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Company Overview

Cutting-edge immunotherapies to fight cancer and autoimmune disease

Immutep is a pioneer in developing therapeutics designed to stimulate or suppress the immune system to fight cancer and autoimmune diseases. This history of innovation stems from its Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Frédéric Triebel’s discovery of Lymphocyte Activation Gene-3 (LAG-3) and his subsequent research elucidating paths to improve clinical responses for patients by harnessing the power of their own immune systems.

Today, the Company has a diversified portfolio of cutting-edge immunotherapies including four clinical stage candidates and one candidate at early research stage. The primary focus of Immutep centers on two of its proprietary first-in-class therapeutics, eftilagimod alfa (efti) in oncology and IMP761 in autoimmune diseases.

 

Oncology Portfolio

Igniting the Immune Response via Antigen Presenting Cells (APC)
Immutep’s lead clinical candidate, eftilagimod alfa (efti), is a first-in-class soluble LAG-3 protein and MHC Class II agonist delivered subcutaneously that uniquely activates antigen-presenting cells or APCs (e.g., dendritic cells, monocytes) via major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II ligands. The broad adaptive and innate immune response initiated by efti includes significant increases of lymphocytes and cytokines/chemokines that are critical in effectively fighting cancer. To date, efti has led to encouraging efficacy and has shown a favourable safety profile in numerous clinical trials.

Blocking LAG-3 On T Cells to Boost an Immune Response
As a co-inhibitory receptor, LAG-3’s expression on T cells has a negative feedback mechanism that cancer utilizes to hide from the immune system. Immutep designed the world’s first anti-LAG-3 antibody to block LAG-3 and remove the brakes on the immune system to better respond to cancer. Its subsequent efforts led to LAG525 (ieramilimab), an anti-LAG-3 clinical candidate out-licensed to Novartis. Today, Immutep continues to innovate in blocking LAG-3 on T cells via a novel, small molecule anti-LAG-3 candidate at early research stage.

Autoimmune Diseases Portfolio

Agonist LAG-3 Antibody
Immutep has developed the world’s first LAG-3 agonist antibody for autoimmune diseases, called IMP761, which acts upstream on activated T cells to target the root cause of autoimmune diseases and restore balance to the immune system. This clinical candidate is a potential game-changer in the treatment of multiple autoimmune disorders.

Depleting LAG-3 Antibody
IMP731 is Immutep’s LAG-3 depleting antibody that eliminates T cells to combat autoimmune diseases. This clinical-stage asset has been tested in a Phase II in active ulcerative colitis and a Phase I/Ib trial in psoriasis.