Here is some background on Sorrento's Mpro drug licensed from Texas A&M. It compares favorably with Merk's drug according to this news release. It will be nice to see more about a comparison to the Pfizer drug.
Sorrento Exercises Exclusive Option Agreement With Texas A&M University for MPRO Inhibitors Against Sars-Cov-2 and all Variants of Concern August 26, 2021 15:42 ET | Source: Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. *Exclusive license for MPro inhibitors supports rapidly growing small molecule development portfolio for combating COVID-19. **Lead compound, MPI8, exhibited potent in vitro antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 and all of the major Variants of Concern (VoCs) (alpha, beta, delta and gamma). *MPI8 also demonstrated superior antiviral activity in a head-to-head comparison with a late-stage clinical antiviral compound (EIDD-2801). Based on the IC50 data of the Plague Reduction Neutralization Test (PRNT) of live virus infecting Vero E6 cells, MPI8 demonstrated approximately ten-fold (10x) higher antiviral potency than EIDD-2801 against SARS-CoV-2 and its Alpha (UK) and Delta (Indian) VoCs and three to seven-fold (3-7x) higher antiviral potency against Beta (South Africa, 3X) and Gamma (Brazil/Japan, 6-7X) VoCs. SAN DIEGO, Aug. 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SRNE, "Sorrento") announced today that it has notified The Texas A&M University System (“TAMUS”) of its exercise of the option to an exclusive license for the global development and commercialization of highly potent main protease (MPro) inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 and all current and emerging variants of concern (VOCs). Sorrento and TAMUS previously announced the signing of the option agreement on August 24th and 25th, respectively:
https://investors.sorrentotherapeutics.com/news-releases/news-release-details/sorrento-therapeutics-announces-entry-option-agreement https://today.tamu.edu/2021/08/25/texas-am-researcher-new-drug-could-be-game-changer-against-covid-19 Sorrento’s decision to immediately exercise its option is based on very promising preclinical data for the lead compound, MPI8, that shows highly potent broad-spectrum antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 and all of the major Variants of Concern (VoCs) (alpha, beta, delta and gamma). Based on initial in vitro data, MPI8 demonstrated superior antiviral activity in a head-to-head comparison with a current Phase 3 investigational oral antiviral agent (EIDD2801). Based on the IC50 data of the Plague Reduction Neutralization Test (PRNT) of live virus infecting Vero E6 cells, MPI8 demonstrated approximately ten-fold (10x) higher antiviral potency than EIDD-2801 against SARS-CoV-2 and its Alpha (UK) and Delta (Indian) VoCs and three to seven-fold (3-7x) higher antiviral potency against Beta (South Africa, 3X) and Gamma (Brazil/Japan, 6-7X) VoCs.
Sorrento expects to complete additional preclinical studies in the coming weeks, including a head-to-head comparison against other late-stage clinical candidates, and will publish its preliminary findings in a pre-print publication."
I have high hopes for Sorrento's Mpro candidate, but it isn't the only Mpro game in town so how it will perform is yet to be seen. Publish Year: 2021: From the screening of approved drug library, three antiviral agents ritonavir, nelfinavir and saquinavir were predicted to be the most potent Mpro inhibitors. Apart from these pralmorelin, iodixanol and iotrolan were also identified from the systematic screening. The concept of a prodrug was first described in the late 1950s, but prodrugs have existed for more than a century. First marketed in 1899, aspirin is one of the first prodrugs that was widely used. It turns into a substance called salicylic acid after it enters the body. List of Prodrugs...you might be surprised https://psychonautwiki.org/wiki/List_of_prodrugs
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