Biotechnology company Immutep Ltd (ASX:IMM) which is developing novel LAG-3 immunotherapies for cancer and autoimmune disease, has reported a strong response rate from a trial involving a combination of immunotherapy drugs to treat recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients (known as 1L HNSCC).
The results were yielded from Cohort B of the TACTI-003 Phase IIb trial testing the efficacy of eftilagimod alfa combined with MSD’s anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) as first-line treatment of these patients with negative PD-L1 expression.
The combination utilising efti and KEYTRUDA achieved an objective response rate of 35.5 percent – representing 11 out of 31 patients – and a disease control rate of 58.1 percent, in 1L HNSCC patients whose tumours do not express PD-L1.
These are among the highest recorded results for the treatment of negative PD-L1 patients without the use of chemotherapy, and compare favourably to a historical control of 5.4 percent objective response rate and 32.4 percent disease control rate from anti-PD-1 monotherapy.
In addition to this, the immuno-oncology combination yielded a complete response rate of 9.7 percent – or 3 out of 31 patients – a much better result than the historical control of 0 percent from anti-PD-1 monotherapy in 1L HNSCC patients with a CPS <1.2.
Robert Metcalf of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester – who presented the results at ESMO (European Society for Medical Oncology) Virtual Plenary session – said the high response rate from this novel immunotherapy combination was well above other treatment approaches without chemotherapy.
“It matches historical response rates from chemotherapy-based treatments but without the
associated toxicities,” he said.
“This is really significant for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas who
have a CPS less than one and for whom chemotherapy is the current first line treatment.
“Achieving complete responses in this group bodes well for this immunotherapy combination’s future potential, especially given the positive trend in response durability.
“The clinically meaningful response rate and high unmet medical
need warrant further investigation of eftilagimod plus pembrolizumab in this patient population.”
The market has responded warmly to the news, and at 11:23 AEDT, Immutep shares were trading at 35.5 cents, a rise of 20.34 percent since the market opened.