Immutep Limited (ASX: IMM); NASDAQ: IMMP) has been granted a patent entitled “Antibody molecules to LAG-3 and uses thereof” by the Chinese Patent Office.
This new Chinese patent follows the grant of the corresponding Australian, United States, European, and Japanese patents announced in 2018 through 2020.
In particular, the claims of the patent are directed to LAG525, pharmaceutical compositions comprising LAG525, nucleic acid molecules that code for the LAG525 antibody, an expression vector or host cell that comprises the nucleic acid molecules, and to the use of LAG525 in the manufacture of a preparation for the treatment of cancer or infectious disease.
LAG525 (INN: leramilimab) is a humanised form of Immutep’s IMP701 antibody which is out-licensed to The patent is co-owned by Novartis AG and Immutep S.A.S. and will expire on March 13, 2035.
About IMP701 and LAG525
IMP701 is a therapeutic antagonist antibody originally developed by Immutep S.A. (now Immutep S.A.S.) to target LAG-3. This antibody plays a role in controlling the signalling pathways in both effector T cells and regulatory T cells (Treg).
The antibody works by activating effector T cells by blocking inhibitory signals that would otherwise switch them off, and also by inhibiting Treg function that normally prevents T cells from responding to antigen stimulation. The antibody therefore removes two brakes that prevent the immune system from responding to and killing cancer cells. In contrast, some other antagonist LAG-3 antibodies in development target only the effector T cell pathway and don’t address the Treg pathway.
LAG525, a humanised form of IMP701, is being evaluated in several Phase I and/or Phase II clinical trials in combination with Novartis’ PD1 inhibitor spartalizumab for the treatment of various cancers. Novartis has full responsibility for the continued development of the antibody program and Immutep is eligible to receive development-based milestone payments and royalties on sales following commercialisation of the antibody.
