Immutep Ltd Secures Fourth US Patent for Efti Combination Therapy
Immutep secures fourth US patent for eftilagimod alfa combination therapy
Immutep Limited (ASX: IMM; NASDAQ: IMMP) has been granted a new US patent (number 12,673,088) by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), dated 14 July 2026, covering its novel immunotherapy eftilagimod alfa (efti) in combination with a key class of modern cancer immunotherapies.
The patent, titled “Combined Preparations for the Treatment of Cancer or Infection,” is directed to methods for the treatment of cancer by administering eftilagimod alfa in combination with an anti-PD-1 antibody or an anti-PD-L1 antibody, or fragments thereof.
The patent carries an expiry date of 20 January 2036. It extends Immutep’s intellectual property protection for efti used alongside PD-1 pathway inhibitors, a widely used class of immunotherapies in modern cancer treatment.
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Building a four-patent IP estate around efti
The grant marks the fourth patent in the series, following the earlier grant of the US parent patent, first divisional patent, and second divisional patent. The company confirmed that the new claims build on the protection provided by the three previously granted patents.
The patent family has developed steadily over several years:
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Parent patent, announced December 2020
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First divisional patent, announced March 2021
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Second divisional patent, announced June 2023
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Fourth patent (current), granted July 2026, expiring January 2036
A layered patent estate creates durable competitive protection around efti and strengthens its commercial value ahead of future development and partnering decisions.
| Patent Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Parent patent | December 2020 |
| First divisional patent | March 2021 |
| Second divisional patent | June 2023 |
| Fourth patent (No. 12,673,088) | July 2026 |
Marc Voigt, CEO of Immutep
“We are very pleased to add this fourth United States patent to our expanding patent portfolio covering eftilagimod alfa in combination with PD-1 pathway inhibitors. This represents a meaningful addition to our intellectual property estate. As we consider next steps for efti, this expanded IP estate supports future development pathways and business development opportunities.”
What eftilagimod alfa is and why the patent matters
Eftilagimod alfa (efti) is a novel immunotherapy that directly activates antigen-presenting cells (APCs), such as dendritic cells and monocytes, via the MHC Class II pathway to fight cancer.
As an MHC Class II agonist, efti’s activation of APCs engages both the adaptive and innate immune systems to initiate a broad anti-cancer immune response. This includes priming and activating cytotoxic T cells, alongside generating co-stimulatory signals and cytokines that further boost the immune system’s ability to combat cancer.
PD-1 pathway inhibitors are a leading class of modern cancer immunotherapies, which makes protecting efti’s use in combination with them commercially strategic.
Efti is under evaluation across a range of solid tumours:
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Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
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Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)
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Soft tissue sarcoma
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Breast cancer
According to the company, efti’s favourable safety profile enables various combinations, including with anti-PD-[L]1 immunotherapy, radiotherapy, and/or chemotherapy. Efti has received Fast Track designation in 1st line HNSCC and in 1st line NSCLC from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
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What this means for Immutep investors
The patent grant connects directly to the investment case. A strengthened patent estate protects a core asset and supports optionality around what management describes as “future development pathways and business development opportunities.”
Immutep is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel immunotherapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases. It is a pioneer in the understanding and advancement of therapeutics related to Lymphocyte Activation Gene-3 (LAG-3), with a diversified product portfolio that harnesses LAG-3’s ability to stimulate or suppress the immune response.
Key takeaways for investors include:
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The fourth US patent extends protection to January 2036.
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It covers efti in combination with anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 inhibitors, a widely used immunotherapy class.
FDA Orphan Drug Designation for soft tissue sarcoma, granted to efti in April 2026, adds seven years of potential market exclusivity upon approval and reinforces a regulatory protection layer that complements the expanding patent estate.
- It reinforces the commercial value of efti ahead of potential partnering and business development discussions.
The announcement contains no financial figures, trial results, or specific business development deals. The grant should be read as a strengthening of Immutep’s intellectual property position around a leading asset, supporting the company’s stated aim of maximising value for shareholders.
For investors exploring the full breadth of Immutep’s pipeline beyond efti, our deep-dive into IMP761 Phase I results covers the safety, tolerability, and pharmacodynamic activity data for the world’s only LAG-3 agonist in clinical development, alongside the Phase II and partnering catalysts expected in H2 CY2026.
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