Priming tumors to enable immunotherapy
Clinical-Stage
Biotechnology Company Advancing Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy for Oncology
Sona Nanotech Inc. is a publicly traded clinical-stage oncology company advancing Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy (THT), a novel treatment platform for solid tumors powered by its proprietary CTAB-free gold nanorod technology. The company completed a first-in-human clinical study in patients with immunotherapy-resistant late-stage melanoma, demonstrating response in 8 of 10 patients, and is advancing the program toward combination therapy clinical studies.
8 of 10
patients responded in the first-in-human melanoma study
First-in-human results
In October 2025, Sona completed its first-in-human clinical study of THT in 10 patients with late-stage melanoma who had failed standard immunotherapy.
The study demonstrated an 80% overall response rate.
Six of the eight responding patients showed no detectable residual melanoma in representative biopsied tumors within two weeks.
The study met or exceeded expectations across all four measured areas: safety, tolerability, design factors, and efficacy.
What is THT
Most solid tumors are immunologically cold because the immune system has not engaged sufficiently with them, which is why immunotherapy fails the majority of patients. THT applies controlled near-infrared heat directly inside the tumor using gold nanorods, triggering apoptotic cell death and releasing neo-antigens. Human tissue analysis has confirmed NK cell infiltration, macrophage activation, and PD-L1 upregulation in patient samples. The tumor becomes visible to the immune system. That is the basis for combination therapy.
Pipeline overview
IGNITE-THT
THT combined with immunotherapy in late-stage melanoma patients who previously failed on those same drugs.
Read-out expected within 6 months of initiation.
PRIME-THT
THT combined with intratumoral immunotherapy in newly diagnosed early-stage melanoma patients before surgery.
Read-out expected within 8 months of initiation.
Health Canada ITA combination trial
Targeting initiation early 2027.
Latest scientific validation
Peer-reviewed preclinical research published in the Journal of Nanobiotechnology (April 2026) demonstrated that THT converted 0% immunotherapy responders into 100% responders in a preclinical colorectal cancer model. Histological analysis of first-in-human patient tissue confirmed NK cell infiltration and PD-L1 upregulation. Dr. Carman Giacomantonio presented first-in-human data at AACR 2026 (San Diego) and ASCO 2026 (Chicago).
Investment highlights
Development Stage
Clinical stage — first-in-human study complete
Pipeline
Two combination therapy studies announced
Recent Milestone
Published Research in Frontiers in Immunology
Scientific Validation
Peer-reviewed publication: Journal of Nanobiotechnology April 2026
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What is Sona Nanotech?
Sona Nanotech (CSE: SONA, OTCQB: SNANF) is a Halifax-based clinical-stage oncology company developing Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy (THT) for solid tumors. THT uses proprietary CTAB-free gold nanorods to heat tumors from the inside, triggering immune activation. The company’s first-in-human study in immunotherapy-resistant melanoma demonstrated an 80% overall response rate.
What is Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy?
Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy (THT) uses CTAB-free gold nanorods injected into a tumor and activated by near-infrared light to generate controlled heat inside the tumor. This kills cancer cells and releases neo-antigens, activating the immune system. Sona’s first-in-human study demonstrated an 80% overall response rate in 10 immunotherapy-resistant melanoma patients.
What are IGNITE-THT and PRIME-THT?
IGNITE-THT and PRIME-THT are two clinical studies announced by Sona Nanotech in May 2026 testing THT in combination with immunotherapy in melanoma patients. IGNITE-THT targets late-stage patients who have previously failed immunotherapy. PRIME-THT targets newly diagnosed early-stage patients before surgery.