Immutep Quarterly Activities Report

Rhea-AI Summary

Immutep Limited (ASX: IMM; NASDAQ: IMMP) has announced its clinical development strategy focusing on eftilagimod alpha (efti) for treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC), and metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Positive interim data from the TACTI-002 trial in NSCLC showed favorable results compared to standard chemotherapy. Additionally, the FDA granted Fast Track designation for efti in 1st line NSCLC. The company holds a strong cash position of $73.9 million, extending its financial runway into early 2024.

Positive

• FDA Fast Track designation for efti in 1st line NSCLC.
• Encouraging interim data from TACTI-002 trial showing 9.7 months median overall survival.
• Strong cash position of $73.9 million, providing financial runway into early 2024.
• Plans to expand efti into soft tissue sarcoma with a new trial.

Negative

• Cash receipts from customers decreased to $33k in Q1 FY23 from $96k in Q4 FY22.
• Net cash used in G&A activities increased to $595k in Q1 FY23.
• Net cash used in R&D activities decreased slightly to $7.17 million, indicating potentially higher costs in upcoming quarters.

Media Release

• Clinical development strategy for efti to prioritise non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as well as advance head & neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) and metastatic breast cancer (MBC)
• Further encouraging interim data in 2^nd line NSCLC from TACTI-002 comparing favourably to standard of care chemotherapy-based options
• Three abstracts accepted at the upcoming SITC Annual Meeting 2022 including first interim data from INSIGHT-003 trial and a late breaking abstract
• New investigator-initiated Phase II trial in new indication soft tissue sarcoma
• Board strengthened with LAG-3 pioneer, Professor Frédéric Triebel, Immutep’s CSO and CMO
• Fast Track designation granted by US FDA for efti in 1^st line NSCLC, post period
• Strong cash position of $73.9 million, giving cash runway into early calendar year 2024
  
  

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, Oct. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  Immutep Limited (ASX: IMM; NASDAQ: IMMP) ("Immutep” or “the Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel immunotherapies for cancer and autoimmune disease, today provides an update on the ongoing development of its product candidates, eftilagimod alpha (“efti”) and IMP761 for the quarter ended 30 September 2022 (Q1 FY23).

Efti Development Program for Cancer
Immutep has reported consistently strong data from efti across three key cancer indications: NSCLC, HNSCC and MBC, supporting the broad therapeutic potential of the Company’s lead product candidate. Based on compelling data, coupled with the large market opportunity and high unmet need for more durable and tolerable options for patients, Immutep has determined to focus its late-stage clinical development efforts on 1^st line NSCLC in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy. The NSCLC program will be shaped by the maturing TACTI-002 trial data, initial data from the INSIGHT-003 trial, and feedback from regulatory authorities and other stakeholders.

The Company will also continue to advance its late-stage programs in HNSCC via the TACTI-003 trial and MBC through planning, regulatory and other steps. Studies expanding efti into additional indications and combinations are also planned, with a new trial in soft tissue sarcoma already announced in the quarter.

This development strategy will position the Company, or a potential partner to fully exploit efti’s compelling potential. Aligned with this core strategy, updates from Immutep’s clinical development program are provided below.

TACTI-002 (also designated KEYNOTE-PN798) - Phase II clinical trial
In August, Immutep reported positive interim data from patients with 2^nd line NSCLC (Part B) in the ongoing TACTI-002 trial at the 2022 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC 2022) in Austria. The median Overall Survival from therapy with efti in combination with pembrolizumab reported was 9.7 months. 25% of patients were progression free at the key 6-month mark and 36.5% were alive at 18 months. Importantly, the combination treatment continues to be safe and well tolerated, and compares favourably to standard of care chemotherapy-based options.

Following the quarter, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Fast Track designation to efti in combination with pembrolizumab for the treatment of 1^st line non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), offering the potential for expedited development and review. The designation was based on the encouraging Phase II clinical data from 1^st line NSCLC patients in the TACTI-002 trial reported by Immutep at the ASCO 2022 Conference in June 2022 and marks the second Fast Track designation issued by the FDA for efti.

Further data from the TACTI-002 trial will be presented in Q4 of calendar year 2022.

TACTI-002 is a Phase II trial being conducted in collaboration with Merck & Co. (“MSD”). It is evaluating the combination of efti with MSD’s anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in NSCLC in 1^st and 2^nd line, and in HNSCC in 2^nd line (Parts A, B and C, respectively). The trial is fully recruited.

TACTI-003 - Phase IIb clinical trial
During the quarter, Immutep continued the recruitment of patients with 1^st line HNSCC into the TACTI-003 trial. To date 53 patients out of approximately 154 have been enrolled to participate in the study across the now 25 active trial sites. A Trial in Progress poster on the Phase IIb TACTI-003 trial will be presented at the upcoming Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting 2022 in early November in Boston, US.

TACTI-003 is a Phase IIb multicentre, open label, randomised and controlled trial. It was granted Fast Track designation for 1^st line HNSCC by the US FDA in 2021.

INSIGHT-003 - triple combination
Patient recruitment continued through the quarter for the INSIGHT-003 investigator-initiated trial. Currently, 14 out of a total of 20 patients are enrolled. First interim data from INSIGHT-003 will be presented in a poster presentation at the SITC Annual Meeting 2022.

The INSIGHT-003 study evaluates a triple combination therapy consisting of efti and an approved standard of care combination of chemotherapy (carboplatin and pemetrexed) and an anti-PD-1 therapy in patients with NSCLC adenocarcinomas. The study is being conducted by the Institute of Clinical Cancer Research (IKF) at Northwest Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany.

