Halifax, Nova Scotia – (Newsfile Corp. – January 13, 2025) – Sona Nanotech Inc. (CSE:
SONA, OTCQB: SNANF) (the “Company”, “Sona”) is pleased to announce that the now
complete findings from our previously announced pre-clinical breast cancer and
melanoma efficacy studies have been published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal,
Frontiers in Immunology. This research article includes new follow-up data which
provides a comprehensive analysis of the immunity activated by Sona’s Targeted
Hyperthermia Therapy (“THT”). The published manuscript titled, “Targeted Intra-tumoral
Hyperthermia with Uniquely Biocompatible Gold Nanorods Induces a Strong
Immunogenic Cell Death in Two Immunogenically ‘Cold’ Tumors” is available online in
electronic form here and will be in print in its upcoming issue of Frontiers in Immunology
– Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy. Frontiers in Immunology is a leading journal
in its field, publishing rigorously peer-reviewed research across basic, translational and
clinical immunology.
Sona’s proprietary, innovative technology uses the Company’s patented, biocompatible
gold nanorods (“GNRs”) to deliver precision, targeted, non-destructive hyperthermia
therapy directly to cancers, thereby alleviating the systemic toxicity associated with most
other cancer therapies. In this study, Sona’s team confirmed that its therapy causes
cancer-specific cell death that activates a strong immune response by the body’s immune
system. Of critical importance in Sona’s publication is the evidence that the ‘novel
immunity’ generated by Sona’s THT is observed in cancers that are known to be
completely resistant to modern immunotherapies.
Sona’s Chief Medical Officer, and the manuscript’s senior author, Dr. Carman
Giacomantonio, commented, “I am extremely proud of my research team lead by Dr.
Barry Kennedy, and the quality of the research we have produced. To be published in
such a highly respected and rigorously peer-reviewed journal as Frontiers in Immunology
is no small feat! In our studies, we’ve shown in industry standard, pre-clinical cancer
models that Sona’s therapy can eliminate cancers by converting them from ‘cold’, immune
unresponsive tumors, into ‘hot’ immunogenic tumors. In the many years I have been
involved in cancer research and treatment, I have never seen a treatment trigger such a
powerful immune response in otherwise ‘cold’ tumors and our data makes it clear that
there was no meaningful immune response to standard immunotherapies without THT in
these studies. Our publication in Frontiers in Immunology elevates our findings to an
international level, giving us new audience with other leading cancer research
laboratories and potential industry partners. Most importantly, this publication provides us
with ‘proof-of-concept’, supporting the clinical trial protocols we are striving to launch in
2025.”
“Our research appearing in a leading scientific journal is evidence of Sona delivering on
our commitment to build a ‘mountain of data’ that will support our planned regulatory
filings. Its findings motivate our team to press on, affirming our conviction that THT-
immunotherapy will be highly effective in the clinical setting. While we continue to conduct
research on other cancers, we are now also focused on delivering evidence through first-in-– 2 –
human clinical trials, both here and abroad, as quickly as possible. This peer-reviewed
publication of successful treatment using Sona’s THT in melanoma and breast cancers
provides the credibility necessary to help make that happen.” said David Regan, Chief
Executive Office of Sona Nanotech.
Contact:
David Regan, CEO
+1-902-442-0653
david@sonanano.com
About Sona Nanotech Inc.
Sona Nanotech 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. 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.
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, and Sona’s preclinical and
clinical study 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.
Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United
States