Genprex Secures US, EU Patents for its Oncology Drug Reqorsa

Genprex, a clinical-stage gene therapy company, announced that the US Patent and Trademark Office and the European Patent Office have issued Notices of Allowance covering the use of its lead candidate, Reqorsa Gene Therapy, in combination with PD-L1 and PD-1 antibodies. The patents, which extend at least until 2037, strengthen Genprex’s intellectual property portfolio in oncology.

The US patent protects the use of Reqorsa with PD-L1 antibodies, including Tecentriq, while the EU patent covers its use with PD-1 antibodies. Both classes of antibodies belong to a group of immune checkpoint inhibitors that block proteins present on the surface of cells, representing a form of targeted immunotherapy used in cancer treatment.

The patents expand protection for the company’s oncology program and support its Acclaim-3 clinical trial, says Thomas Gallagher, Senior Vice President of Intellectual Property and Licensing, Genprex. That trial is a Phase 1/2 study evaluating Reqorsa with Genentech’s Tecentriq as maintenance therapy for patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. The program has received Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations from the US Food and Drug Administration.

Genprex has also secured patents for Reqorsa in combination with PD-L1 antibodies in multiple jurisdictions, including the United States, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Australia, Chile, China, South Korea, and Singapore. The company is also pursuing further applications in Canada, Brazil, China, Israel, and other markets.