Immutep announces preliminary topline results from TACTI-003 Cohort B

Immutep Limited announces preliminary topline results from Cohort B of the TACTI-003 Phase IIb trial evaluating eftilagimod alpha in combination with MSD’s anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA as first-line treatment of recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients with negative PD-L1 expression. The investigational immuno-oncology combination utilizing Immutep’s MHC Class II agonist and MSD’s PD-1 therapy demonstrates an overall response rate of 26.9% and disease control rate of 57.7% in 26 patients whose tumours do not express PD-L1, according to RECIST 1.1, which compares favourably to historical controls. This new data adds to the body of evidence that efti’s novel activation of antigen-presenting cells provides a powerful boost to the immune system, which enhances the potential of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Fundamentally, efti is leading to a significant expansion of memory cytotoxic T cells that anti-PD-(L)1 therapies can act upon. Importantly, as the only MHC Class II agonist in clinical development today, efti is generating a broad anti-cancer immune response in a unique and safe manner across all levels of PD-L1 expression, even in tumours with negative expression.