- Immunotherapy specialist Immutep has secured 17 patients of a targeted 109 for a 2019 global study of lung cancer treatment using company drug ‘Efti’
- The study, in collaboration with industry cohorts MSD, will take place across the U.S., Europe and Australia
- Immutep believe Efti is a leader in the practice of enhancing the body’s immune system to combat non-small cell cancer
Immunotherapeutic product developers Immutep are inching closer to conducting a significant trial in treating lung cancer this year.
The company announced today it has secured the first lineup of 17 patients for its ‘Phase II TACTI-002 clinical trial’, targeting non-small cell lung cancer.
Immunotherapy is the practice of medical treatment by enhancing and increasing the performance of the body’s immune system. The trial is aimed at using up to 109 patients across 13 study centres in the U.S., Europe and Australia.
The research will be done in collaboration with industry cohorts Merck & Co., also known as MSD. The study will evaluate the combination of Immutep’s leading product ‘eftilagimod alpha’ (Efti) with MSD’s product KEYTRUDA.
Immutep Chief Strategy Officer Frederic Triebel says Efti is a unique product in the immunotherapy industry.
“As an antigen presenting cell activator, it is successful in activating dendritic cells that process and present antigens for recognition by the T cell receptor on T lymphocytes,” Frederic said.
The impending clinical trial of Efti is the product of successfully dosing patients, which took place only three months ago.
“Efti is the only antigen presenting cell activator targeting MHC class II molecules currently in clinical development, setting it apart from other
Triebel says the company expects the first report data from the trial before the end of this year.
Immutep hope to bring these immunotherapy solutions to a global market.
Shares in IMM are trading for 2.7 cents today, a 3.85 per cent premium from yesterday’s closing price of 2.60 cents.