Full Press Release Details
IMMUTEP GRANTED CHINESE PATENT FOR EFTILAGIMOD ALPHA
IN CHEMO-IMMUNOTHERAPY COMBINATION
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 26 May 2021 Immutep Limited (ASX: IMM; NASDAQ: IMMP) ( Immutep or the
Company ), a biotechnology company developing novel immunotherapy treatments for cancer and autoimmune disease, is pleased to announce the grant of a new patent (number ZL201480073584.3) entitled Combined Preparations for the Treatment of
Cancer by the Chinese Patent Office.
This Chinese patent follows the grant of the corresponding European, Australian, Japanese and United States
patents, as announced separately throughout 2019 and 2020. The new patent protects Immutep s intellectual property relating to combination therapy comprising (a) lead active immunotherapy candidate eftilagimod alpha (efti or IMP321), which
is a LAG-3 fusion protein (LAG-3Ig), and (b) a chemotherapy agent. The chemotherapy agent is oxaliplatin, carboplatin, or topotecan, and the patent provides
protection in the territory of mainland China.
The new patent is owned by Immutep S.A.S. and exclusively licensed to Immutep s partner in China, EOC
Pharma ( EOC ). The patent expiry date is 19 December 2034.
Dr. Fr d ric Triebel, Immutep s Chief
Scientific Officer and Chief Medical Officer, noted: Oxaliplatin, carboplatin and topotecan continue to be commonly used forms of chemotherapy in China and more broadly. Furthermore, combinations of chemotherapy and active
immunotherapies have begun to be approved for the treatment of advanced solid tumors in recent years. As such, this new patent provides protection in the important Chinese territory for a range of novel and highly relevant chemo-immunotherapies
featuring efti that could be developed in the future by our partner, EOC Pharma.
EOC Pharma CEO, Xiaoming Zou, said: We are very
pleased that our partner, Immutep, continues to make important progress in building a robust patent estate around efti. This underpins our continued investment in this unique and promising candidate, and provides a range of future development
options for our business.
Efti is exclusively licensed to EOC for the territory of Greater China (namely mainland China, Hong Kong S.A.R, Macao S.A.R. and Taiwan). Under its agreement
with Immutep, EOC will make further milestone payments to the Company if efti achieves specific development milestones, as well as pay sales-based royalties.
EOC Pharma is an integrated
biopharmaceutical company focusing on the discovery, research, development and commercialization of innovative oncology products. With an insight-driven strategy and integrated business platform, EOC Pharma strives to build a portfolio of products
with strategic synergies from independent R&D and licensing and enrich the product pipeline with first- and best-in-class oncology drugs to benefit the millions of
patients who currently have limited access to high quality oncology treatments in China.
Immutep is a globally active biotechnology company that is a leader in the development of LAG-3 related
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 maximise value to shareholders.
Level 12, 95 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Immutep s current lead product candidate is eftilagimod alpha (efti or IMP321), a soluble LAG-3 fusion protein (LAG-3Ig), which is a first-in-class antigen presenting cell (APC)
activator being explored in cancer and infectious disease. Immutep is also developing an agonist of LAG-3 (IMP761) for autoimmune disease. Additional LAG-3 products,
including antibodies for immune response modulation, are being developed by Immutep s large pharmaceutical partners.
Immutep is listed on the
Australian Securities Exchange (IMM), and on the NASDAQ (IMMP) in the United States.
Further information can be found on the Company s website
www.immutep.com or by contacting:
Australian Investors/Media:
Catherine Strong, Citadel-MAGNUS
McCarthy, LifeSci Advisors
+1 (212) 915.2564; tim@lifesciadvisors.com
This announcement was authorised for release by the board of Immutep Limited.
Level 12, 95 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000