NetworkNewsWire
Editorial Coverage: Pharmaceutical companies are now employing
advanced medical breakthroughs and new technologies, including gene
therapies and nanoparticle engineering, to fight every type of
cancer.
- Gene therapies are being developed to more effectively target
the treatment of cancer.
- Non-small cell lung cancer (NCSLC) is the leading cause of
cancer death.
- Genprex Inc. is advancing Oncoprex, shown to benefit lung
cancer patients in early trials.
A multiplicity of potential breakthrough treatments to fight
cancer are in varying stages of clinical development, and many are
focused on the promise of advanced gene therapies. Genprex
Inc. (NASDAQ: GNPX) (GNPX
Profile) is working to bring its potentially
life-changing immunogene therapy, Oncoprex, to market.
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) just gained Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) approval for TRAZIMERA(TM), and
Tocagen Inc. (NASDAQ: TOCA) is studying Toca 511.
Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS) scientists are exploring
immunotherapy matchmaking. Other biotechnology companies such
Audentes Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: BOLD) are
developing innovative gene therapy products for patients living
with life-threatening rare diseases.
To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.
Targeting Cancer with Advanced Gene
Therapies
According to Dr. C.H. Weaver,
most cancers result from abnormal genes or gene regulation, and
cancer drugs that target those genes or the consequences of those
genes can be used to target the cancer. Weaver writes, “Because
precision cancer medicine seeks to define the genomic alterations
that are driving a specific cancer, rather than relying on a simple
broad classification of cancer solely based on its site there is no
longer a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to cancer treatment.”
The first human gene
therapy trial was approved in 1989. Between 1989 and 2015, more
than 2,300 gene therapy clinical trials were completed, in
progress, or approved to begin. The United States undertook 67
percent of these gene therapy clinical trials, with most of them
targeting cancer. The first gene therapy was approved for use in
the European Union (EU) in 2012, and that approval spurred enormous
investment into developing what many believe to be the answer to
cancer: gene therapeutics.
Targeted Treatment for Cancer’s Biggest
Killer
Genprex Inc.
(NASDAQ: GNPX) is on the cusp of potentially
delivering life-changing therapeutics for cancer patients by
utilizing the company’s novel proprietary technology platform.
Genprex’s initial product candidate, Oncoprex, an immunogene
therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), addresses the world’s leading cause of cancer death, which kills
more than 140,000 patients in the United States each year
alone.
Oncoprex encapsulates TUSC2, a powerful proven tumor suppressor
gene, in a cholesterol nanoparticle engineered to target cancer
cells. As Genprex chairman
and CEO Rodney Varner explained, “It’s a systemic targeted
approach. We say that the treatment is ‘targeted’ because the lipid
nanoparticles are designed to be attracted like a magnet to the
cancer cells, and have an opposite charge.”
Administered intravenously and absorbed into tumor cells,
Oncoprex then expresses proteins that are missing or found in low
quantities. Oncoprex interrupts cell signalling pathways that cause
the replication and proliferation of cancer cells, re-establishes
pathways for programmed cell death in cancer cells, and modulates
the immune response against cancer.
Genprex’s collaborators have demonstrated through tumor biopsies
that its patented, targeted, nanoparticle delivery system provides
up to 25 times greater uptake of the TUSC2 tumor suppressor gene,
which is the active ingredient in Oncoprex, in tumor cells than in
normal cells. Research has also shown that Oncoprex, in combination
with targeted or immunotherapies, may be more effective than single
drugs alone. As well as being a tumor suppressor, Oncoprex has
shown to have a favorable safety profile relative to other lung
cancer drugs, and to block mechanisms that create drug
resistance.
Genprex states that “we believe that by
combining Oncoprex with approved targeted therapies and
immunotherapies, we can potentially expand the benefit of these
approved lung cancer drugs into the large majority of patients who
do not now benefit from them, either because the patients’ tumors
do not have the molecular profiles that indicate effectiveness of
those drugs, or because the patients have developed resistance to
those drugs after receiving them for some period of time.”
In addition, the company notes that current targeted therapies
generally only benefit patients with particular epidermal growth
factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, which are a minority of patients.
Pre-clinical and clinical trials suggest that Oncoprex, combined
with existing targeted treatments, may be effective in fighting
cancer in the population at large, regardless of EGFR mutation.
Patents and Beyond
Genprex already has 30 issued patents for its platform
technologies and gene therapies. The company’s Oncoprex immunogene
therapy combined with the targeted therapy erlotinib is in the
Phase II portion of a Phase I/II clinical trial, and the
combination of Oncoprex with immunotherapies is in preclinical
development. The company is also conducting research to find
biomarkers to identify patients most likely to benefit from Genprex
treatments, as well as other drugs that will be synergistic with
Genprex gene therapies.
Given the enormous potential and unmet medical need, Genprex
plans to apply for Fast Track, Breakthrough or RMAT designation
from the FDA.
In 2008, Varner recognized the enormous potential in the science
behind Genprex’s lead drug candidate, Oncoprex. A corporate lawyer
for several biotech start-ups and a cancer survivor himself,
Varner, along with several leading scientists, rescued what they
believed was the most promising, undeveloped science of a bankrupt
biotech: the TUSC2 tumor suppressor gene delivered to tumor cells
through a novel nanoparticle delivery system. The group became the
foundation of what is today Genprex.
Lead by Varner, Genprex boasts some of the world’s best
scientific minds. Internationally renowned cancer expert and
oncology pioneer Jack A. Roth, MD, FACS, is the chairman of
Genprex’s Scientific Advisory Board. Genprex president Julien L.
