NEW YORK – Gene therapy developer Genprex on Tuesday said it has signed an exclusive deal with the University of Pittsburgh to license its diabetes technology.
Under the agreement, Austin, Texas-based Genprex will have an exclusive worldwide license to a patent application and related MafB promoter technology for a type 1 and type 2 diabetes gene therapy developed in the laboratory of George Gittes, a professor of surgery and pediatrics and division chief of pediatric surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
The licensed technology is used to develop an adeno-associated virus vector-based gene therapy comprising copies of the PDX1 and MAFA genes, which encode proteins necessary for pancreas development and insulin regulation. The therapy is administered into a patient's pancreatic duct.
Genprex has previously licensed technology for developing gene therapies for diabetes using the same basic approach from the University of Pittsburgh. "We are continuing to build a fortress of protection and a powerful intellectual property portfolio for our diabetes gene therapy program," Genprex Chairman, President, and CEO Rodney Varner said in a statement.
Genprex's diabetes gene therapy candidates, which aim to improve insulin production and glucose tolerance, have already been evaluated in preclinical studies at the University of Pittsburgh.