Immutep has provided a clinical development update for its first-in-class LAG-3 antigen-presenting cell, activator product candidate, eftilagimod alpha, and announced a major appointment to its board.
CEO Marc Voigt said, “Efti is an innovative LAG-3-based clinical candidate with broad therapeutic potential supported by encouraging activity and well-tolerated safety in multiple Phase II trials in solid tumour indications including NSCLC, HNSCC and MBC.
"Recent data from TACTI-002, a frontline, PD-L1 all-comer trial in NSCLC, demonstrated that efti in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy delivered a clinical benefit in patients across all levels of PD-L1 expression, including patients with negative PD-L1.
"Based on this compelling data, coupled with the large market opportunity and high unmet need for more durable and tolerable options, our late-stage clinical development efforts will focus on frontline NSCLC in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy. We look forward to providing additional clinical data in 1L NSCLC later this year. Regulatory interactions and late-stage planning to evaluate efti in MBC, another attractive opportunity for efti, will also continue.”
Dr Frederic Triebel, Immutep’s chief scientific and medical officer added, “Well-tolerated treatment options that can synergise with standards of care to improve outcomes across the PD-L1 spectrum remain a high unmet need in NSCLC. We are particularly encouraged by the ability of efti to demonstrate benefit across all levels of PD-L1 status, and particularly in patients with negative or low PD-L1 levels who typically respond poorly to checkpoint treatment.
"This could be explained by the orthogonal therapeutic approach in TACTI-002 where efti first activates innate immunity via monocytes, dendritic cells, and NK cells and leads to the activation of more T cells, enhancing the effect of anti-PD-1 therapy.
"Data from TACTI-002 support the potential of this IO-IO combination to not only offer a chemotherapy-free option for a broad range of NSCLC patients but also expand the potential market opportunities of current immune checkpoint approaches. We look forward to maximising the full treatment potential of efti in patients with advanced solid tumours.”
Immutep also announced that Dr Triebel has been appointed to its board.
Chair Russell Howard said, “It is a privilege to welcome Frédéric to Immutep’s Board. His discovery of the LAG-3 gene led to the emergence of LAG-3 as the 3rd immune checkpoint, after CTLA-4 and PD-1, earning him global industry recognition and respect. His ongoing work has positioned Immutep to lead this exciting space, with the greatest number of unique LAG-3 candidates currently in clinical development. Given Immutep’s growing industry profile as we commence our commercialisation journey, it is more important than ever that Frédéric is directly involved in setting our strategy.”