- Sona Nanotech (CSE:SONA) announced that the first patient has been dosed in its early feasibility study of Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy (THT) for advanced melanoma
- If successful, THT could represent a significant advancement in cancer therapy, particularly for patients who have exhausted existing treatment options
- The study marks the first human application of Sona’s THT, a therapy that utilizes the company’s proprietary biocompatible gold nanorod technology
- Shares of Sona Nanotech (CSE:SONA) opened trading at $0.51
Sona Nanotech (CSE:SONA), an oncology-focused life sciences company, has announced a major milestone in the development of its novel cancer treatment: the first patient has been dosed in its early feasibility study of Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy (THT) for advanced melanoma.
This content has been prepared in collaboration with Sona Nanotech Inc., a third-party issuer, and is intended for informational purposes only.
The study marks the first human application of Sona’s THT, a therapy that utilizes the company’s proprietary biocompatible gold nanorod (GNR) technology. This innovative approach aims to enhance the immune system’s ability to recognize and attack tumors by applying localized hyperthermia to cancer cells, potentially making them more visible to immune responses.
Study overview
The early feasibility study is designed to evaluate several critical aspects of the THT treatment:
- Safety and tolerability: Monitoring for adverse events during and after treatment.
- Preliminary efficacy: Measuring tumor growth inhibition and immune system engagement.
- Clinical and pathological response: Assessing changes in tumor size and histological evidence of immune activation.
Patients enrolled in the study have advanced melanoma and have either failed to respond to or progressed during standard immunotherapy treatments. Each participant will receive two THT treatments spaced one week apart.
Technology and clinical evaluation
The study will also assess the practicality of implementing THT in clinical settings, including:
- Ease of setup and preparation
- Administration of GNRs across various tumor types
- Reproducibility and training requirements
- Resource and time demands for treatment delivery
Leadership commentary
Dr. Carman Giacomantonio, Sona’s chief medical officer, explained that this new therapy aims to modify tumors making them more visible to the immune system with a view to enabling an elimination of the cancer.
“As with any new technology, we are required to demonstrate that we can safely and feasibly deliver the treatment in the clinical setting,” he said in a media release. “Success in this study will enable us to proceed to our next planned study that will more critically evaluate the biological effects and clinical outcomes of this exciting technology.
CEO David Regan added:
“We plan to follow this critical first clinical step quickly with a second, more expansive human trial following further engagement with regulators, as well as a peer-reviewed article in a leading scientific journal detailing our findings. We also expect the learnings from this study to help inform on THT’s potential for complementing the treatment of other cancer types.”
What’s next
Initial results from the study are expected later this summer, with final data anticipated in the fall. Sona plans to publish its findings in a peer-reviewed journal and engage with regulators to advance to the next phase of clinical development.
If successful, THT could represent a significant advancement in cancer therapy, particularly for patients who have exhausted existing treatment options.
About Sona Nanotech
Sona Nanotech operates out of Halifax, Nova Scotia and is a company developing Targeted Hyperthermia, a photothermal cancer therapy, which uses therapeutic heat to treat solid cancer tumors.
Following the news, shares of Sona Nanotech (CSE:SONA) ended Monday 9.43 per cent lower at $0.48 but has risen 96.15 per cent since the year began and is also up 82.14 per cent since this time last year. Upon the opening of the market on Tuesday, SONA stock rose 6.25 per cent and was trading at $0.51.
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