Strong early data for ImmuFact IMP321 in breast cancer

Orsay, France-based Immutep SA reported positive interim results from a Phase I/II study of its lead product, ImmuFact IMP321 in patients with metastatic breast cancer, at the 22nd annual meeting of the International Society for Biological Therapy of Cancer, held in Boston, USA.

In the first cohort of eight patients, the trial, which is an open-label dose-escalation evaluation of IMP321 given the day after paclitaxel, showed strong increases in the number of monocytes and CD8+ T cells and associated clinical responses.

The first cohort of eight patients showed that IMP321 0.25mg was very well tolerated with a good efficacy profile, the firm noted, adding that the clinical responses were six tumor regressions and one disease stabilization out of eight patients, to be compared to a 35% response rate with chemotherapy alone. A three-fold increase in activated MHC class II+ monocyte blood counts and a two-fold rise in activated CD8+ circulating T cells were observed two weeks after the last injection in patients.