NetworkNewsWire
Editorial Coverage: Gene therapy is hot on the trail of killing
cancer, and companies that deliver cures could see blockbuster
returns.
Pioneering a new paradigm in cancer therapeutics,
Genprex Inc. (NASDAQ: GNPX) (GNPX
Profile) is leveraging its patented technology
platform to deliver powerful tumor-suppressing genes directly into
cancer cells. Calithera Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ:
CALA) is looking for cures for cancer and other
life-threatening diseases by discovering, developing and
commercializing novel, small-molecule drugs that target tumor and
immune cell metabolism. Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc
(NASDAQ: ADAP) is developing novel cancer immunotherapy
products for cancer patients by engineering T-cells to target and
destroy cancer. Agenus Inc. (NASDAQ: AGEN) is
working on the discovery and development of therapies that engage
the body's immune system to fight cancer by pursuing combination
approaches that leverage a broad range of antibody therapeutics,
proprietary cancer vaccine platforms and adoptive cell therapies.
G1 Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: GTHX) is advancing
three clinical-stage programs designed to enable more effective
combination treatment strategies and improve patient outcomes
across multiple oncology indications.
- Cancer remains one of the most frustratingly difficult diseases
to cure.
- New gene-based therapeutic paradigms are now in play.
- With breakthrough technologies, gene therapy is on the cusp of
curing the incurable.
- Biotech companies that deliver these cures could also deliver
blockbuster returns.
To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.
Blockbuster Potential
Even though gene therapy is closing in on cancer, it remains as
yet an unpredictable industry. However, biotech companies are in a
feverish hunt for breakthroughs, and gene therapy could hold the
keys. Tremendous advances have been made in gene-based
therapeutics, and companies, such as Genprex
Inc. (NASDAQ: GNPX), with the potential to make
breakthroughs could deliver blockbuster returns.
Genprex is collaborating with MD Anderson Cancer Center to
further develop and test its patented multimodal technology,
currently in a Phase II clinical trial. The company recently caught
the attention of a research-driven investment bank, Noble
Financial, which initiated coverage of Genprex with an Outperform rating and a price target that’s about
triple current levels.
Unlike other gene therapy approaches, Genprex’s method doesn’t
inject a patient with a genetically modified virus and doesn’t edit
or modify a patient's genes. Instead, the company’s revolutionary
technology encapsulates a powerful proven cancer-suppressor gene
(TUSC2) in cholesterol nanoparticles (nanovesicles) engineered to
target cancer cells. Since the body is familiar with breaking down
cholesterol, Genprex's lead product, Oncoprex(TM), delivers its TUSC2 gene directly to the
targeted cells, readily passing through the small blood vessels
that form around tumors. Like a magnet, the encapsulated cancer
suppressor genes are first attracted to the opposite electrical
charge of tumors then enter malignant cells to begin their
work.
The loss of tumor-suppressor genes is the most common genetic
mutation in cancer cells. When delivered to a cancer cell, the
TUSC2 gene has been shown to restore the genetic coding required to
produce more tumor suppressors. TUSC2 has been shown to be well
tolerated by healthy cells, and importantly, the payload is taken
up by tumor cells at up to 25 times the rate they’re taken up by
normal cells. Genprex hopes its gene therapy technology will
restore normal expression levels of tumor suppressor genes,
inducing cell death (apoptosis), inhibiting tumor progression and
subsequently prolonging survival of cancer patients.
Due to its unprecedented dual mechanism of action (gene therapy
and immunotherapy), Genprex’s Oncoprex is identified as an
immunogene therapy. Oncoprex is designed to restore the genetic
coding of tumor suppressor genes in cells (gene therapy) plus
stimulate the body’s natural anti-cancer immune response
(immunotherapy).
Cutting-Edge Platform
Most currently approved cancer regimens target only single
molecules, or a single specific genetic abnormality. Oncoprex’s
multimodal mechanism of action interrupts cell signaling pathways
that cause replication and proliferation of cancer cells,
re-establishes the pathways for cell death in cancer cells and
modulates the immune response against cancer cells. Genprex
clinical data indicate that Oncoprex, in combination with targeted
therapies and immunotherapies, is significantly more effective than
single drugs alone. Oncoprex has also demonstrated fewer side
effects and less toxicity than many other lung cancer drugs.
Currently approved targeted therapies for advanced non-small
cell lung cancer are only effective in a minority of patients, and
eventually most patients become resistant to the treatments.
Roughly 80% of lung cancers are non-small cell lung cancer, and the
dismal 1% five-year survival rates haven’t improved in over a
quarter century.
