On February 1, 2018 Immutep Limited (ASX: IMM; NASDAQ: IMMP) reported that it has received a milestone payment from the Company’s Chinese partner for eftilagimod alpha (IMP321), EOC Pharma, an oncology focused affiliate of Eddingpharm (Press release, Immutep, FEB 1, 2018, View Source [SID1234523710]).
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The milestone payment of US$1 million relates to the clinical development of eftilagimod alpha in China and follows the granting of EOC Pharma’s Investigational New Drug (IND) application in China, as outlined in Immutep’s December 12, 2017 Operational Update.
Immutep CEO, Marc Voigt, commented, "We are very pleased with the recent progress EOC Pharma has made in China. Given the recent regulatory reform, we are optimistic about eftilagimod’s navigation of the Chinese Food and Drug Administration’s regulatory pathway and its clinical development. We look forward to supporting our partner EOC Pharma."
EOC’s CEO Xiaoming Zou, added, "We have been encouraged by the CFDA approval of the IND. Eftilagimod alpha showed impressive activity in a European Phase 1 clinical trial as well as in the safety run in phase of AIPAC in metastatic breast cancer, and we are confident Chinese patients will experience similar clinical benefit. We also look forward to entering a new phase of collaboration with our partner Immutep."
In May 2013, Immutep and Eddingpharm entered into a licensing agreement whereby Immutep granted Eddingpharm exclusive development rights for eftilagimod in China, including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. In January 2015, the license was transferred from Eddingpharm to EOC Pharma upon the consent of Immutep. In exchange for these rights, EOC Pharma agreed to pay for the manufacturing of certain drug supply for Immutep and will be required to make milestone payments to Immutep if eftilagimod achieves specified development milestones. EOC Pharma will also pay Immutep a royalty on net sales of eftilagimod in China, if approved.