Genprex Inc (NASDAQ:GNPX) said that a major cancer research center in Houston has granted it an exclusive worldwide license for an additional portfolio of six patents and one patent application and related technology for lung cancer treatment.
The newly licensed intellectual property (IP), which expands on a March agreement between both parties, includes methods for treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by administration of a TUSC2 therapeutic in conjunction with EGFR inhibitors or other anti-cancer therapies in patients who are predicted to be responsive to TUSC2 therapy, Genprex said.
A TUSC2 gene-expressing plasmid is the active agent in REQORSA immunogene therapy, Genprex’s lead drug candidate.
READ: Genprex wins centralized Institutional Review Board approval for its Acclaim-1 clinical trial in non-small cell lung cancer
“We are pleased to continue optimizing and expanding our world-class intellectual property portfolio with the addition of these technologies,” said Genprex CEO Rodney Varner in a statement. “These new technologies further add to our arsenal of combination therapies for REQORSA, and may enable us to improve patient outcomes through the advancement of multiple therapeutic approaches.”
The announcement comes as Genprex prepares to launch a pair of clinical trials involving REQORSA.
Acclaim-1 is a Phase 1/2 combination clinical trial using REQORSA combined with AstraZeneca PLC’s (LON:AZN) (NASDAQ:AZN) Tagrisso (osimertinib) in patients with late-stage NSCLC whose disease progressed after treatment with Tagrisso.
Acclaim-2 is a Phase 1/2 combination clinical trial using REQORSA combined with Merck & Co Inc (NYSE:MRK)’s (NYSE:MRK) Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in NSCLC patients who are low expressors of PD-L1.
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