Sorreto Therapeutics recently announced through Globe Newswire that it has filed an application for its investigational new drug COVI-DROPS (STI-2099). The study will investigate the safety and efficacy of the intranasal formulation in healthy volunteers and patients who have been diagnosed with mild COVID-19.
The new study evolved from preclinical studies of high potency STI-2099 in animal models. The drug had a one hundred percent neutralizing effect, both in the lab (in-vitro) and in the body (in-vivo).
In contrast, neutralizing antibodies currently require infusions that are given in the hospital and generally takes hours to administer.
Researchers found that SARS-CoV-2 had been prevented from transmitting the disease into healthy cells by using a low dose of the intranasal formulation STI-2099. The same low dose level prevented SARS-CoV-2 from causing a disease that mimics COVID-19 in hamsters.
Fast Acting and Effective
STI-2099, administrated in one intra-nasal dose, prevented the usual weight loss related to the disease within twelve hours after the hamsters had been infected.
Compared to antibodies that were administrated intravenously, STI-2099 created an impact within twenty-four hours after treatment.
On day two of the study, in the early stages of infection, the animals treated with COVI-DROPS demonstrated that it prevented the disease from progressing and reduced symptoms of the disease.
Dr. Henry Ji, CEO of Sorrento, stated that STI-2099 is slated to be widely used in treating COVID-19 patients early and treating them as outpatients. He said that the intranasal administration of the high potency antibody looks promising for use against the extremely contagious COVID-19.
A Systemic Disease
Researchers have found that COVID-19 is a systemic (attacks the whole body) disease. They have therefore determined that their best approach is to attack the disease systemically and locally.
Introducing Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.
Sorrento, a biopharmaceutical company, has developed a wide range of immune-oncology forums such as human antibodies, oncolytic virus, and an immune-cellular regimen. Its primary focus is to develop therapies to fight cancer.
