Immutep (ASX:IMM) locks in another European cancer treatment patent

• The European Patent Office has granted Immutep (IMM) protection for its Combined Preparations for the Treatment of Cancer until 2036
• The patent specifically covers the company’s lead active immunotherapy candidate efti, which IMM describes as an antigen-presenting cell activator being explored in cancer and infectious disease
• Immutep said the new divisional patent covers the combination of active ingredients being evaluated in its ongoing clinical trials
• Immutep’s Chief Executive Officer Marc Voigt said building a robust patent estate was a priority for the company
• Immutep shares are down 2.86 per cent to trade at 68 cents

The European Patent Office has granted Immutep (IMM) protection for its Combined Preparations for the Treatment of Cancer until 2036.

The patent specifically covers lead active immunotherapy candidate eftilagimod alpha (efti), which is a soluble LAG-3 fusion protein (LAG-3Ig), and a PD-L1 inhibitor – the claims also relate to methods in treating cancer.

IMM’s lead candidate, efti, is described as an antigen-presenting cell activator being explored in cancer and infectious disease. Concurrently, Immutep is also developing an agonist of LAG-3 (IMP761) for autoimmune disease.

IMM said this particular patent was filed as a divisional application and follows the grant of the European parent patent announced in November 2018, and the corresponding United States patents announced in December 2020 and March 2021.

More broadly, the ASX-lister explains the new divisional patent covers the combination of active ingredients being evaluated in its ongoing clinical trials.

Immutep’s Chief Executive Officer Marc Voigt said building a robust patent estate was a priority for the company.

“It [the patent] also highlights the critical investments we are making to protect
efti which underpin further clinical development and commercialisation of this asset,” he explained.

“Building a robust patent estate is a priority for our business and a key part of the process of bringing innovative medicines to the market to ultimately improve patient outcomes,” he concluded.

Immutep shares are down 2.86 per cent to trade at 68 cents at 3:11 pm AEST.