On August 31, 2021 Immutep Limited (ASX: IMM; NASDAQ: IMMP) ("Immutep" or the "Company") reported to advise its Chinese partner for eftilagimod alpha ("efti" or "IMP321"), EOC Pharma ("EOC") is planning to expand its clinical trial pipeline for efti (designated EOC202 in China) in China (Press release, Immutep, AUG 31, 2021, View Source [SID1234587045]).
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EOC is preparing to initiate a clinical trial of efti in combination with an anti-PD-1 therapy. The new trial is expected to commence in the first half of calendar year 2022.
The new trial builds on the latest promising data presented by Immutep at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2021 and on EOC’s previously announced Phase II trial evaluating efti in combination with chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer patients. This previously announced Phase II trial is currently expected to commence in the second half of calendar year 2021.
In addition, EOC has partnered with a contract development and manufacturing organisation in China. In August 2020, EOC received positive feedback from the Centre for Drug Evaluation (CDE), subordinate unit of China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) on its CMC comparability study results and recently completed an important 2000L manufacturing step for efti.
Dr. Xiaoming Zou, CEO of EOC Pharma, commented: "Encouraged by our partner Immutep’s exciting clinical performance, we are ready to further exploit the clinical benefits of this promising drug in the IO realm."
Commenting on EOC’s plans, Immutep CEO Marc Voigt said: "It is great to see our growing confidence in efti is shared by our Chinese partner, EOC. Like Immutep, EOC is expanding its clinical trial pipeline, adding a new combination therapy study of efti with an anti-PD-1 drug. This is the same promising concept we are evaluating in TACTI-002 and TACTI-003, for example."
Efti is exclusively licensed to EOC for the territory of Greater China. EOC has full responsibility for the development and commercialisation of efti in the territory, and Immutep is eligible to receive development-based milestone payments and sales-based royalties.