Genprex is well into Phase II clinical trials with Oncoprex for
the treatment of the deadliest type of tumor, non-small cell lung
cancer (NSCLC). Preliminary
results from the ongoing trial to date are encouraging. Using
Oncoprex in combination with Roche's erlotinib showed disease
control rates of 78%, which substantially exceed the 58% disease
control rates demonstrated in other drug combination trials.
In addition, more than 40% of patients had tumor regression, and
one patient — out of nine evaluated to date in Genprex’s Phase II
drug combination trial — experienced what’s called a complete
response. The patient, suffering with metastatic NSCLC, had
complete disappearance of both the lung primary tumor as well as
the metastasized cancer in the lung, liver and lymph nodes.
Genprex's cutting-edge platform for the targeted delivery of
gene therapeutics also has wide-ranging potential applications for
the treatment of various other types of cancer, such as head and
neck, renal cell (kidney), glioblastoma and soft-tissue cancer,
among others.
Genprex holds more than 30 patents and 2 patents pending for its
platform technologies and targeted molecular therapies. The
company’s promising pipeline includes Oncoprex in combination with
another cancer drug, Tarceva, in a Phase II clinical trial; and
Oncoprex Immunogene therapy in preclinical development.
The company is conducting ongoing 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 vast unmet medical
need, Genprex plans to apply for Fast Track, Breakthrough or RMAT
designation from the FDA.
What’s Next?
Preliminary results show that Oncoprex has the potential to
become an effective add-on therapy for the treatment of deadly
non-small cell lung cancer. Genprex plans to expand the current
erlotinib-Oncoprex trial to multiple research centers and conduct
more new trials.
If Phase II results are as positive as preliminary indications,
it could spark a rally in the shares and possibly even lure a large
biotechnology or pharma company to sign a high-value partnership
with Genprex. Should such a strategic partnership to commercialize
Genprex’s technology transpire, it could potentially generate
enormous value for the company's shareholders.
Without any of this in the bank, Noble Financial has already
pegged the stock to reach $5 a share, nearly
triple from today’s closing price. With such positive preliminary
results and blockbuster potential, it is possible that Noble’s
target price might even be low. Genprex is certainly one to
watch.
Seeking Biotech Cancer Cures
Other companies are also clamoring for attention in the
potential cancer-cure space.
Calithera Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ: CALA) is a
clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on fighting cancer
and other life-threatening diseases by discovering, developing and
commercializing novel small-molecule drugs that target tumor and
immune cell metabolism. The company believes certain small-molecule
drugs can slow tumor growth through controlling key metabolic
pathways in the tumor and immune cells. Tumor metabolism and tumor
immunology are promising new interrelated fields for cancer drug
discovery. Recent clinical successes have demonstrated the
potential to slow abnormal cell growth and create fundamentally new
therapies for cancer patients.
Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ: ADAP) is
a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company researching the
development of novel cancer immunotherapy products for cancer
patients. The company’s unique Specific Peptide Enhanced Affinity
Receptor (SPEAR) T‑cell platform enables the engineering of T-cells
to target and destroy cancer across multiple solid tumors.
Adaptimmune’s affinity-enhanced T-cell therapies work with the
immune system to improve detection and targeting of cancer cells,
resulting in destruction of those cancer cells. The company has
clinical trials ongoing for three wholly owned SPEAR T-cells in
multiple solid-tumor indications.
Agenus Inc. (NASDAQ: AGEN) is a clinical-stage
immuno-oncology company examining the discovery and development of
therapies that engage the body's immune system to fight cancer. The
company vision is to expand the patient populations benefiting from
cancer immunotherapy by pursuing combination approaches that
leverage a broad range of antibody therapeutics, proprietary cancer
vaccine platforms and adoptive cell therapies. Agenus believes that
combination therapies and a deep understanding of each patient’s
cancer will be key drivers of success in substantially expanding
the benefits from current immuno-oncology therapies.
G1 Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: GTHX) is a
clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company working on the discovery,
development and delivery of innovative therapies that improve the
lives of those affected by cancer. The company is advancing three
clinical-stage programs. Trilaciclib and lerociclib are designed to
enable more effective combination-treatment strategies and improve
patient outcomes across multiple oncology indications. G1T48 is a
potential best-in-class oral selective estrogen receptor degrader
(SERD) for the treatment of ER+ breast cancer. G1 also has an
active discovery program focused on cyclin-dependent kinase
targets.
With cancer killing more than 600,000 people in
2018, companies involved in the work of curing this dreaded
disease are certain to capture the attention of those looking to
invest in technology with the potential to save.
For more information on Genprex, visit Genprex Inc.
(NASDAQ: GNPX)
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