New Phase II trial in Soft Tissue Sarcoma
In September, Immutep announced a new investigator-initiated Phase II clinical trial which will be conducted in collaboration with the Maria Skłodowska-Curie National Research Institute in Poland. The trial will evaluate efti in combination with pembrolizumab and radiotherapy, prior to surgery, in up to 40 patients with select soft tissue sarcoma. The Maria Skłodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology will primarily fund the study with a grant from the Polish government of € 1.5M (~A$2.2M), with Immutep providing efti at no cost. Importantly, the trial expands efti’s clinical development pipeline into a new cancer setting.

The first patient is expected to be dosed in H1 calendar year 2023.

IMP761 Development Program for Autoimmune Disease
During the quarter, Immutep continued preclinical development steps for its autoimmune disease candidate, IMP761, including progressing the development of a 200 litre scale GMP-compliant manufacturing process.

IMP761 is Immutep’s immunosuppressive agonist antibody to LAG-3 which will be tested to treat the causes of autoimmune disease, such as inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis, rather than merely treating the symptoms.

Intellectual Property
During the quarter, Immutep was granted two new patents by the Japanese Patent Office. The first protects IMP761, pharmaceutical compositions comprising IMP761, and the use of the compositions in the treatment of T-cell mediated inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. It follows the grant of a similar European patent announced in October 2020.

The second Japanese patent is directed to combined therapeutic preparations comprising efti and an anti-PD-(L)1 antibody, and methods of use in the treatment of cancer and infection.

A third patent was also granted during the quarter. This patent was granted by the Russian Patent Office and is directed to combined therapeutic preparations comprising efti and an anti-PD-(L)1 antibody. These new efti related patents in Japan and Russia build on corresponding patents granted in Australia, Europe, United States and China, as announced in 2018 through 2022.

Corporate Update
In September, Immutep appointed its Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Medical Officer, Professor Frédéric Triebel, M.D. Ph.D. as Executive Director on its Board. Professor Triebel pioneered the recently validated LAG-3 field of immuno-oncology, having discovered the LAG-3 gene and is a driving force in the strategic development of Immutep’s LAG-3 product candidates.

Financial Summary
Immutep’s financial performance over the quarter (Q1 FY23) continues to be pleasing. Cash receipts from customers Q1 FY23 decreased to $33k, compared to $96k in Q4 FY22. In September 2022, the company received a €1.8 million (~A$2.7 million) research and development (R&D) tax incentive payment in cash from the French Government under its Crédit d’Impôt Recherche scheme (CIR).

The net cash used in G&A activities in the quarter was $595k compared to $361k in Q4 FY22. The increase compared with the last quarter is mainly due to the payment of annual audit fees.

Payments to Related Parties, for the quarter includes $167k in payment of Non-Executive Director’s fees and Executive Director’s remuneration.

The net cash used in R&D activities in the quarter was $7.17 million, compared to $7.62 million in Q4 FY22. The cash outflow for clinical trial activities decreased compared with Q4 FY22 while the cash outflow for manufacturing activities significantly increased in Q1 FY2023. Total net cash outflows used in operating activities in the quarter was $6.34 million compared to $9.28 million in Q4 FY22.

Immutep’s cash and cash equivalent balance as at 30 September 2022 was approximately $73.9 million compared to a balance of $80 million as at 30 June 2022, giving the Company an expected cash reach based on current estimates of early calendar year 2024. Immutep will continue to manage its strong cash balance carefully as it reviews its overall clinical strategy, particularly in light of the various potential opportunities for the development of efti in cancer.

About Immutep
Immutep is a clinical stage biotechnology company leading the development of LAG-3 related immunotherapy products for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune disease. The Company is dedicated to leveraging its technology and expertise to bring innovative treatment options to market for patients and to maximize value to shareholders.

Immutep’s lead product candidate is eftilagimod alpha (“efti” or “IMP321”), a soluble LAG-3 fusion protein (LAG-3Ig) that is a first-in-class antigen presenting cell (APC) activator being evaluated in multiple clinical trials for cancer. The Company is also developing an agonist of LAG-3 (IMP761) for autoimmune disease. Additional LAG-3 product candidates, including antibodies for immune response modulation, are licensed to and being developed by Immutep’s large pharmaceutical partners.

Further information can be found on the Company’s website www.immutep.com or by contacting:

Australian Investors/Media:
Catherine Strong, Citadel-MAGNUS
+61 (0)406 759 268; cstrong@citadelmagnus.com

U.S. Media:
Tim McCarthy, LifeSci Advisors
+1 (917) 679 9282; tim@lifesciadvisors.com

FAQ

What is the latest update on Immutep's clinical trials for efti?

Immutep is focusing on clinical development of efti for NSCLC, HNSCC, and MBC, with positive interim results from the TACTI-002 trial.

What are the key findings from the TACTI-002 trial?

The TACTI-002 trial reported a median overall survival of 9.7 months in NSCLC patients and favorable safety compared to chemotherapy.

What financial position does Immutep have as of Q1 FY23?

As of Q1 FY23, Immutep holds a cash position of $73.9 million, allowing operation into early 2024.

Has Immutep received any regulatory designations?

Yes, the FDA granted Fast Track designation for efti in combination with pembrolizumab for 1st line NSCLC.

What new trials is Immutep planning for efti?

Immutep announced a new Phase II trial for efti in soft tissue sarcoma, expanding its clinical development pipeline.