An Adnab is an immune complex of nanoparticle albumin-bound drug products, such as nab-paclitaxel, that are noncovalently conjugated with tumor-targeting monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), the firm said. The products will use Sorrento's G-MAB library of fully humanized mAbs to generate a portfolio of product candidates to target liquid and solid tumors with the potential to treat autoimmune diseases as well.

Dr. Svetomir Markovic, PhD, at the Mayo Clinic spearheads the project, and to date has formed nine potential Adnab candidates, including two that will be investigated in a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) supervised, investigator-initiated human trial. The company plans to file multiple investigational new drug (IND) applications this year; it also plans to request breakthrough therapy designation from the FDA in both ovarian and endometrial cancers.

Henry Ji, PhD, is Adnab's chairman and CEO.