Sorrento and ViralClear to Test Combination of Neutralizing Antibody and Oral Anti-Viral Compound Against COVID-19

Sorrento Therapeutics (San Diego, CA, USA) has entered into an agreement with ViralClear Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Westport, CT, USA) to explore the synergistic potential of small molecules and antibodies combination therapies against COVID-19.

Sorrento will initiate testing with a selection of its agents in combination with ViralClear’s anti-viral compound for possible synergistic anti-viral effect against SARS-CoV-2 in the preclinical model of Golden Syrian hamster. ViralClear will contribute its oral antiviral merimepodib (IMPDH inhibitor) which is currently in a Phase 2 trial in combination with remdesivir to treat COVID-19. Sorrento will initially make available STI-1400 neutralizing antibody candidate for testing.

In general, multi-modal approaches are considered the most likely to succeed anti-viral strategies. Even with highly effective stand-alone therapies, a synergistic combination can be pursued to help reduce the effective dose needed of each individual agent and aim to ensure maximum effect. The agreement between ViralClear and Sorrento will allow for testing of merimepodib with neutralizing antibodies in the Golden Syrian hamster model of COVID-19. The study will look for synergy at the effective doses between the two drugs already in human clinical trials and will try to specifically demonstrate that the combined benefits in strengthening and accelerating viral clearance exceed what each drug could deliver by itself. Pending the outcome of these studies, the results might be presented to the FDA to support the initiation of a human clinical trial of the drug combination.

Related Links:
Sorrento Therapeutics
ViralClear Pharmaceuticals, Inc.