Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 7, 2024) - Sona Nanotech Inc. (CSE: SONA) (OTCQB: SNANF) (the "Company", "Sona") is pleased to announce that its Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Len Pagliaro, has been invited to showcase Sona's developing Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy ("THT") cancer treatment today at the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory ("NCL"). Sona will be one of six commercial and academic collaborators to present its research at the NCL's 20th anniversary "Advancing Medical Applications of Cancer Nanotechnology" symposium. Sona's subsidiary was previously selected for the NCL Assay Cascade Program, the premier program in the World for bringing nanomaterials through critical preclinical stages and facilitating regulatory review, in which Sona's materials were assessed for biocompatibility. The NCL was established by the National Cancer Institute ("NCI") to accelerate the progress of nanomedicine by providing preclinical characterization and safety testing of nanoparticles. The NCL is a collaborative effort between NCI, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
The Company is also pleased to provide an update on the status of its current operating activities, notably the development of its Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy which uses the Company's patented, biocompatible gold nanorods ("GNRs") to act as an immune stimulator for the treatment of certain solid cancers.
In addition to closing an over-subscribed $3.1 million equity financing in September, the Company has completed pilot safety and biocompatibility feasibility studies conducted by a global contract research organization ("CRO") and a preclinical, GLP-compliant translational research institute, respectively, in the United States. Both preclinical studies provided initial data which determine that the Company's proprietary and uniquely biocompatible GNRs are non-toxic, safe and the GNRs clear the body efficiently. Based on the success of these two studies, the Company has commissioned a full dose-escalation study which is required to inform and support the study protocol for a first-in-human early feasibility study ("EFS") being pursued by the Company. The Company will provide updates as to the status of its progress towards an EFS study as significant milestones are achieved.
Also, the previously announced results from the Company's melanoma and triple negative breast cancer pre-clinical studies have now been submitted for peer review and consideration for publishing in a scientific journal. The working title for the paper, "Targeted Intra-tumoral Hyperthermia using SONA Nanotech's Uniquely Biocompatible Gold Nanorods Induces a Strong Immunogenic Cell Death Response in Two Immunogenically 'Cold' Tumor Models" highlights the unique mechanism of action of our novel immunotherapy. Work on a pre-clinical study of THT for a colorectal cancer model continues at Dalhousie University with results expected later in November.
Sona Nanotech CEO, David Regan commented, "Sona's preclinical efficacy data for its THT is encouraging in its ability to modify cancers and activate an immune response that significantly reduces not only treated tumors but also untreated metastases. These promising data compel us to pursue an aggressive path towards securing approvals to treat those suffering from late-stage solid cancers that have been unresponsive to current treatment regimens. With supportive initial preclinical safety data from world class CRO partners now in-hand, Sona is pursuing an early feasibility study to assess THT's safety and efficacy in humans in 2025."
Sona Nanotech, a nanotechnology life sciences company, is developing Targeted Hyperthermia™, a photothermal cancer therapy, which uses therapeutic heat to treat solid cancer tumors. The heat is delivered to tumors by infrared light that is absorbed by Sona's gold nanorods in the tumor and re-emitted as heat. Therapeutic heat (42-48°C) stimulates the immune system, shrinks tumors, inactivates cancer stem cells, and increases tumor perfusion - thus enabling drugs to reach all tumor compartments more effectively. The size, shape, and surface chemistry of the nanorods target the leaky vasculature of solid tumors, and the selective thermal sensitivity of tumor tissue enables the therapy to deliver clean margins. Targeted Hyperthermia promises to be safe, effective, minimally invasive, competitive in cost, and a valuable adjunct to drug therapy and other cancer treatments.
Sona has developed multiple proprietary methods for the manufacture of gold nanoparticles which it uses for the development of both cancer therapies and diagnostic testing platforms. Sona Nanotech's gold nanorod particles are cetyltrimethylammonium ("CTAB") free, eliminating the toxicity risks associated with the use of other gold nanorod technologies in medical applications. It is expected that Sona's gold nanotechnologies may be adapted for use in applications, as a safe and effective delivery system for multiple medical treatments, subject to the approval of various regulatory boards, including Health Canada and the FDA.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This press release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the anticipated applications and potential opportunities of Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy, Sona's preclinical and clinical study plans, future patent filings and its product development plans. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions or estimates that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including the risk that Sona may not be able to successfully obtain sufficient clinical and other data to submit regulatory submissions, raise sufficient additional capital, secure patents or develop the envisioned therapy, and the risk that THT may not prove to have the benefits currently anticipated. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Sona disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
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