Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. announced a research collaboration agreement with Mayo Clinic to conduct human clinical proof of concept studies using the Sofusa Lymphatic Drug Delivery System (S-LDDS) technology across multiple products and indications. Sofusa is a drug delivery platform which delivers biologic therapies through the skin and directly into the lymphatic system with potential to improve the efficacy and safety of immuno-oncology therapies. Targeting delivery to the lymphatics should also enable reduced dosing as compared to traditional systemic infusions or subcutaneous injections. The first study resulting in this agreement is MC20711, a Phase 1b study of the administration of Ipilimumab Intra-Lymphatically using the Sofusa® DoseConnect™ in Patients with Metastatic Melanoma. This is an investigator-initiated study developed by Svetomir Markovic, MD, PhD, and his team. “Checkpoint therapies have shown good results in some patients; however, response rates are still low, and this may be due to poor exposure to drug targets which reside in lymph nodes. By delivering checkpoint therapies directly to the lymphatics, the company expects to see an increase in clinical response and potentially a decrease in systemic side effects” - Mike Royal, MD, CMO for Sorrento Therapeutics. This agreement builds upon the previously announced exclusive licensing agreement where Sorrento licensed Mayo Clinic’s proprietary Antibody-Drug-Nanoparticle albumin-bound Immune Complex platform technology. “Both of these agreements are part of strategic focus to combine potent antibodies from G-MAB library with next-generation therapeutic platform technologies to deliver unparalleled safety and efficacy” – Henry Ji, President and CEO, Sorrento Therapeutics.