The Immutep Ltd (ASX: IMM) share price has failed to rally this morning after the company released an update on its cancer trial.
The Sydney based biotechnology company's share price lifted 1.23% to 41 cents in early morning trade, but has since retreated back to its opening price of 40 cents.
What did Immutep announce?
Immutep reported it has enrolled and dosed its last patient for stage 2 Part C of its TACTI-002 Phase II study. This marks the completion of recruitment for the important trial.
Immutep is evaluating its lead product candidate, eftilagimod alpha ("efti"), in combination with MSD's KEYTRUDA (pembrolizuman). In Part C, the study focuses on treating patients with second-line head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
This comes after the company announced in December that the United States Patent & Trade Mark Office had granted its patent, entitled Combined Preparations for the Treatment of Cancer or Infection.
Importantly, Immutep believes the new patent covers the combination of ingredients used in the TACTI-002 Phase II study.
Interim data
Immutep reported that interim data from the TACTI-002 study was encouraging. Subsequently, while at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, the company mentioned the second line HNSCC patient data was very robust and formed a basis for additional clinical development.
Lastly, Immutep notified the market that the TACTI-002 trial involving patients with first-line non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) had commenced. An additional 4 new patients have also been recruited, on top of the already 74 patients that were previously announced on 19 November. 40 of the 110 patients with first-line NSCLC have now been recruited for Part A of the TACTI-002 study.
The company expects further interim data from the TACTI-002 study in the first half of 2021.
About the Immutep share price
Immutep shares have been rallying for the last 12 months, with a 1-year return of 52.83% compared to the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) loss of 1.85% over the same period.
The company has now grown to a $262.73 million market capitalisation.
