Diabetes

We have exclusively licensed from the University of Pittsburgh of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education (University of Pittsburgh) multiple technologies relating to the development of a gene therapy product for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Diabetic Patients are in Need of Advanced Therapies

We believe diabetic patients are in need of advanced therapies. The most significant advancement in the treatment of diabetes happened more than 100 years ago when insulin was first introduced to treat Type 1 diabetic patients.

Our diabetes gene therapy, GPX-002, holds the potential for disease modification for long-term effectiveness, potentially replacing the daily burden of blood glucose monitoring and insulin replacement therapy. We also believe that GPX-002, which intends to address both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, positions Genprex as an innovator in emerging diabetes therapies.

Diabetes mellitus refers to a group of metabolic diseases that affect how the body produces and uses blood sugar (glucose). Glucose is vital to health because it is an important source of energy for the cells that make up the body’s muscles and tissues. It is also the brain’s main source of fuel. Chronic diabetes conditions include Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes, both of which lead to excess glucose in the blood and can cause serious health problems. Left untreated, high blood glucose levels can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and the heart, and can also lead to coma and death.

Diabetes Statistics

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control as of 2023, 38.4 million Americans, or approximately 11.6% of the U.S. population, have diabetes. It is also believed that more than 97 million Americans aged 18 years or older have prediabetes. In 2021, approximately 537 million adults (20-79 years) worldwide were living with diabetes, and the total number of people living with diabetes is projected to rise to 643 million by 2030 and 783 million in 2045.  Also in 2021, diabetes caused more than 6.7 million deaths globally and diabetes resulted in approximately $966 billion dollars in health expenditures, a 316% increase over the preceding fifteen years.