Sorrento Therapeutics Inc (SRNE)

[dia76ca]

On May 19 Sorrento announced some very impressive results from the first arthritic patient dosed with Enbrel using the SOFUSA trandermal infusion technology. The company said...
"Sofusa is a drug delivery platform technology which delivers biologic therapies through the skin directly into the lymphatic system with potential to improve efficacy and safety and reduce the required dosing (as compared to traditional systemic or subcutaneous injections or infusions).
This is the first in-human Sofusa lymphatic delivery of a large molecule biologic for treatment. Additional immune-oncology trials with checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-PD1 and anti-CTLA4 antibodies are in place for solid tumors.(Mayo Clinic collaboration announced June 11!)
The first patient, who was a non-responder to Enbrel subcutaneous injections treatment, had a DAS28 score equal to 4.6, with a swollen joint count of 7 and tender joints of 11. After 4 weekly doses of Sofusa-delivered Enbrel, the patient’s DAS28 score dropped by 33%, total swollen joint count by 29%, and tender joint count by 45%, without any serious adverse events or skin reactions observed...."

"Abnormal immune system function is implicated in many conditions such as cancer and autoimmune diseases (e.g., Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis and Psoriasis). Sofusa’s nanotopography draped microneedles have been shown to reversibly open tight junctions in the skin and facilitate paracellular and transcellular transport across the epidermis directly into the lymphatic system. In pre-clinical biodistribution studies, these proprietary microneedles and microfluidics system have consistently demonstrated the ability to deliver over 40-fold increases in drug concentration to targeted lymph nodes (with lower drug concentration in systemic organs) when compared to traditional intravenous (“IV”) and subcutaneous (“SC”) injections. After a 1-hour administration with Sofusa, elevated lymph node concentrations have been measured beyond 72 hours."
Treatments for Cancer, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis and Psoriasis can be delivered with lower doses, concentrated on the lymphatic system, with a longer duration and fewer side effects. Now the Cancer application is going ahead in the Mayo Clinic! This technology has blockbuster potential!