Sorrento Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: SRNE) has announced the commencement of enrolment in its second phase efficacy trial of human allogeneic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of COVID-19 induced acute respiratory distress syndrome or Acute respiratory distress patients in Brazil.
Sorrento to evaluate COV-MSC in Brazil
The trial (MSC-COV-202BR) is a 100-person, randomized, multi-arm, placebo-controlled second phase study evaluating the safety and efficacy of three COVI-MSC infusions given on different schedules in the context of standard of care therapies for COVID-19. The primary goal of this study is to see if COVI-MSCs can help patients with COVID-19-induced ARDS or ARD.
In addition, the company will soon commence subject enrolment on two other phases 2 studies evaluating COV-MSC. One of them will be a parallel second phase placebo-controlled safety study to be carried across the US, and the other will be a pulmonary long-hauler second phase efficacy and safety study in several sites across Brazil.
CEO and Chairman Henry Ji said, “It brings us great pleasure to see our MSC treatments for COVID-19-induced ARD/ARDS and post-COVID pulmonary long-haul syndrome rapidly move forward in clinical trials and towards a potential emergency approval of this promising therapy globally. We believe that COVI-MSC can help save lives, which is our primary goal at Sorrento.”
Sorrento advancing coronavirus therapies
Mesenchymal stem cells have been shown to help with reduction in symptoms in a variety of illness scenarios and may be able to minimize the long-term effects of pulmonary tissue damage. Sorrento is also working on antiviral treatments and vaccines for coronaviruses, such as Abivertinib, COVI-MSC, COVIGUARD, COVISHIELD, COVI-AMG, and COVIDROPS. Equally, the company is developing diagnostic test solutions, such as COVISTIX, COVITRACK, and COVITRACE.
Besides therapies for coronaviruses, the company is also advancing other therapies demonstrated. Still, the first in class is a non-opioid pain management molecules resiniferatoxin and SP-102, which is viscous gel formula used for epidural injections.
