LAG-3 antagonists for cancer treatment: an updated patent review (2020–2025)

INTRODUCTION: LAG-3 is a molecule overexpressed on the surface of CD4+ and CD8+ cells in the tumor microenvironment that prevents T-cell activation and production of IL-2 and IFN-γ. AREAS COVERED: Using the patent databases of the State Patent and Trademark Office, the European Patent Office, the World Intellectual Property Organization, the Japanese Patent Office, the State Intellectual Property Office of China, and the Korean Intellectual Property Office, a detailed patent landscape of LAG-3 antagonists was generated, categorizing them as monospecific anti-LAG-3 antibodies, multispecific anti-LAG-3 antibodies, LAG-3 binding peptides, LAG-3 binding small molecules, and LAG-3 therapeutics. EXPERT OPINION: The trend shows that monospecific antibodies against LAG-3 continue to be the main antagonists, followed by multispecific t, treatment methods using known LAG-3 antagonists, LAG-3 binding peptides, and LAG-3 binding small molecules. The monospecific antibodies encelimab, miptenalimab, and the bispecific antibodies tobemstomig, IBI323, ABL501, fanastomig, and FS118 are added, during this period, to the potential drugs targeting LAG-3.