Eftilagimod alpha

Eftilagimod alpha (INN; development code IMP321 or efti) is a large-molecule cancer drug being developed by the clinical-stage biotechnology company Immutep. Efti is a soluble version of the immune checkpoint molecule LAG-3. It is an APC Activator used to increase an immune response to tumors, and is administered by subcutaneous injection. Efti has three intended clinical settings:

• as adjuvant to cancer vaccines (in a low, effective dose of ~250 μg)
• as first-line 'chemo-immunotherapy,' that is, combined with standard chemotherapy (e.g. paclitaxel)
• in combination immunotherapy with PD-1 treatments (e.g. pembrolizumab)

Eftilagimod alpha is in Phase II clinical testing. Currently, the main indications for the drug are metastatic breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).