According to the Complaint, Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company. The Company researches human therapeutic antibodies for the treatment of cancer, inflammation, and metabolic and infectious diseases. On May 8, 2020, Sorrento announced a collaboration with Mount Sinai Health System for the purpose of “generat[ing] antibody products that would act as a ‘protective shield’ against SARSCoV-2 coronavirus infection, potentially blocking and neutralizing the activity of the virus in naïve at-risk populations as well as recently infected individuals.”

The Complaint alleges that Sorrento failed to disclose that: (i) the Company’s initial finding of “100% inhibition” in an in vitro virus infection will not necessarily translate to success or safety in vivo, or in person; (ii) the Company’s finding was not a “cure” for COVID-19; and (ii) as a result of the foregoing, the Complaint alleges that Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis in violation of section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.