Benzinga | Sep 1, 2020 08:39AM EDT

Sonnet Announces New Preclinical Data For SON-1010 (Interleukin 12-F(H)AB)

* Positive SCID mouse data further support the preclinical safety and dosing profile of SON-1010 for oncology applications

* No evidence of cytokine storm was observed

* Company is on track to submit an IND in 2021

PRINCETON, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / September 1, 2020 / Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc., (NASDAQ:SONN) a clinical-stage company developing innovative targeted biologic drugs, announced today that it has successfully completed a preclinical Severe Combined Immunodeficient (SCID) mouse study of its fully human Interleukin 12 (IL-12) candidate, SON-1010, a FHAB-derived molecule comprising Interleukin 12 and Sonnet's Fully Human Albumin Binding (FHAB) technology.

This humanized mouse study further evaluated the pharmacokinetics (PK) and tolerated dose range for oncology applications. As with the Company's previous studies in non-humanized mice that compared a mouse IL-12 albumin-bound construct with naked/unbound mouse IL-12, SON-1010 continues to display similar levels of significantly enhanced PK. The company observed that, regardless of PBMC (human peripheral blood mononuclear cells) donor, Interferon Gamma (IFN-?) levels responded in a dose dependent manner. IFN-? is a key biomarker that leads to activation of the immune system. Furthermore, at all dose levels, no toxicity and no evidence of adverse immune reactions associated with cytokine storm were observed.

The study included a single dose at multiple concentrations in both intravenous and subcutaneous modes of administration. Animals were injected with pre-screened PBMCs, and then serum samples were analyzed at various timepoints. Both circulating IL12-FHAB and key cytokine biomarkers were evaluated during the assessment of PK and safety. Body weight and animal health measurements were also performed at regular intervals. No evidence of body weight changes or cytokine imbalances were seen, regardless of dose or route of administration. Cytokines measured included, IL-1?, IL-2, IL-4, IL6, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-?, and were similar to that of the vehicle control (phosphate buffered saline).

Pankaj Mohan, Ph.D., Founder and CEO, commented, "IL-12 is a potent immunomodulatory cytokine that is receiving heightened attention for its anti-cancer activity and we believe these compelling new data, in addition to the data we have already collected, suggest that SON-1010 represents a potentially safe and effective IL-12 therapeutic compound. With a fully human candidate in hand, we have provided important validation of our platform technology, and we remain laser-focused on initiating first-in human clinical studies during the second half of 2021."

John Cini, Ph.D., Co-Founder and CSO added, "These SCID mouse data are very encouraging and are consistent with our expectations, based on the body of proof-of-concept data we have generated to date. We are working to quickly move into nonhuman primate studies to further evaluate drug toxicity, in preparation for our IND submission in 2021."