Genprex Secures U.S. Patent Protecting REQORSA and PD-L1 Antibody Combination

Genprex, Inc. has strengthened the intellectual property protection surrounding its lead drug candidate, REQORSA® Gene Therapy, with the announcement that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted a new patent covering the use of REQORSA in combination with PD-L1 antibodies— including Roche’s Tecentriq®—through 2037. The clinical-stage gene therapy company, which focuses on developing transformative therapies for cancer and diabetes, said the newly issued patent provides long-term exclusivity for one of its most important combination approaches.

The patent directly supports Genprex’s ongoing Acclaim-3 clinical trial in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), in which REQORSA is being evaluated in combination with Tecentriq, a widely used PD-L1 inhibitor. The combination targets a critical pathway in tumor immune evasion, and the company hopes the pairing will offer new therapeutic benefits for patients with this aggressive form of lung cancer.

Thomas Gallagher, Senior Vice President of Intellectual Property and Licensing at Genprex, emphasized the strategic value of the patent. “We continue to build protection around our lead drug candidate, REQORSA, and this new patent provides the necessary technology protection applicable to our Acclaim-3 clinical trial,” he said. “This patent secures exclusivity for the combination of REQORSA with Tecentriq for the treatment of cancer, preventing competitors from making, using, or selling this drug combination.”

REQORSA, a gene therapy designed to deliver the tumor suppressor gene TUSC2, is being investigated for potential use across multiple types of lung cancer. Combining the therapy with PD-L1 antibodies could enhance immune system activity against tumors by disrupting checkpoint pathways while simultaneously restoring tumor-suppressing function.

Genprex already holds patents for the REQORSA and PD-L1 antibody combination in both the U.S. and Korea. The company is actively pursuing additional protection in Europe, Canada, Brazil, China, and Israel, and successful issuance in those regions would further support global development plans tied to the Acclaim-3 program.

PD-L1 inhibitors, including Tecentriq, are a class of immunotherapies that block PD-L1 proteins found on cell surfaces, preventing them from suppressing immune responses. These therapies have become foundational in the treatment of several cancers, including lung cancer, but combination strategies are increasingly being explored to improve patient outcomes.

With the latest patent approval, Genprex reinforces its position in the competitive immuno-oncology landscape and advances its long-term development strategy as the Acclaim-3 trial progresses.