Biotechnology company Immutep Limited (ASX: IMM) has been granted a new patent entitled “Combined Preparations for the Treatment of Cancer or Infection” by the Chinese Patent Office.
This new Chinese patent follows the grant of the corresponding European and United States patents announced in 2018 through 2021.
The claims of the new patent protect Immutep’s intellectual property relating to combined therapeutic preparations comprising (a) its lead active immunotherapy candidate eftilagimod alpha (efti or IMP321), which is a soluble LAG-3 fusion protein (LAG-3Ig), and (b) an antiPD-1 or anti-PD-L1 antibody.
Immutep CEO, Marc Voigt, said the claims are also directed to use of the preparations for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of cancer and infectious disease. The new patent is owned by Immutep S.A.S. and exclusively licensed to Immutep’s partner in China, EOC Pharma (EOC).
This new patent again highlights the important investments Immutep is making to protect efti, with its unique mode of action,” Mr Voigt noted.
“The LAG-3 immune checkpoint has attracted significant interest from the medical, pharma and investment communities in recent months following important validation of this target by the pharma industry.
“We are well placed to make an important contribution to this exciting field and are also very much looking forward to continuing our close collaboration with EOC Pharma as they commence multiple trials with efti in China in the coming months.”
About efti in China
Efti is exclusively licensed to EOC Pharma 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 salesbased royalties.
Immutep retains the rights to efti outside the territory of Greater China.