Exhibit 99.1
ASX/Media Announcement
Immutep Reports PositiveTACTI-002 Data
• | Encouraging Overall Response Rates (ORR) reported from stage 1 Parts A and C, with responses in 47% of 1st linenon-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and already 33% of 2nd line head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients |
• | NSCLC responses are seen across all threePD-L1 expression level groups (< 1%,1-49% and³50%) |
• | 59% of the NSCLC patients are still under therapy with 7+ months, median PFS not yet reached |
• | Immutep will host a global webcast to discuss its clinical programs |
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – February 19th, 2020 –Immutep Limited (ASX: IMM; NASDAQ: IMMP) (“Immutep” or “the Company”), a biotechnology company developing novel immunotherapy treatments for cancer and autoimmune diseases, announces interim data from its ongoing Phase IITACTI-002 study. The results are being presented today at the 34th German Cancer Congress in Berlin by Principal Investigator, Dr. Bernhard Doger of START Madrid, Spain. The Company will also present this interim data and provide a further update on its clinical programs in a global webcast, details below.
The data relates to use of the Company’s lead product candidate eftilagimod alpha (“efti” or “IMP321”), a solubleLAG-3 protein, as part of a combination treatment with pembrolizumab. The activation of antigen-presenting cells (APC) and subsequent T cell recruitment with efti may lead to stronger anti-tumour responses than observed with pembrolizumab alone.
Immutep CSO and CMO, Dr Frederic Triebel said: “The results we are seeing from ourTACTI-002 trial are highly encouraging, with 47% of first linenon-small cell lung cancer patients responding. These results are remarkable given that usually only 20% of patients respond to pembrolizumab monotherapy, if notpre-selected for highPD-L1 expression. Interestingly, patient responses are being seen in all threePD-L1 expression level groups, meaning the combination treatment seems to work even in patients not expected to respond to pembrolizumab monotherapy.
The initial overall response rate of 33% of second line head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients is also very exciting, albeit from a smaller patient group. It compares well to an expected pembrolizumab monotherapy response rate of15-18%, especially taking into account that three patients could not yet be assessed.”
Immutep CEO, Marc Voigt stated: “We are very excited by the results fromTACTI-002 as pembrolizumab monotherapy is approved only forPD-L1 subgroups in first line NSCLC. Seeing substantial response rates also in lowPD-L1 expression groups from the combination therapy is very encouraging, particularly in light of the good safety profile to date for efti.”
Immutep Limited, Level 12, 95 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
ABN: 90 009 237 889
Overview of the Trial
TACTI-002 is being conducted in collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA (known as “MSD” outside the United States and Canada). It is evaluating the combination of efti with MSD’s KEYTRUDA® (or pembrolizumab, ananti-PD-1 therapy) in up to 109 patients. All patients receive 200 mg of pembrolizumab every three weeks, along with 30 mg of efti every two weeks for the first eight cycles (1 cycle = 3 weeks) and every 3 weeks thereafter (starting cycle 9).
The trial is a Simon’stwo-stage, open-label,single-arm study, with patients participating in three Parts:
• | Part A – First lineNon-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC),PD-X naive |
• | Part B – Second line NSCLC,PD-X refractory |
• | Part C – Second line Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC),PD-X naive |
TACTI-002 is anall comer study in terms ofPD-L1 status, a well-known predictive marker for response to pembrolizumab monotherapy especially in NSCLC.PD-L1 expression is typically reported in three groups for NSCLC: < 1%,1-49% and³50% (Tumour Proportion Score or TPS). Patients with a highPD-L1 status are typically more responsive toanti-PD-1 monotherapy such as pembrolizumab, whereas those with lowPD-L1 status are overall significantly less responsive. Pembrolizumab monotherapy is registered in the US and the EU for first-line NSCLC patients with a TPS score³1% (US) and³50% (EU), reflecting 65% and 30% of all first line NSCLC patients, respectively.
Key Findings
Stage 1 Part A (1st line NSCLC):
• | Overall Response Rate (ORR) of 47% and no patient with a response had progressive disease thus far |
• | Distribution of thePD-L1 subgroups is as expected (see table) ~30% with³ 50%PD-L1 |
• | Tumour responses are reported across all threePD-L1 expression level groups (< 1%,1-49% and³50%) for NSCLC. 5 out of the 8 responders had aPD-L1 expression <50% |
• | Majority (10/17; 59%) of NSCLC patients are still under treatment and median PFS is not yet reached with all patients having passed the 7+ months mark already |
• | PD-L1 status of stage 1 of Part A (n=17) are detailed below: |
Immutep Limited, Level 12, 95 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
ABN: 90 009 237 889
Patients by PD-L1 category | No. of Responses1 | ORR1 | Frequency in TACTI-002 N (%)2 | Historical3 Distribution | ||||||||||||||||
Low (< 1%) | 1 | 33% | 3 (23%) | 35% | ||||||||||||||||
Medium(1-49%) | 3 | 50% | 6 (46%) | 35% | ||||||||||||||||
High (³ 50%) | 3 | 75% | 4 (31%) | 30% | ||||||||||||||||
NE4 | 1 | 25% | 4 (n/a) | n/a | ||||||||||||||||
Overall | 8 | 47% | 17 |
Stage 1 Part C (2nd line HNSCC):
• | Interim ORR of 33% with 6 out of 18 patients reporting a response according to iRECIST (3 patients are not yetre-staged after initiation of therapy andPD-L1 results are currently being evaluated) |
• | More detailed data will be provided as patient treatment duration advances. |
Safety:
• | No new safety signals for this combination therapy reported thus far. |
Recruitment Update
Recruitment is ongoing for stage 1 of Part B, along with stage 2 of Parts A and C. The table below summarises the number of patients recruited to date for theTACTI-002 cohorts.
