Genprex (GNPX) said Tuesday a safety review committee approved the increase in dosage to the maximum level of 0.12 mg/kg in the phase 1 trial of its drug candidate, Reqorsa, to treat small-cell lung cancer.

The "escalation to the highest dose group" comes after the company completed giving the 0.09 mg/kg dose to participants in the Acclaim-3 clinical trial of Reqorsa in combination with atezolizumab, which is sold under the Tecentriq brand name of Genentech.

The trial has not resulted in "dose limiting toxicities" in the 0.09 mg/kg dose group, demonstrating the drug's safety profile, the company said.

The phase 1 trial's primary endpoint is determining the maximum tolerated or recommended phase 2 dose. The phase 2 portion's primary endpoint is to establish the 18-week progression-free survival rate from the time the maintenance therapy begins, Genprex said.

Shares of the Genprex were up nearly 5% in recent trading.

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