The last 30 days have been bright for the Immutep Ltd (ASX: IMM) share price.
The biotechnology company's surge followed two announcements regarding its lead product candidate, efti.
At the time of writing, the Immutep share price is 41 cents. That's 24% higher than it was this time last month.
For context, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) has slipped 1.3% in that time. Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) has lifted 1%.
Let's take a closer look at what's been driving the Immutep share price higher lately.
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Immutep outperforms in May
The Immutep share price took off earlier this month when the company released biomarker and exploratory analysis findings from a study involving efti.
The company's Phase IIb AIPAC trial evaluated efti in combination with paclitaxel chemotherapy in patients with HER2-negative or HR positive metastatic breast cancer. The results showed an increase in pharmacodynamic markers, which is linked to improved overall survival.
Immutep's CSO and CMO Dr Frederic Triebel commented on the findings, saying:
The biomarker analysis is highly valuable for two key reasons. Firstly, the statistically significant difference in the immune response between the efti and placebo patients confirms efti is activating the immune system and helping patients live longer … Secondly, the early rise in absolute lymphocyte count in patients treated with efti provides clinicians with a potential predictor of improved survival, helping them to determine early on if continued treatment with efti is potentially beneficial.
The Immutep share price lifted 9% on the back of the release.
The second announcement from the company over the last 30 days dropped on Friday.
Then, Immutep told the market new interim data from Part A of its Phase II TACTI-002 trial had been published.
The news saw the company's stock gain 2.5% and brokers at Wilsons retain their 91 cent price target and overweight rating on Immutep.
Immutep share price snapshot
Sadly, the Immutep share price's strong month's performance hasn't been enough to boost it back into the year-to-date green.
The stock has tumbled 19.6% since the start of 2022. It's also 41.4% lower than it was this time last year.
