eftilagimod alfa + durvalumab

Eftilagimod alfa + durvalumab (Imfinzi) is an investigational combination immunotherapy regimen consisting of eftilagimod alfa (IMP321), a soluble LAG-3 fusion protein and MHC class II agonist developed by Immutep, and durvalumab, an anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody developed by AstraZeneca. Eftilagimod alfa acts as an antigen-presenting cell (APC) activator by binding to MHC class II molecules on dendritic cells and monocytes, which drives their maturation and enhances the priming of tumor-specific CD8+ T cells. Durvalumab blocks the interaction of PD-L1 with PD-1 and CD80, thereby reversing T-cell inactivation and restoring anti-tumor T-cell activity. By combining these two complementary mechanisms—APC activation to prime new T cells and immune checkpoint inhibition to sustain T-cell activity—the regimen aims to synergistically enhance anti-tumor immune responses. While Immutep holds patents covering the combination of eftilagimod alfa with PD-1/PD-L1 pathway inhibitors (including durvalumab), the combination is primarily in preclinical or early intellectual property stages, with clinical development of eftilagimod alfa more heavily focused on combinations with pembrolizumab (Keytruda) or chemotherapy.