GNPX — GENPREX INC (Healthcare >> Biotechnology)

Description: Genprex, Inc., a clinical-stage gene therapy company, focuses on developing therapies for patients with cancer and diabetes. The company's technologies are designed to administer disease-fighting genes to provide new therapies for patient populations with cancer and diabetes. Its oncology program utilizes its systemic, non-viral Oncoprex Delivery System, which encapsulates the gene-expressing plasmids using lipid-based nanoparticles in a lipoplex form. The company's lead product candidate, Reqorsa Gene Therapy (quaratusugene ozeplasmid), is being evaluated in three clinical trials as a treatment for NSCLC and SCLC. It also develops REQORSA Gene Therapy in Mesothelioma, Ras Inhibitor Resistant NSCLC, other tumor suppressor genes, and Glioblastoma, which is in preclinical studies. Its three-lung cancer clinical programs have received a Fast Track Designation from the FDA for the treatment of that patient population, and SCLC program has received an FDA Orphan Drug Designation. The company's diabetes gene therapy comprises of a novel infusion process that uses an AAV vector to deliver Pdx1 and MafA genes directly to the pancreas. In models of Type 1 diabetes, its GPX-002 transforms alpha cells in the pancreas into functional beta-like cells, which produce insulin but distinct enough from beta cells to evade the body's immune system; and GPX-002 for Type 2 diabetes, where autoimmunity is not at play, is believed to rejuvenate and replenish exhausted beta cells. It has research agreement with The University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center and Lung Cancer Study Collaboration with ALK Positive; New York University; UTHealth Houston; and University of Pittsburgh. The company also has a sponsored research agreement with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to study biomarkers that for the prediction of patient response to Reqorsa Gene Therapy. Genprex, Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is based in Austin, Texas.