A research collaborator of Genprex Inc delivered a presentation highlighting the company’s non-viral ONCOPREX Nanoparticle Delivery System, the company announced. Investors liked what they saw, as shares climbed 5% to $1.
The studies relied on humanized mouse models of KRAS/STK11 mutant anti-PD1 metastatic human non-small cell lung cancer. The data was presented at the 2023 American Association of Cancer Research annual meeting, held April 14-18, 2023 in Orlando.
"We are pleased to have these positive data that support the therapeutic potential of our non-viral delivery system, which is being used in our current REQORSA clinical oncology programs, presented before some of the world's leading cancer researchers," CEO Rodney Varner said in a statement. "The use of the ONCOPREX Nanoparticle Delivery System to deliver the NPRL2 tumor suppressor gene positions Genprex to expand our clinical pipeline with a new drug candidate."
The ONCOPREX Nanoparticle Delivery System uses lipid nanoparticles to deliver tumor suppressor genes that were deleted as cancer developed, the company said.
The system allows for the intravenous delivery of tumor suppressor genes, and potentially other genes. That allows for patients to see a therapeutic effect without the same risk of toxicity often associated with viral delivery systems.
"The preclinical data also provide further evidence that the ONCOPREX Nanoparticle Delivery System has the ability to be successful using genes other than the TUSC2 gene that we are already using in clinical trials with REQORSA," Varner said. "These compelling outcomes give us further confidence in the potentially broad-based application of our non-viral delivery system, which may provide a multitude of potential pipeline opportunities in the future."
Specifically, the study suggested that NPRL2 gene therapy induces antitumor activity on KRAS/STK11 mutant anti-PD1 resistant tumors through DC mediated antigen presentation and cytotoxic immune cell activation, according to a statement.
A KRAS mutation occurs in approximately 25% of patients with NSCLC, and KRAS/STK11 combination mutations were found in about 6.5% of NSCLC patients, per a study.
"These data are encouraging because they not only validate Genprex's non-viral oncology platform to deliver a variety of tumor suppressor genes, but they also provide further evidence of the important role that tumor suppressor genes play in cancer, particularly NSCLC," chief medical officer Mark Berger said.
"KRAS is the most frequent oncogene mutated in NSCLC, and KRAS mutations are often associated with resistance to drug therapyi. Targeting KRAS/STK11 mutant NSCLC with the NPRL2 gene, and potentially with anti-PD1 as well, may provide therapeutic potential for this group of lung cancer patients."
More details about the presentation and study can be found here.
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