eftilagimod alfa + avelumab

Eftilagimod alfa + avelumab is an investigational combination immunotherapy consisting of eftilagimod alfa (efti; IMP321), a soluble recombinant LAG-3 fusion protein and antigen-presenting cell (APC) activator, and avelumab (Bavencio), a human anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody. Eftilagimod alfa binds to MHC class II molecules on APCs, promoting their activation and subsequent CD8+ T-cell priming, while avelumab blocks the interaction between PD-L1 and PD-1 to release the brakes on T-cell activity. This combination has been evaluated in the Phase I INSIGHT-004 trial for advanced solid tumors (including colorectal, pleural mesothelioma, squamous anal cell, cervical, and gastroesophageal carcinomas). It was also evaluated in the investigator-initiated Phase I INSIGHT-005 trial for metastatic urothelial cancer, which was discontinued due to recruitment challenges.