Sorrento announces the publication of a series of novels

• A representative of the novel M^Pro series of inhibitors, MPI8, doubly inhibits M^Pro and cathepsin L, a key viral entry enzyme, with high potency and selectivity.
• Other analogs in the series have been evaluated by Sorrento to develop an oral antiviral drug for the treatment of patients infected with existing and emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 of concern, including Omicron.
• A promising candidate in the series with unique characteristics distinguished from SARS-CoV-2 M^Pro inhibitors published by others has been systematically evaluated and advanced to an advanced stage of the preclinical phase.

SAN DIEGO, December 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SRNE, “Sorrento”) today announced the peer-reviewed publication of a SARS-CoV-2 M novel series^Pro inhibitors with potent activities for both M^Pro and cathepsin L, a key host enzyme for SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells, written by Dr. Wenshe Ray Liu, professor at Texas A&M University.

The full manuscript is available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34242492/

Major protease of SARS-CoV-2 (M^Pro) is a key enzyme for the viral life cycle, including entry, replication and packaging of the virus. M^Pro is highly conserved in all discovered variants of SARS CoV-2 and is identified as a critical target for the development of broad-spectrum antiviral drugs. In addition, experimental evidence has shown that certain host proteases prime the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein for viral packaging, interactions with ACE2, and viral entry into the host. These include two serine proteases, furin and serine transmembrane protease 2 (TMPRSS2) and a cathepsin L cysteine ​​protease. The small molecule drugs that inhibit furin, TMPRSS2 and cathepsin L have been shown to be effective in inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 replication. In the publication, a representative analogue of the series, MPI8, demonstrated a double inhibition of M^Pro and cathepsin L with high potency and selectivity (IC₅₀ values ​​for M^Pro and cathepsin L are 105 nM and 1.2 nM, respectively). Sorrento collaborated with Professor Liu’s lab at Texas A&M University to evaluate the series analogs to develop an oral anti-COVID drug. A promising analogue with distinguished characteristics of the currently reported SARS-CoV-2 M^Pro inhibitors has been systematically evaluated and advanced to an advanced stage of the preclinical phase. “We are delighted to be working with Professor Liu’s group at Texas A&M University to develop a more effective M oral.^Pro inhibitor to meet the urgent need for treatment of COVID-19 patients infected with existing and emerging variants. Oral M^Pro along with Sorrento’s other ongoing therapeutic intervention approaches reflect our efforts to create a global ‘mutation-agnostic’ anti-COVID strategy to tackle the worrisome variants of COVID-19, including the emerging variant Omicron, ”said said Dr Henry Ji, Chairman and CEO of Sorrento.

“As a selective inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 M^Pro and cathepsin L which is the key to entry of SARS-CoV-2 into the human host cell, MPI8 exerts enhanced potency to inhibit SARS-CoV-2. So far, it is potentially one of the most powerful antivirals that have been developed to treat COVID-19, ”said Dr. Wenshe Ray Liu, Gradipore chair of the chemistry department at Texas A&M University. .

About Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.

Sorrento is a clinical and commercial biopharmaceutical company developing new therapies to treat cancer, pain (non-opioid treatments), autoimmune diseases and COVID-19. Sorrento’s multimodal, multidimensional approach to cancer control is made possible by its extensive immuno-oncology platforms, including key assets such as fully human antibodies (“G-MAB â„¢ library”), immuno-therapies -cellular (“DAR-T â„¢”), antibody-drug conjugates (“ADC”) and oncolytic virus (“Seprehvec â„¢”). Sorrento is also developing antiviral therapies and potential coronavirus vaccines, including Abivertinib, COVIGUARD â„¢, COVI-AMG â„¢, COVISHIELD â„¢, COVI-MSC â„¢ and COVIDROPS â„¢; and diagnostic test solutions, including COVITRACK â„¢, COVISTIX â„¢ and COVITRACE â„¢.

Sorrento’s commitment to life-enhancing therapies is also demonstrated by our efforts to advance a first-class, non-opioid small-molecule pain management (TRPV1 agonist), resiniferatoxin (“RTX”) and SP-102 (10 mg, dexamethasone sodium phosphate viscous gel) (SEMDEXA â„¢), a new viscous gel formulation of a corticosteroid widely used for epidural injections to treat lumbosacral radicular pain, or sciatica, and for market ZTlido^® (lidocaine topical system) 1.8% for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia. RTX has completed a Phase IB trial for intractable pain associated with cancer and a Phase 1B trial in patients with osteoarthritis. SEMDEXA is in a pivotal phase 3 trial for the treatment of lumbosacral radicular pain, or sciatica. ZTlido^® was approved by the FDA on February 28, 2018.

For more information, visit www.sorrentotherapeutics.com.

Forward-looking statements

This press release and all statements made for and during any presentation or meeting contain forward-looking statements relating to Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., under the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and subject to risks and uncertainties. which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding Sorrento’s plans with respect to its preclinical M^Pro inhibitor product candidates, including MPI8; the antiviral properties of Sorrento’s M^Pro inhibitor product candidates, including MPI8, and the potential benefit of M^Pro inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants of concern, including the Omicron variant; Sorrento’s plans to develop the M^Pro inhibitors to fight COVID-19; and Sorrento’s plans to treat COVID-19 variants of concern with a combination of therapeutic intervention approaches, including M^Pro inhibitors. Risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in our forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to: risks relating to Sorrento’s technologies and prospects, including, but not limited to ” to limit the risks associated with seeking regulatory approval for M^Pro inhibitors, including MPI8, against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants of concern; clinical development risks, including risks relating to the progress, timing, costs and results of clinical trials and product development programs; risk of difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory approvals; the risks that the results of a clinical study will not meet all or part of the parameters of a clinical study and that the data generated from these studies may not support a regulatory submission or approval; the risks that the results of previous trials, studies and trials will not be reproduced in future studies and trials; risks associated with the manufacture and supply of pharmaceutical products; risks associated with using the expertise of its employees, subsidiaries, affiliates and partners to assist Sorrento in the execution of its therapeutic drug candidate strategies; risks associated with the global impact of COVID-19; and other risks which are described in Sorrento’s most recent periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Sorrento’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors set out in those documents. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements in this press release, unless the law requires it.

Media contact and investor relations
Dorman Followwill
Email: mediarelations@sorrentotherapeutics.com

Sorrento^® and the Sorrento logo are registered trademarks of Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.

G-MAB â„¢, DAR-T â„¢, SOFUSA â„¢, COVIGUARD â„¢, COVI-AMG â„¢, COVISHIELD â„¢, COVIDROPS â„¢, COVI-MSC â„¢, COVITRACK â„¢, COVITRACE â„¢ and COVISTIX â„¢ are trademarks of Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.

SEMDEXA â„¢ is a trademark of Semnur Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

ZTlido^® is a registered trademark owned by Scilex Pharmaceuticals Inc.

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