Genprex Inc (NASDAQ: GNPX) updated investors with regard to its lead drug candidate, Oncoprex this morning. The drug is an immunogene therapy that is being assessed in combination with immunotherapy for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Here’s what’s happening:
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Watch GNPX Stock After Monday’s Update
In a press release issued early this morning, Genprex provided a clinical update with regard to the development of Oncoprex. In the release, the company said that it entered into a Sponsored Research Agreement with MD Anderson in July of 2018.
The agreement surrounded the funding of a research study known as, “A Novel Therapeutic Approach for the Treatment of Cancer Using a Combination of the Multifactorial Tumor Suppressor Gene TUSC2 and Immunotherapy.”
The TUSC2 gene is the active agent in the company’s flagship Oncoprex candidate. GNPX said that the study came with a budgeted cost of about $2.03 million.
Through the clinical study, the company and MD anderson will assess the tumor suppressor gene, TUSC2 and immunotherapy. The immunotherapy will include immune checkpoint inhibitors and anti-PD1 and/or anti-CTLA-4 antibodies.
In particular, the study aimed to validate the therapeutic efficacy of the TUSC2 gene and immune checkpoint blockade combinations in humanized cancer mouse models. GNPX said that this milestone was completed and positive results were presented at the American Association of Cancer Research Meeting in April. This presentation is also available on the company’s investor relations website.
Genprex also said that research under the agreement is moving forward. Moving forward, the company and MD Anderson will continue to evaluate TUSC2 in combination with immunostimulatory adjuvants and targeted small molecule drugs. With further research, the two also aim to identify biomarkers that predict response to TUSC2-immunotherapy combinations.
Finally, as a result of the positive data to date in this collaboration, GNPX said that it is working with its Scientific Advisory Board and outside consultants to design a new clinical trial. In the trial, the company will assess Oncoprex in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. It is expected that patient enrollment in this study will take place in the first quarter of 2020.
In a statement, Julien Pham, President and CEO at GNPX, had the following to offer:
Recent studies have shown that less than half of cancer patients qualify for approved immunotherapies based on the patient’s PD-1 or PD-L1 protein expression level.
Current immunotherapy treatment is only benefitting a small number of cancer patients. We are working to fill this gap by combining our lead drug candidate with approved immunotherapies to give patients more treatment options. The preclinical studies have shown encouraging data that this combination could be a viable treatment option for late-stage non-small cell lung cancer.
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Final Thoughts
Oncoprex is an exciting clinical asset that is quickly being validated through various studies and clinical trials. Should this data continue to be positive, the treatment could hit the market as an option for non-small cell lung cancer, representing a tremendous market opportunity. So, keep your eyes peeled as further positive data could send this stock soaring!
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CNA Finance, parent company to Alpha Stock News, has been paid to cover Genprex news.