Exhibit 99.1
ASX/Media Release (Code: ASX: IMM; NASDAQ: IMMP)
IMMUTEP GRANTED EUROPEAN PATENT FOR EFTILAGIMOD ALPHA
IN COMBINATION WITH APD-1 ORPD-L1 INHIBITOR
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – November 28, 2018 –Immutep Limited (ASX: IMM; NASDAQ: IMMP) (“Immutep“ or “the Company“), a biotechnology company developing novel immunotherapy treatments for cancer and autoimmune diseases, is pleased to announce the grant of a new patent (number3242678) entitled “Combined Preparations for the Treatment of Cancer or Infection” by the European Patent Office.
The new patent protects Immutep’s intellectual property relating to combined preparations comprising its lead product candidate eftilagimod alpha (“efti” or “IMP321”) and aPD-1 orPD-L1 inhibitor, and also the use of the combined preparations for the treatment of cancer or infection. Under the patent, efti and thePD-1 orPD-L1 inhibitor may be present in one combined dosage form, or as part of separate dosage forms for sequential administration of the respective active ingredients. The patent expiry date is 8 January 2036.
The new patent is significant as it covers the combination of active ingredients being evaluated in the Company’s TACTI-mel,TACTI-002 andINSIGHT-004 clinical trials. TheTACTI-002 trial will be conducted in collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA (known as “MSD” outside the United States and Canada), as announced in March 2018, whileINSIGHT-004 will be conducted in collaboration with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and Pfizer Inc., as announced in September 2018.
“We are very pleased that our European patent application has been granted covering our lead product candidate, efti, in combination with either aPD-1 orPD-L1 inhibitor. This is particularly important for Immutep asPD-1 andPD-L1 inhibitors are the standard of care for a broad range of cancers, an area where the Company is actively pursuing the development of combined therapies”, said Marc Voigt, CEO of Immutep.
Dr. Frédéric Triebel, Immutep’s Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Medical Officer, also welcomed the news, noting, “This European patent grant represents an important milestone for Immutep and is consistent with our long held hypothesis that combining efti with aPD-1 orPD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor should result in a combinatory therapeutic benefit to patients, by both pushing the accelerator and releasing the brake of the immune system.”
About Immutep
Immutep is a globally active biotechnology company that is a leader in the development of immunotherapeutic products for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune disease. Immutep is dedicated to leveraging its technology and expertise to bring innovative treatment options to market for patients and to maximize value to shareholders.
Immutep’s current lead product candidate is eftilagimod alpha (“efti” or “IMP321”), a solubleLAG-3Ig fusion protein based on theLAG-3 immune control mechanism. This mechanism plays a vital role in the regulation of the T cell immune response. Efti is currently in a Phase IIb clinical trial as a chemoimmunotherapy for
