Candidate: STI-4398 (COVIDTRAP™), a vaccine to protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection
Category: VAX
Type: ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2)-Fc fusion protein (COVIDTRAP) designed to bind to the S1 domain of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. COVIDTRAP is a soluble recombinant fusion protein trap designed to block the SARS-CoV-2 virus from binding and infecting respiratory epithelial cells, which is expected to effectively interrupt the viral life cycle.
Status: Sorrento said March 20 it produced a preclinical batch of the STI-4398 (COVIDTRAP) protein, and anticipates completing enabling studies for an expedited IND filing “in the next few months.”
In vitro cell studies for SARS-CoV-2 virus infection and neutralization are expected to be conducted in the next few weeks in collaboration with “world-leading” coronavirus experts, Sorrento said. Sorrento scientists are in parallel working speedily to generate a stable CHO (Chinese Hamster Ovary) manufacturing cell line that would enable high-yield cGMP production of the COVIDTRAP fusion protein.
Late last month, Sorrento said it entered into a research testing agreement with The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston for preclinical testing of Sorrento’s COVID-19 therapeutic product candidates.
COVID-19: 200 Candidates and Counting
To navigate through the >200 potential therapeutic and vaccine options for COVID-19, GEN has grouped the candidates into four broad categories based on their developmental and (where applicable) clinical progress:
● FRONT RUNNER – the most promising therapeutics/vaccines based on clinical progress, favorable data or both.
● DEFINITELY MAYBE – earlier phases with promising partners, or more advanced candidates in development that have generated uneven data
● KEEPING AN EYE ON… – interesting technology, attracting notable partners, or both, but preliminary data.
● TOO SOON TO TELL – longshots pending additional experimental and/or clinical data.
GEN has also tagged the most common treatment types:
● ANTIVIRAL
● VAX
● ANTIBODY
● RNA
