Full Press Release Details
ASX/Media Release (Code: ASX: IMM; NASDAQ: IMMP)
Immutep Presents Positive IMP761 Preclinical Results
at 14th Congress of European Crohn s and Colitis Organisation
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 8 March 2019 Immutep Limited (ASX: IMM; NASDAQ: IMMP) (Immutep or the Company), a biotechnology company developing novel
immunotherapy treatments for cancer and autoimmune diseases, today announced positive results from its preclinical study of IMP761, a novel LAG-3 agonist antibody being developed for the treatment of
autoimmune diseases. The results were presented at the 14th Congress of European Crohn s and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) Conference in Denmark on 7 March 2019.
Consistent with earlier in vitro studies conducted by Immutep on the immunosuppressive activity of IMP761, this new study in a non-human primate animal model showed that IMP761 decreases inflammatory T cell infiltration induced by intra-dermal injection of an antigen. The key conclusions from this in vivo study are outlined below:
chronic inflammation, auto-immune memory T cells are stimulated by the same self-peptides repeatedly, acquiring an exhausted phenotype. We used LAG-3, a marker for exhausted memory T cells, to
target these self-reactive T cells in vivo. As LAG-3 is a T cell co-inhibitory receptor, we developed an agonist antibody, IMP761, to increase LAG-3 down-modulation of T cell receptor signaling in these autoimmune T cells.
Immutep CMO and CSO,
Fr d ric Triebel said, Future directions in developing more targeted immunosuppressive antibodies should address the root cause of autoimmune diseases by specifically silencing the autoimmune memory T cells accumulating at the
disease site. By increasing the physiological negative feedback loop of LAG-3 on T cell receptor signaling in response to self-peptides, IMP761 is preventing the activation of all downstream inflammatory
pathways, such as the production of TNF- , IL-6, IL-17 or IL-23.
Based on the results of this in vivo study which confirms the immunosuppressive activity of IMP761 on the inflammation associated with an
antigen-induced T cell response in non-human primate tissues, Immutep will advance IMP761 into clinical development. The Company has commenced CHO cell line development for Good Manufacturing Practice
Immutep CEO Marc Voigt said, Our IMP761 preclinical study results are very encouraging. We believe that IMP761
represents a new, more targeted therapeutic approach working upstream from currently available immunosuppressive therapies. IMP761 will be an important part of our development efforts, in addition to our lead product candidate, eftilagimod
The presentation materials from this event can be accessed via Immutep s website.
Immutep CSO and CMO, Fr d ric
Triebel and CEO Marc Voigt will discuss the results and the Company s plans to advance IMP761 into clinical development on a global webcast in the coming weeks. Details of the webcast will be announced separately.
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 is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (IMM), and on the NASDAQ (IMMP) in the United States.
Immutep s current lead product candidate is eftilagimod alpha ( efti or IMP321 ), a soluble
LAG-3Ig fusion protein based on the LAG-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 metastatic breast cancer termed AIPAC (clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT02614833); a Phase II clinical trial referred to as TACTI-002 (Two ACTive
Immunotherapies) to evaluate a combination of efti with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) in several different solid tumours (clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT03625323); a planned Phase I clinical
trial referred to as INSIGHT-004 to evaluate a combination of efti with avelumab (clinical trials.gov identifier NCT03252938); and a Phase I combination therapy trial in metastatic melanoma termed TACTI-mel
(clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT02676869).
Further information can be found on the Company s website www.immutep.com or by contacting:
Jay Campbell, Chief Business Officer,
+1 (917) 860-9404; jay.campbell@immutep.com
Australian Investors/Media:
Matthew Gregorowski,
+61 2 8234 0105; mgregorowski@citadelmagnus.com
Garth Russell, LifeSci Advisors
+1 (646) 876-3613; garth@lifesciadvisors.com