Clinical-stage biotechnology company Immutep Limited (ASX: IMM) has reported excellent progress with its development of novel LAG-3 immunotherapies for cancer and autoimmune disease.
New studies have found that efti, a soluble LAG-3 protein and first-in-class MHC Class II agonist, in combination with MSD’s anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) achieved robust initial Overall Survival (OS) in first line non-small cell lung cancer (1L NSCLC) patients in the Phase II TACTI-002 trial.
Based on the exceptional survival data with a minimum follow-up of now 14 months, a Data Monitoring Committee has recommended extending the OS follow-up collection to show mature three-year and potentially five-year survival rates of this novel IO-IO combination.
Dr Martin Forster of the UCL Cancer Institute and University College London Hospital NHS Foundation, London, UK, and TACTI-002 Investigator, said the initial overall survival results from the TACTI-002 trial are clinically meaningful and build upon the strength of the efficacy data emerging from this exciting novel investigational combination of efti with pembrolizumab.
“Importantly, the favourable safety profile of this immunotherapy regimen has continued, and to see these deep and durable responses without any additional toxicity from what would be expected from anti-PD-1 monotherapy is very encouraging.”
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for approximately 80 to 85% of all lung cancers, impacting an estimated 1.87 million people annually, and is the highest cause of death among all cancers.