03:47 PM EDT, 04/24/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Immutep ( IMMP ) disclosed positive preliminary data Wednesday from a trial of eftilagimod alpha, or efti, in combination with Merck's Keytruda as treatment for head and neck squamous cell cancers.

The combination demonstrated an overall response rate of 26.9% and disease control rate of 57.7% in 26 patients with negative PD-L1 expression, the company said. A total of 33 patients were enrolled in the trial.

"This new data adds to the body of evidence that efti's novel activation of antigen-presenting cells provides a powerful boost to the immune system, which enhances the potential of immune checkpoint inhibitors," it said.

Immutep ( IMMP ) said additional trial data will be released within the first half of this year.

Immutep ( IMMP ) shares were down nearly 2%.

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