Second clinical trial deal between Immutep, Merck and Pfizer

Shares of Australian clinical-stage biotech Immutep (ASX: IMM) closed up 4.3% at A$0.36 today, after it announced it has signed a second clinical trial and supply agreement with Germany’s Merck KGaA (MRK: DE) and US pharma giant Pfizer (NYSE: PFE). This is for a new Phase I clinical study in patients with urothelial cancer, called INSIGHT-005.

The INSIGHT-005 trial will be an investigator-initiated explorative, open-label study evaluating the safety and efficacy of Immutep’s lead product candidate, eftilagimod alpha (efti or IMP321), in combination with Merck’s Bavencio (avelumab) - which is co-developed and co-commercialized with Pfizer - in up to 30 patients with metastatic urothelial cancer. The study will take place in Germany.

Immutep says the first patient is expected to be enrolled and dosed in the first half of calendar year 2023, after completing the necessary ethics and regulatory steps.