Genprex Inc announced that it has expanded its oncology research and development pipeline to include small cell lung cancer (SCLC) as an additional disease indication for its lead drug candidate REQORSA Immunogene Therapy.
SCLC represents around 10%-15% of the lung cancer market, while REQORSA’s initial target indication of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents about 84% of the lung cancer market.
“Data from human studies indicate that REQORSA could be beneficial in targeting small cell lung cancer,” said Dr Mark Berger, chief medical officer at Genprex, in a statement.
“Like non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer consistently has low TUSC2 protein levels and is documented to often have deletion of one TUSC2 gene allele. Extensive stage small cell lung cancer has a very poor prognosis, with a median progression-free survival of 5.2 months. Expanding the therapeutic indications targeted by REQORSA to include small cell lung cancer may provide us with another important clinical opportunity to combine REQORSA with small cell lung cancer therapies, including checkpoint inhibitors," he added.
READ: Genprex wins Fast Track designation for REQORSA in combo with Keytruda for treating Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer from FDA
REQORSA consists of a TUSC2 gene expressing plasmid encapsulated in non-viral lipid nanoparticles. Genprex’s oncology program utilizes its unique, proprietary, non-viral ONCOPREX Nanoparticle Delivery System, which the company believes is the first systemic gene therapy delivery platform used for cancer in humans.
Genprex noted that the ONCOPREX Nanoparticle Delivery System could allow for the delivery of a number of cancer-fighting genes, alone or in combination with other cancer therapies to potentially address the unmet medical needs in cancer, thereby potentially improving patient outcomes through the advancement of multiple therapeutic approaches for large patient populations.
“REQORSA may have the potential to treat small cell lung cancer, in addition to non-small cell lung cancer, thus making REQORSA a possible drug candidate for the entire lung cancer market,” said Genprex CEO Rodney Varner.
“Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, causing more deaths than colorectal, breast, liver or stomach cancers. We hope that one day, REQORSA will provide improved outcomes for virtually all lung cancer patients.”
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