Genprex Retains ICR Healthcare as Integrated Strategic Communications Counsel
AUSTIN, TX, December 7, 2016 – Genprex, Inc. a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of revolutionary immunogene therapy treatments, today announced that it has retained ICR Healthcare, a specialty healthcare practice within a leading strategic communications and advisory firm, to develop and implement an integrated strategic communications program. The program will combine investor relations, public relations and digital communications to advance the objective of raising the profile of Genprex and its lead candidate Oncoprex, which is currently in a Phase II trial for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Rodney Varner, CEO of Genprex, commented, “ICR Healthcare is well positioned to leverage their expertise in the biopharmaceutical industry to raise Genprex’s profile across all key stakeholder audiences. I look forward to working closely with ICR Healthcare as their team implements an integrated program that spans investor relations, public relations and digital communications to raise our visibility as we advance the clinical development of lead candidate Oncoprex for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.”
About Genprex
Genprex is a privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on developing breakthrough immunogene therapies with their lead product Oncoprex®. Oncoprex® is currently in a Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of stage IV non-small cell lung cancer in combination with Tarceva® (erlotinib). The company was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas. The company has retained Network 1 Financial Securities, Inc. to address its current capital needs, including to advise and formulate a strategy to undertake a possible IPO during the first quarter of 2017.
About Oncoprex® and Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the U.S. but the leading cause of cancer death. There are approximately 225,000 new lung cancer cases in the U.S. per year and 1.8 million worldwide. The 5-year survival rate of stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is less than 1%, and treatment options beyond chemotherapy are lacking. Approved NSCLC targeted treatment options outside of chemo/radiation therapies only benefit a minority of patients. Oncoprex® may now fill that gap by offering a targeted treatment option for a majority of NSCLC patients. Oncoprex® is currently being tested as a combination treatment for EGFR-negative NSCLC patients, a population that represents 85% of all NSCLC patients.
Research has shown that over 80% of all cancer cells lack a tumor suppressor gene called TUSC2 (formerly FUS1), which has shown in-vivo to affect cell proliferation and programmed cell death. Oncoprex® is an optimized TUSC2 gene encapsulated in fatty, positively charged nanovesicles, which are able to specifically target cancer cells and insert wild-type TUSC2 into cellular DNA, effectively inducing cell death. The TUSC2 gene has also been shown in previous scientific studies to be absent in small cell lung cancer, bone and soft tissue sarcoma, and breast cancer. Genprex works with world-class institutions and collaborators to in-license and develop further drug candidates. The company controls a portfolio of 30 issued and 6 pending patents covering tumor suppressors, therapeutics, diagnostics, nanovesicle delivery systems, and manufacturing processes.
Genprex is currently conducting a Phase II clinical trial of its Oncoprex® TUSC2 therapy in combination with Tarceva® in non-small cell lung cancer at an academic cancer research center in Houston, Texas.
Genprex’s mission is to address the unmet medical needs of a growing population of cancer patients worldwide, through the development of a novel class of cancer drugs: immunogene therapy. Our revolutionary clinical-stage products work synergistically with other approved and pipeline drugs to expand clinical indications for various cancers.
About ICR
Established in 1998, ICR partners with companies to optimize transactions and execute strategic communications programs that achieve business goals, build credibility and enhance long-term enterprise value. The firm’s highly differentiated service model, which pairs capital markets veterans with senior communications professionals, brings deep sector knowledge and relationships to more than 500 clients in approximately 20 industries. Today, ICR is one of the largest and most experienced independent communications and advisory firms in North America maintaining offices in New York, Norwalk, Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco, Hong Kong and Beijing. ICR Healthcare is a specialty practice within ICR that provides communications counsel and support for ICR’s growing roster of clients in the biopharmaceutical, medtech and healthcare services sectors.
Contacts:
Investors
Stephanie Carrington
ICR, Inc.
646-277-1282
[email protected]
Media
James Heins
ICR, Inc.
203-682-8251
[email protected]
Investment Banker Advisors
Alice G McKeon or Robert Giordano
Network 1 Financial Securities, Inc.
732-758-9001
[email protected]