Sona's Therapy Induces Abscopal Effect, Clears Distant Tumors in Melanoma Study

Halifax, Nova Scotia-- June 26, 2024 -- Sona Nanotech Inc. (CSE: SONA) (OTCQB: SNANF) has announced promising results from a detailed biomarker analysis of their pre-clinical melanoma study at Dalhousie University. The study reveals that Sona’s Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy (THT) not only reduces tumors but also prompts the innate immune system to attack untreated tumors when combined with the immunotherapeutic drug IL-2.

The pre-clinical trials used two murine cancer models: triple negative breast cancer and malignant melanoma. Following the positive outcomes, the company plans to proceed with necessary safety and biocompatibility testing mandated by regulatory agencies before human trials can commence.

Dr. Carman Giacomantonio, Sona’s Chief Medical Officer and the study’s principal investigator, expressed optimism about the results. He noted that Sona’s THT appears to make cancer-specific proteins, or antigens, visible to the immune system, thereby triggering immune responses that lead to cancer-specific immunity. This was particularly evident when THT was combined with IL-2, producing immune responses strong enough to target remote tumors. Remarkably, the therapy generated lasting immunity, as new tumors could not grow in mice previously treated with THT and IL-2, suggesting a "vaccine effect."

Post-treatment analysis showed that remote tumors did not establish in mice whose primary tumors had been treated with Sona’s THT combined with IL-2. Additionally, an increase in inflammatory gene expression was observed in both the 4T1 and B16 cancer models, further supporting the effectiveness of Sona’s THT in fundamentally altering the innate immune system.

David Regan, Sona’s CEO, highlighted the significance of the gene expression data, which underscores the longevity of the immune response generated. The inability of new tumors to grow in treated mice offers hope that Sona’s therapy, when combined with immunotherapeutic drugs, could effectively treat cancer and reduce recurrence rates. Given the success in animal models, the company is advancing towards the regulatory requirements necessary for initiating human trials. The initial focus will be on patients with late-stage, unresectable melanoma who have not responded to other treatments.

The results mentioned are preliminary and subject to further validation through peer review. Sona plans to submit the complete study for publication in a scientific journal once finalized.

Sona Nanotech Inc., a nanotechnology life sciences company, is developing THT, a photothermal cancer therapy that uses therapeutic heat to treat solid tumors. The heat, delivered by infrared light absorbed by Sona’s gold nanorods, stimulates the immune system, shrinks tumors, and increases drug efficacy by enhancing tumor perfusion. The gold nanorods specifically target the leaky vasculature of tumors, and their selective thermal sensitivity ensures clean margins. THT aims to be a safe, effective, and minimally invasive adjunct to other cancer treatments.

Sona has proprietary methods for manufacturing gold nanoparticles, which it uses for cancer therapies and diagnostic platforms. Their gold nanorod particles are free of cetyltrimethylammonium (CTAB), reducing toxicity risks. An assessment by the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory confirmed no endotoxins or microbial contamination. Sona’s gold nanotechnologies may be adapted for various medical applications, pending regulatory approval from bodies like Health Canada and the FDA.

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