Immutep Further Expands United States Patent Estate for Efti-Based Combination Therapies

The grant brings this patent family to five US patents, with the newest protection extending to March 2038.

Rhea-AI Summary

Immutep (NASDAQ: IMMP) has received a new United States patent covering combinations of eftilagimod alfa, or efti, with PD-1 pathway inhibitors.

Patent 12,788,796, granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, brings the company's holdings in this patent family to five US patents. Its claims cover combined preparations and pharmaceutical compositions containing efti with BMS-936559, durvalumab, atezolizumab or avelumab. The patent expires on 23 March 2038, including 806 days of patent term adjustment. Immutep has also filed a continuation application to pursue additional embodiments of the invention.

Positive

• Minor pointUS patent 12,788,796 adds protection for efti combinations, bringing the family to five US patents.
• Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.Patent protection expires 23 March 2038, including 806 days of patent term adjustment.

Negative

• None.

Key Figures

U.S. patents in family: 5 patents Patent expiry: March 23, 2038

U.S. patents in family

5 patents

After the latest grant

Patent expiry

March 23, 2038

Includes 806 days of patent term adjustment

Key Terms

pd-1 pathway inhibitor, patent term adjustment, continuation application, mhc class ii agonist

4 terms

pd-1 pathway inhibitor medical

"comprising eftilagimod alfa (“efti”) and a PD-1 pathway inhibitor."

A PD-1 pathway inhibitor is a type of drug, usually a monoclonal antibody, that blocks the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) receptor or its ligands (such as PD-L1) on immune cells. By preventing PD-1 signaling, these drugs lift a checkpoint that normally dampens T‑cell activity, thereby increasing the immune system’s ability to recognize and attack cancer cells; the class can also cause immune‑related inflammation in normal tissues as a predictable consequence of that mechanism.

patent term adjustment regulatory

"23 March 2038 (including 806 days of patent term adjustment)."

Patent term adjustment is extra time added to a patent’s normally fixed expiration to compensate for delays caused by the patent office during examination. For investors, it changes how long a company can legally exclude competitors and earn monopoly-style profits from a product, much like extending a store’s exclusive sales license when regulators hold up approval. Longer adjustments can increase projected cash flow and valuation for patent-dependent businesses.

continuation application regulatory

"filed a continuation application to pursue additional embodiments"

A continuation application is a follow-up patent filing that keeps the original filing date and uses the same technical description as an earlier (parent) patent application while seeking different or additional patent claims. For investors it matters because continuations can extend or broaden the legal protection around an invention—like adding new rooms to a house without changing the foundation—affecting a company’s competitive position, licensing potential, and the value of its intellectual property portfolio.

mhc class ii agonist medical

"proprietary soluble LAG-3 protein and MHC Class II agonist"

A MHC class II agonist is a molecule that binds to and stimulates major histocompatibility complex class II proteins, which present pieces of foreign or internal proteins to helper T cells in the immune system. Think of it as a tool that boosts the ‘display and call-to-action’ function on immune cells so helper T cells recognize and respond to targets; for investors, it signals a specific immune-modulating mechanism relevant to vaccines and certain immunotherapies, with implications for effectiveness and safety.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

See more from StockTitan in Google Search and AI answers. Adds StockTitan as a preferred source · opens Google

Add on Google Not now

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, Nov. 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Immutep Limited (ASX: IMM; NASDAQ: IMMP) (“Immutep” or “the Company”), a biotechnology company developing novel immunotherapies, today 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.”

About Eftilagimod Alfa (Efti)
Eftilagimod alfa (efti) is Immutep’s proprietary soluble LAG-3 protein and MHC Class II agonist that activates antigen-presenting cells through the MHC Class II pathway, engaging both innate and adaptive immunity, including the priming of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and the production of co-stimulatory signals and cytokines. Its favourable safety profile enables combination with anti-PD-(L)1 therapy, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Efti has received Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in first-line head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and first-line non-small cell lung cancer, and Orphan Drug Designation in soft tissue sarcoma.

About Immutep
Immutep is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel immunotherapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases. The Company is a pioneer in the understanding and advancement of therapeutics related to Lymphocyte Activation Gene-3 (LAG-3), and its diversified product portfolio harnesses LAG-3’s ability to stimulate or suppress the immune response. Immutep is dedicated to leveraging its expertise to bring innovative treatment options to patients in need and to maximise value for shareholders. For more information, please visit www.immutep.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding anticipated clinical development, regulatory progress and potential benefits of eftilagimod alfa. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include risks associated with clinical trial outcomes, regulatory developments, and the Company’s ability to advance its product candidates.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Immutep undertakes no obligation to update or revise such statements, except as required by applicable law.

Disclaimer
This announcement has been prepared for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in any jurisdiction.

Australian Investors/Media:
Eleanor Pearson, Sodali & Co.
+61 2 9066 4071; eleanor.pearson@sodali.com

U.S. Investors/Media:
Matthew Beck, astr partners
+1 (917) 415 1750; matthew.beck@astrpartners.com

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What does Immutep's new US patent cover?

Patent 12,788,796 covers combined preparations and pharmaceutical compositions containing efti and a PD-1 pathway inhibitor. Its claims encompass combinations with BMS-936559, durvalumab, atezolizumab and avelumab.

When does Immutep's new efti combination patent expire?

The patent expires on 23 March 2038. That expiry date includes 806 days of patent term adjustment.