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Genprex Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 2 Expansion Portion of Acclaim-3 Clinical Study of Reqorsa® Gene Therapy in Combination with Tecentriq® to Treat Small Cell Lung Cancer
Expects to Complete Enrollment of First 25 Patients in Phase 2 Expansion Study During Second Half of 2025 for Interim Analysis
Acclaim-3 Study Has FDA Orphan Drug and Fast Track Designations
AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Genprex, Inc. ("Genprex" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: GNPX), a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on developing life-changing therapies for patients with cancer and diabetes, today announced that the first patient has been enrolled and dosed in the Phase 2 expansion portion of the Company's Acclaim-3 clinical study of Reqorsa® Gene Therapy (quaratusugene ozeplasmid) in combination with Tecentriq® (atezolizumab) as maintenance therapy for patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC).
"We are excited to begin the Phase 2 expansion portion of Acclaim-3, which will determine the 18-week Progression Free Survival (PFS) rate of REQORSA and Tecentriq combination maintenance therapy," said Mark Berger, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Genprex. "ES-SCLC has a poor prognosis with a median PFS of 5.2 months. Those patients receiving Tecentriq as maintenance therapy have a median PFS of 2.6 months after the start of maintenance therapy. We look forward to studying the combination of REQORSA and Tecentriq as we work to advance our innovative gene therapy."
The Phase 2 expansion portion will enroll 50 patients at approximately 10 to 15 U.S. sites. Patients will be treated with REQORSA and Tecentriq until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity is experienced. The primary endpoint of the Phase 2 portion is to determine the 18-week progression-free survival rate from the time of the start of maintenance therapy with REQORSA and Tecentriq in patients with ES-SCLC. Patients will also be followed for survival. A Phase 2 interim analysis will be performed after the 25th patient enrolled and treated reaches 18 weeks of follow up. The Company expects to complete enrollment of the first 25 patients in the second half of 2025 for interim analysis.
The combination of REQORSA and Tecentriq previously received the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Fast Track Designation for the treatment of the Acclaim-3 patient population, and the FDA has also granted Orphan Drug Designation to REQORSA for the treatment of SCLC.
Genprex has a novel cancer treatment platform that re-expresses tumor suppressor genes in cancers. Tumor suppressor genes are often deleted or inactivated early in the process of cancer development. REQORSA contains a plasmid that expresses TUSC2, a tumor suppressor gene protein. Nearly 100% of SCLCs have reduced or no TUSC2 protein expression, and 41% completely lack TUSC2 protein expression. Nonclinical studies in mice support the hypothesis that re-expressing the TUSC2 protein may lead to improved clinical efficacy in combination with Tecentriq.
Data presented at the October 2023 AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics from studies in humanized mouse models of SCLC that use human H841 SCLC cells have shown that the combination of REQORSA and Tecentriq provides significantly better control of tumor burden than either agent alone. The data from these studies also suggest that a combination treatment of REQORSA and Tecentriq can promote a significantly increased tumor cell killing effect in SCLC xenografts compared to that of Tecentriq alone.
About Acclaim-3 The Acclaim-3 clinical trial is an open-label, multi-center Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating the Company's lead drug candidate, Reqorsa® Gene Therapy, in combination with Genentech, Inc.'s Tecentriq® (atezolizumab) as maintenance therapy in patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) who did not develop tumor progression after receiving Tecentriq and chemotherapy as initial standard treatment.
About Genprex, Inc. Genprex, Inc. is a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on developing life-changing therapies for patients with cancer and diabetes. Genprex's technologies are designed to administer disease-fighting genes to provide new therapies for large patient populations with cancer and diabetes who currently have limited treatment options. Genprex works with world-class institutions and collaborators to develop drug candidates to further its pipeline of gene therapies in order to provide novel treatment approaches. Genprex's 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 resultant product is administered intravenously, where it is taken up by tumor cells that then express tumor suppressor proteins that were deficient in the tumor. The Company's lead product candidate, Reqorsa® Gene Therapy (quaratusugene ozeplasmid), is being evaluated in two clinical trials as a treatment for NSCLC and SCLC. Each of Genprex's lung cancer clinical programs has received a Fast Track Designation from the FDA for the treatment of that patient population, and Genprex's SCLC program has received an FDA Orphan Drug Designation. Genprex's diabetes gene therapy approach is comprised 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, GPX-002 transforms alpha cells in the pancreas into functional beta-like cells, which can produce insulin but may be distinct enough from beta cells to evade the body's immune system. In a similar approach, GPX-002 for Type 2 diabetes, where autoimmunity is not at play, is believed to rejuvenate and replenish exhausted beta cells.
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Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made on the basis of the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of management, are not guarantees of performance and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. These forward-looking statements should, therefore, be considered in light of various important factors, including those set forth in Genprex's reports that it files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission and which you should review, including those statements under "Item 1A – Risk Factors" in Genprex's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Because forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: Genprex's ability to advance the clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization of its product candidates in accordance with projected timelines and specifications, such as REQORSA in combination with other therapies in SCLC; the timing and success of Genprex's clinical trials and regulatory approvals, including, but not limited to, the enrollment of the Phase 2 expansion portions of the Acclaim-3 trial; the effect of Genprex's product candidates, alone and in combination with other therapies, on cancer and diabetes; the effects of any strategic research and development prioritization initiatives, and any other strategic alternatives or other efforts that Genprex takes or may take in the future that are aimed at optimizing and re-focusing Genprex's diabetes, oncology and/or other clinical development programs including prioritization of resources, and the extent to which Genprex is able to implement such efforts and initiatives successfully to achieve the desired and intended results thereof; Genprex's future growth and financial status, including Genprex's ability to maintain compliance with the continued listing requirements of The Nasdaq Capital Market and to continue as a going concern and to obtain capital to meet its long-term liquidity needs on acceptable terms, or at all; Genprex's commercial and strategic partnerships, including those with its third party vendors, suppliers and manufacturers and their ability to successfully perform and scale up the manufacture of its product candidates; and Genprex's intellectual property and licenses.
These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as predictions of future events and Genprex cannot assure you that the events or circumstances discussed or reflected in these statements will be achieved or will occur. If such forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. You should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by Genprex or any other person that Genprex will achieve its objectives and plans in any specified timeframe, or at all. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Genprex disclaims any obligation to publicly update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.
