Genprex Advances Diabetes Program with Addition of Research Focused on Non-Viral Delivery System

Core Insights - Genprex, Inc. is advancing its diabetes program through a strategic collaboration with a CDMO to explore a non-viral lipid nanoparticle delivery system for its diabetes gene therapy drug candidate [1][2] - The collaboration aims to optimize next-generation constructs and positions Genprex as a thought leader in the diabetes market, which currently lacks disease-modifying therapies [2][3] - The company's GPX-002 therapy has shown promising results in preclinical studies, maintaining glucose control for approximately 120 days in Type 1 diabetes models, suggesting potential for multiple treatments with a non-viral delivery system [3] Company Overview - Genprex, Inc. is a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on developing therapies for cancer and diabetes, utilizing innovative technologies to deliver disease-fighting genes [5][6] - The company's diabetes gene therapy approach involves using an AAV vector to deliver Pdx1 and MafA genes directly to the pancreas, transforming alpha cells into functional beta-like cells [6] Industry Context - As of 2024, approximately 38.4 million Americans have diabetes, with 10% having Type 1 diabetes and 90-95% having Type 2 diabetes [4] - The global diabetes prevalence is projected to rise from 537 million in 2021 to 783 million by 2045, highlighting the urgent need for effective treatments [4] - Diabetes caused over 6.7 million deaths globally in 2021 and resulted in approximately $966 billion in health expenditures, indicating a significant economic burden [4]