Immutep Limited (ASX: IMM; NASDAQ: IMMP) (“Immutep” or “the Company”), a biotechnology company developing novel immunotherapies, announced the grant of a new patent (number 12,788,796) entitled “Combined Preparations for the Treatment of Cancer or Infection” by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

With this latest grant, Immutep now holds five United States patents within this patent family. The portfolio has expanded progressively through a series of patents granted in December 2020, March 2021, June 2023, July 2026 and, most recently, this latest patent.

The claims of the new patent build on the protection provided by the four previously granted patents and are directed to combined preparations and pharmaceutical compositions comprising eftilagimod alfa (“efti”) and a PD-1 pathway inhibitor. Specifically, the claims encompass combinations with BMS-936559, durvalumab, atezolizumab and avelumab. The expiry date of the patent is 23 March 2038 (including 806 days of patent term adjustment).

The patent grant provides additional protection for the use of efti in combination with PD-1 pathway inhibitors, a key class of immunotherapies used in modern cancer treatment, further expanding Immutep’s patent portfolio covering efti-based combination therapies. Immutep has also filed a continuation application to pursue additional embodiments of the invention.

Marc Voigt, CEO of Immutep, said: “We are pleased to receive this latest US patent grant, which further strengthens the intellectual property protection surrounding efti. As we pursue our focused development strategy for efti, a good patent portfolio remains an important strategic asset, supporting future development and partnering opportunities. We believe in the potential of this unique biomolecule and that carefully selected clinical settings could provide meaningful opportunities for continued evaluation and value creation.”