: mRNA-based multivariant vaccines protecting against SARS-CoV-2 virus, Alpha, Beta, Delta and Gamma variants of concern."
If they are working on multivalent mRNA vaccines against Covid they are also likely to be working on mRNA vaccines against cancer! But this has never been mentioned before today. Is another acquisition going to be announced? I think this is very likely. Perhaps we'll hear soon!