The TACTI-003 trial will take place in 20+ clinical sites in the United States, Australia and Europe, and the first patient is expected to be enrolled in mid-2021.
The combination of efti and KEYTRUDA is also being evaluated in Immutep’s ongoing Phase II TACTI-002 study. The promising clinical results generated to date from the TACTI-002 trial have prompted the initiation of the new TACTI-003 trial.
The combination brings together two immuno-oncology treatments with complementary mechanisms of action at two different positions in the cancer immunity cycle. Efti is a first-in-class antigen-presenting cell activator that stimulates cancer-fighting T cells, while KEYTRUDA is an anti-PD-1 therapy which blocks the immunosuppressive PD-1 pathway.
From the CEO of Immutep Ltd
Immutep CEO, Marc Voigt, said, “We are excited to be deepening our collaboration with MSD through this second agreement and the TACTI-003 clinical trial. Advancing to this later stage Phase IIb trial will allow us to explore the combination therapy in the commercially relevant 1st line therapy setting which has a high unmet medical need.”
HNSCC is the sixth most common cancer by incidence worldwide, with 890,000 new cases and 450,000. It is an aggressive, genetically complex, and difficult to treat cancer.
HNSCC is associated with high levels of psychological distress and compromised quality of life (QOL).
As such, patients with HNSCC are very much in need of improved treatment options.
Lymphocyte Activation Gene 3
LAG-3 is an immune checkpoint molecule (CD223) – a protein involved in the regulation of the immune system. The LAG-3 protein controls the signaling between specific immune cells, T cells and antigen presenting cells (APCs), which are responsible for the adaptive immune response. The protein is discovered in 1990 by the firm’s Chief Scientist and Medical Officer, Professor Frederic Triebel, which will make the firm become a leader in LAG-3 products with more LAG-3-related intellectual property and more product candidates in clinical development, including its partnered programs.
Immutep Ltd Products
Eftilagimod alpha is the lead product and is in late-stage clinical development for cancer.
Other products are in preclinical (IMP761) or earlier clinical development (IMP701, IMP731) for cancer or autoimmune diseases.
With eftilagimod alpha, Immutep is investigating the LAG-3 immune control mechanism in three areas of application to boost the immune system with a unique mechanism of action.
Prohost Observations
Following the news about the second collaboration with Merck on the combination eftilagimod alpha and KEYTRUDA, the firm’s stocks is trading at $2.88, UP $0.14.
There is no exaggeration in the boosting of the stock.
Our homework is to follow up on Immutep’s clinical trial news.
Find more news at www.prohostbiotech.com.
Immutep Ltd: Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Eftilagimod Alpha in Combination with Merck’s KEYTRUDA
Immutep Ltd and Merck Announce Second Clinical Trial Collaboration
Immutep (IMMP) develops novel immunotherapy treatments for cancer, infectious disease and autoimmune diseases.
Today, Immutep announced a second clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with Merck & Co (MRK) subsidiaries, Kenilworth, NJ, USA (known as “MSD” outside the United States and Canada).
Immutep will conduct a new Phase IIb clinical trial in 1st line head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients.
The trial, called TACTI-003 (Two Active Immunotherapies), will be a 1:1 randomized, controlled clinical study in approximately 160 first-line HNSCC patients.
The trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of Immutep’s lead product candidate, eftilagimod alpha (efti or IMP321) in combination with Merck’s immunotherapy product KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), compared to pembrolizumab alone.
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