Benzinga | Aug 27, 2021 08:02AM EDT

Immutep Announces Chinese Patent Grant For LAG-3 Antagonist Antibody LAG525

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA -- 27 August 2021 -- Immutep Limited ((ASX: IMM, NASDAQ:IMMP) ("Immutep" or "the Company"), is pleased to announce the grant of patent no. ZL201580013695.X entitled "Antibody molecules to LAG-3 and uses thereof" by the Chinese Patent Office.

This new Chinese patent follows the grant of the corresponding Australian, United States, European, and Japanese patents announced in 2018 through 2020.

In particular, the claims of the patent are directed to LAG525, pharmaceutical compositions comprising LAG525, nucleic acid molecules that code for the LAG525 antibody, an expression vector or host cell that comprises the nucleic acid molecules, and to the use of LAG525 in the manufacture of a preparation for the treatment of cancer or infectious disease.

LAG525 (INN: leramilimab) is a humanised form of Immutep's IMP701 antibody which is out-licensed to Novartis AG.

The patent is co-owned by Novartis AG and Immutep S.A.S. and will expire on 13 March 2035.