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Genprex’s Pioneering Use of Non-Viral Delivery for Gene Therapy is Gaining Industry Support

October 7, 2019 Off By BusinessWire

AUSTIN, Texas & CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Genprex, Inc. (NASDAQ: GNPX), a clinical-stage company and leader in gene therapy using non-viral vector transfection delivery, wishes to draw attention to additional research in the field validating non-viral vector delivery as the next evolution in gene therapy.

A recently published paper by researchers in Australia, Spain and Austria supports the belief that non-viral delivery could be safer for patients than viral vectors and could speed up the production time while reducing the costs of production. The paper titled, “Encapsulation, Visualization and Expression of Genes with Biomimetically Mineralized Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 (ZIF-8)” published in the September 4, 2019 issue of the scientific journal Small, presents data from a biomolecule-metal-organic framework (nano MOF) in zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) and found it to be a viable vehicle for intracellular transfection and gene delivery. Genprex was not involved in the study, which used a different nanotechnology.

“One of the biggest differentiators between Genprex and other gene therapy companies developing technologies to treat cancer and other serious diseases is our proprietary non-viral nanoparticle delivery system, which has already been used to safely treat more than 50 patients to date,” said Genprex’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Rodney Varner. “Most gene therapy research has been focused on using viral delivery systems to deliver genes to cancer cells, and today most approved gene therapies for non-blood cell therapies use a viral vector to deliver the gene to the patient. Our proprietary non-viral delivery system enables us to potentially treat patients with a system that may be safer, with lower production costs and better scalability.”

Based on the shortcomings that viral vectors have historically had, including severe adverse reactions, high production costs, difficulty in scaling and high immunogenicity responses, Genprex’s founders partnered with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) during the company’s inception to develop its proprietary non-viral delivery system.

Specifically, Genprex’s platform technologies are designed to administer cancer fighting genes by encapsulating them into nanoscale hollow spheres called nanovesicles, which are then administered intravenously and taken up by tumor cells where they express proteins that are missing or found in low quantities. The nanovesicles are non-immunogenic, allowing repetitive therapeutic dosing. Genprex’s nanovesicles are also clinically proven to effectively deliver molecular kinase inhibitors effectively.

A Phase I human clinical trial showed that Genprex’s lead drug candidate, Oncoprex™ immunogene therapy, which is delivered through its nanovesicle non-viral delivery system, selectively and preferentially targeted primary and metastatic tumor cells, resulting in clinically significant anticancer activity. Genprex’s clinical trials have also demonstrated that its delivery system is well tolerated in humans and can safely deliver high therapeutic doses.

About Genprex, Inc.

Genprex, Inc. is a clinical stage gene therapy company developing potentially life-changing technologies for cancer patients, based upon a unique proprietary technology platform, including Genprex’s initial product candidate, Oncoprex™ immunogene therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Genprex’s platform technologies are designed to administer cancer fighting genes by encapsulating them into nanoscale hollow spheres called nanovesicles, which are then administered intravenously and taken up by tumor cells where they express proteins that are missing or found in low quantities. Oncoprex has a multimodal mechanism of action whereby it interrupts cell signaling pathways that cause replication and proliferation of cancer cells, re-establishes pathways for apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in cancer cells, and modulates the immune response against cancer cells. Oncoprex has also been shown to block mechanisms that create drug resistance. For more information, please visit the company’s web site at www.genprex.com or follow Genprex on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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. Because such 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 the effects of Oncoprex on cancer and the safety, production cost and scalability of Oncoprex and its non-viral delivery system. Risks that contribute to the uncertain nature of the forward-looking statements include the presence and level of Oncoprex’s effect on cancer, the safety, cost and scalability of Oncoprex and its delivery system, as well as the timing and success of our clinical trials and planned clinical trials, Oncoprex™ and our other potential product candidates. These and other risks and uncertainties associated with Genprex and its lead product candidate Oncoprex are described more fully under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our filings and reports with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. We undertake no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.