U.S.-based biopharmaceutical organization Sorrento Therapeutics Inc. has reportedly announced positive preliminary results from its Phase 1b study evaluating COVI-MSC™ for the treatment of individuals suffering from COVID-19- induced acute respiratory distress or ARD.
For the uninitiated, COVI-MSC™ is Sorrento’s patented human allogeneic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell which exhibits the capacity to inhibit lung damage and reduce inflammation. The recent application of the drug amidst the aggressively spreading COVID-19 virus has demonstrated improved long-term pulmonary function along with reduced patient mortality.
As per reliable sources, the trial round involved a single-arm, non-randomized study which included three infusions of COVI-MSC™, administered every other day for a total of 1 x 106 cells/kg. Moreover, the study had also evaluated the efficacy outcome variables in order to provide guidance regarding the risk to benefit ratio in individuals suffering from COVID-19-related respiratory distress.
The first three patients enrolled in the study reported great levels of tolerance and demonstrated rapid improvement, sources claimed. Each of the three candidates were discharged from the hospital within a week’s time from the first COVI-MSC™ infusion. Currently, a fourth candidate has been enrolled and is undergoing treatment, with no safety issues so far.
Dr. Eyad Almasri, a pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialist at UCSF Fresno, who is appointed as the principal investigator in the ongoing study, was reported saying that he looks forward to working with Sorrento for offering COVI-MSC treatments as well as conducting the proposed controlled phase 2 study.
About Sorrento Therapeutics Inc.
California-headquartered Sorrento is a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on developing new treatments for autoimmune diseases, inflammation, and cancer. The organization’s primary products include CAR-T therapies for treating solid tumors and multiple late-stage biosimilars and biobetter antibodies.
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