Stage 1 (recruited to date / targeted total) | Stage 2 (recruited to date / targeted total) | |||||||||
Part A (1st line NSCLC) | 17 / 17 -> completed | 7 / 19 | ||||||||
Part B (2nd line NSCLC) | 13 / 23 | Not Opened | ||||||||
Part C (2nd line HNSCC) | 18 / 18 -> completed | 1 / 19 |
1 | According to iRECIST |
2 | Percentage refers to evaluable subjects (n=13) |
3 | Garon et al N Engl J Med2015;372:2018-28 |
4 | NE= not evaluable by central lab using standard kit |
Immutep Limited, Level 12, 95 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
ABN: 90 009 237 889
The presentation entitled, ‘Initial results from a Phase II study(TACTI-002) in metastaticnon-small cell lung or head and neck carcinoma patients receiving eftilagimod alpha (solubleLAG-3 protein) and pembrolizumab’ will be made available on the Company’s website athttps://www.immutep.com/investors-media/presentations.html.
Webcast Details
The Company will also present this interimTACTI-002 data and provide a further update on its clinical programs in a global webcast. The details for the webcast are as follows:
Date & Time: | Wednesday, February 26, 2020, 8:00 am Australian Eastern Daylight Time / Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 4:00 pm US Eastern Daylight Time | |
Register: | Interested parties can register via a link to the webcast on the Company’s website or via the following link: https://fnn.webex.com/fnn/onstage/g.php?MTID=e11208a0ff7fcccaca4d5e4b8a14e988f | |
Questions: | Investors are invited to submit questions in advance viaimmutep@citadelmagnus.com. |
A replay of the webcast will also be available atwww.immutep.com from the day after the event.
About theTACT-002 trial
TACTI-002 (Two ACTive Immunotherapies) is being conducted in collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA (known as “MSD” outside the United States and Canada). The study is evaluating the combination of efti with MSD’s KEYTRUDA® (or pembrolizumab, ananti-PD-1 therapy) in up to 109 patients with second line head and neck squamous cell carcinoma ornon-small cell lung cancer in first and second line. The trial is a Phase II, Simon’stwo-stage,non-comparative, open-label,single-arm, multicentre clinical study that is taking place in up to 13 study centres across the U.S., Europe and Australia.
About Immutep
Immutep is a globally active biotechnology company that is a leader in the development ofLAG-3 related immunotherapeutic products for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune disease. Immutep is dedicated to leveraging its technology and expertise to bring innovative treatment options to market for patients and to maximize value to shareholders. Immutep is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (IMM), and on the NASDAQ (IMMP) in the United States.
Immutep Limited, Level 12, 95 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
ABN: 90 009 237 889
Immutep’s current lead product candidate is eftilagimod alpha (“efti” or “IMP321”), a solubleLAG-3 protein(LAG-3Ig) based on theLAG-3 immune control mechanism. This mechanism plays a vital role in the regulation of the T cell immune response. Efti is currently in a Phase IIb clinical trial as a chemoimmunotherapy for metastatic breast cancer termed AIPAC; a Phase II clinical trial being conducted in collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA (known as “MSD” outside the United States and Canada) referred to asTACTI-002 (Two ACTive Immunotherapies) to evaluate a combination of efti with KEYTRUDA® (or pembrolizumab, ananti-PD-1 therapy) in several different solid tumours (clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT03625323); a Phase I clinical trial being conducted in collaboration with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and Pfizer Inc. referred to asINSIGHT-004 to evaluate a combination of efti with avelumab (clinical trials.gov identifier NCT03252938); and a Phase I combination therapy trial in metastatic melanoma termedTACTI-mel (clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT02676869).
AdditionalLAG-3 products, including antibodies, for immune response modulation in autoimmunity and cancer are being developed by Immutep’s large pharmaceutical partners. Immutep is also developing an agonist ofLAG-3 (IMP761) for autoimmune disease.
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:
Garth Russell, LifeSci Advisors
+1 (646)876-3613;garth@lifesciadvisors.com
This announcement was authorised for release by the board of Immutep Limited.
Immutep Limited, Level 12, 95 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
ABN: 90 009 237 889