Pham, MD, MPH, was on the faculty at Harvard Medical School’s
Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) prior to founding a healthcare
IT company.
Employing cutting-edge science, Genprex is establishing a new
paradigm in the fight against lung cancer. Given the vast unmet
global need and the breakthrough potential of Genprex’s pipeline,
investors may want to keep the company on their watch list.
Other Gene Therapy Approaches
The FDA recently
approved Pfizer’s (NYSE: PFE) TRAZIMERA for
the treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)
overexpressing breast cancer and HER2 overexpressing metastatic
gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. A biosimilar
to Herceptin, TRAZIMERA targets certain proteins preventing cancer
cell division and growth targeting breast cancer treatments. The
company sees this as an “important milestone” in the United States.
Pfizer has a robust portfolio of potential biosimilar candidates in
mid- to late-stage development.
Tocagen’s (NASDAQ: TOCA) Toca 511 is a
retroviral replicating vector (RRV) that selectively targets cancer cells in aggressive brain tumors. It
delivers a gene for the enzyme, cytosine deaminase (CD). Through
this targeted delivery, only infected cancer cells carry the CD
gene and produce CD. The second part of Tocagen’s treatment is an
investigational small molecule, Toca FC. This is an orally
administered prodrug, 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC), which is converted
into an anti-cancer drug, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), when it encounters
CD. 5-FU kills cancer cells and immune-suppressive myeloid cells
resulting in anti-cancer immune activation and subsequent tumor
killing.
Immunotherapy matchmaking exploration by Novartis AG
(NYSE: NVS) could enable the company to better pair the
right immunotherapy with the right patient. Novartis aims to answer
the question: why do some patients respond to a therapy when other
seemingly similar patients do not? Novartis AG scientists are using
artificial intelligence (AI) to find clues. Novartis focuses on five key cancer areas where it has
identified patient needs and promise within the company’s
portfolio. Those areas are breast cancer, lung cancer, melanoma,
kidney cancer and hematology.
Audentes Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: BOLD) is
working on developing and commercializing innovative gene therapy
products for patients living with serious, life-threatening rare
diseases. The company has four products in
development: AT132 for the treatment of X-Linked Myotubular
Myopathy (XLMTM), AT342 for the treatment of Crigler-Najjar
Syndrome, AT307 for the treatment of CASQ2-related
Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia (CPVT) and
AT845 for the treatment of Pompe disease.
With advancing technological and research capabilities,
pharmaceutical companies are looking to identify breakthrough
treatments, including gene therapies and nanoparticle engineering,
to tackle cancer of every kind. Genprex is working to establish its
place as a leader in the field.
For more information on Genprex, visit Genprex Inc.
(NASDAQ: GNPX)
About NetworkNewsWire
NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is a financial news and content
distribution company that provides (1) access to a network of wire
services via NetworkWire to
reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most
effective manner possible, (2) article and editorial syndication to
5,000+ news outlets (3), enhanced press release services to ensure
maximum impact, (4) social media distribution via the Investor
Brand Network (IBN) to nearly 2 million followers, (5) a full array
of corporate communications solutions, and (6) a total news
coverage solution with NNW Prime. As a
multifaceted organization with an extensive team of contributing
journalists and writers, NNW is uniquely positioned to best serve
private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience
of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. By
cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, NNW
brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand
awareness. NNW is where news, content and information converge.
For more information, please visit https://www.NetworkNewsWire.com
NetworkNewsWire (NNW)
New York, New York
www.NetworkNewsWire.com
212.418.1217 Office
Editor@NetworkNewsWire.com
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the
NetworkNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by NNW,
wherever published or re-published: http://NNW.fm/Disclaimer
DISCLAIMER: NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is the source of the Article
and content set forth above. References to any issuer other than
the profiled issuer are intended solely to identify industry
participants and do not constitute an endorsement of any issuer and
do not constitute a comparison to the profiled issuer. The
commentary, views and opinions expressed in this release by NNW are
solely those of NNW. Readers of this Article and content agree that
they cannot and will not seek to hold liable NNW for any investment
decisions by their readers or subscribers. NNW is a news
dissemination and financial marketing solutions provider and are
NOT registered broker-dealers/analysts/investment advisers, hold no
investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy
any security.
The Article and content related to the profiled company
represent the personal and subjective views of the Author, and are
subject to change at any time without notice. The information
provided in the Article and the content has been obtained from
sources which the Author believes to be reliable. However, the
Author has not independently verified or otherwise investigated all
such information. None of the Author, NNW, or any of their
respective affiliates, guarantee the accuracy or completeness of
any such information. This Article and content are not, and should
not be regarded as investment advice or as a recommendation
regarding any particular security or course of action; readers are
strongly urged to speak with their own investment advisor and
review all of the profiled issuer’s filings made with the
Securities and Exchange Commission before making any investment
decisions and should understand the risks associated with an
investment in the profiled issuer’s securities, including, but not
limited to, the complete loss of your investment.
NNW HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.
This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and
such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe
harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations,
plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words
such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”,
“expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”.
You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude
of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances,
events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the
forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results
may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking
statements as a result of various factors, and other risks
identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and
other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the
forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue
reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this
release are made as of the date hereof and NNW undertakes no
obligation to update such statements.
Source:
NetworkNewsWire
Contact:
NetworkNewsWire (NNW)
New York, New York
www.NetworkNewsWire.com
212.418.1217 Office
Editor@NetworkNewsWire.com
Pfizer (NYSE:PFE)
Graphique Historique de l'Action
De Fév 2024 à Mar 2024
Pfizer (NYSE:PFE)
Graphique Historique de l'Action
De Mar 2023 à Mar 2024