Immutep Announces IMP701 Antibody Patent

Immutep has announced the grant of patent no. 10,711,060 entitled “Antibody molecules to LAG-3 and uses thereof” by the United States Patent and Trade Mark Office.

This new United States patent is directed to embodiments of LAG525, a humanized form of Immutep’s IMP701 antibody which is out-licensed to Novartis. In particular, the patent is directed to nucleic acid molecules that code for the LAG525 antibody, to expression vectors and host cells that comprise these nucleic acids, and to methods of producing the LAG525 antibody by culturing the host cells of the invention.

The application was originally filed as a second divisional application and this grant follows the grant of the first divisional application, as announced in March 2018. The patent is co-owned by Novartis AG and Immutep S.A.S. and will expire on 26 March 2035 (including a 13 day patent term adjustment).

IMP701 is a therapeutic antibody originally developed by Immutep to target LAG-3. This antagonist antibody plays a role in controlling the signaling pathways in both effector T cells and regulatory T cells (Treg). The antibody works to both activate effector T cells (by blocking inhibitory signals that would otherwise switch them off) and at the same time inhibit Treg function that normally prevent T cells from responding to antigen stimulation. The antibody therefore removes two brakes that prevent the immune system from responding to and killing cancer cells. In contrast, some other checkpoint antibodies in development target only the effector T cell pathway and do not address the Treg pathway.

Rights to the development and commercialization of IMP701 were licensed to CoStim Pharmaceuticals in 2012, which was subsequently acquired by Novartis in 2014.

LAG525, a humanized form of IMP701 is currently being evaluated in five Phase I and/or Phase II clinical trials, in combination with Novartis’ PD1 inhibitor spartalizumab for the treatment of various cancers. Novartis has full responsibility for the continued development of the antibody program and Immutep is eligible to receive development-based milestone payments and royalties on sales following commercialization of the antibody.