Immutep disclosed that an independent data monitoring committee recommended stopping its Phase III TACTI-004 trial of eftilagimod alfa (efti) in first-line non-small-cell lung cancer for futility, prompting an immediate and severe market reaction. The company announced the decision after an interim analysis showed the study was unlikely to meet its primary endpoints; trading in Immutep shares plunged on the news. Company leadership said it will conduct a comprehensive review of the available data to understand the negative readout and next steps for the program. The Phase III was the most advanced test of efti in NSCLC and followed earlier signals of activity in other tumor types, making the outcome a notable reversal for the LAG‑3–targeted approach. Investors and analysts are reassessing programs that banked on efti’s success, and biotech market watchers flagged potential downstream impacts on partnership discussions and fundraising for small immunotherapy developers. The company stressed it remains focused on data analysis before deciding on further development or strategic options.