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RecruitingInterventionalPhase 2/Phase 3

A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Phase 2/3 Study of Ficerafusp Alfa (BCA101) or Placebo in Combination With Pembrolizumab for First-Line Treatment of PD-L1-positive, Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

NCT ID: NCT06788990Sponsor: Bicara TherapeuticsLast updated: 2026-06-02

Summary

Ficerafusp alfa is directed against two targets, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) and Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGF-β). This study intends to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ficerafusp alfa in combination with pembrolizumab versus placebo with pembrolizumab in 1L PD-L1-positive, recurrent or metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC).

Detailed description

The mechanism of action of ficerafusp alfa involves dual targeting of two cancer targets, EGFR and TGF-β, which are known to drive solid tumor growth and metastasis. Phase 2 of the study will identify an optimal biologic dose (OBD) supported by the safety, tolerability, PK, PD, and efficacy data of ficerafusp alfa. In this part, eligible subjects will be randomized to one of three treatment arms at a 1:1:1 ratio: * Arm A: ficerafusp alfa 1500 mg once weekly (QW) + pembrolizumab 200 mg every three weeks (Q3W). * Arm B: ficerafusp alfa 750 mg QW + pembrolizumab 200 mg Q3W. * Arm C (control): placebo QW + pembrolizumab 200 mg Q3W. The primary objective for the phase 3 portion is to compare the efficacy in subjects treated with ficerafusp alfa at the selected OBD in combination with pembrolizumab versus placebo with pembrolizumab. Eligible subjects will be randomized 2:1 in the treatment versus control arm during the phase 3 portion.

Arms & interventions

  • DrugFicerafusp alfa

    Investigational

  • DrugPembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®)

    Immunotherapy agent used in combination with investigational agent

  • DrugPlacebo

    Placebo Control

Outcome measures

Primary

  • Phase 2 - Incidence and severity of TEAEs, treatment-treatment emergent SAEs TEAEs leading to dose interruption, dose reduction, or permanent discontinuation.

    To assess safety and tolerability of ficerafusp alfa with pembrolizumab.

    Time frame: Up to 30 days post end of treatment for TEAEs (90 days for SAEs).

  • Phase 2 - Objective Response Rate (ORR) per RECIST 1.1 by blinded independent central review (BICR)

    ORR is defined as the proportion of subjects in the DDS who have a confirmed CR or PR per RECIST 1.1. by BICR.

    Time frame: Approximately 1 year.

  • Phase 3 - Objective Response Rate (ORR) per RECIST 1.1 by BICR.

    ORR is defined as the proportion of subjects in the DDS who have a confirmed CR or PR per RECIST 1.1. by BICR.

    Time frame: Approximately 2 years.

  • Phase 3 - Overall Survival (OS)

    OS: Defined as the time from the randomization to death due to any cause.

    Time frame: Approximately 3 years.

Secondary

  • Phase 2 - Duration of Response (DOR) per RECIST 1.1 by BICR.

    Time frame: Approximately 1 year.

  • Phase 3 - Incidence and severity of TEAEs, treatment-treatment emergent SAEs TEAEs leading to dose interruption, dose reduction, or permanent discontinuation.

    Time frame: Up to 30 days post end of treatment for TEAEs (90 days for SAEs).

  • Phase 3 - Progression-free survival (PFS) per RECIST 1.1 by BICR.

    Time frame: Approximately 3 years.

  • Phase 3 - Objective Response Rate (ORR) per RECIST 1.1 by BICR.

    Time frame: Approximately 3 years.

  • Phase 3 - Duration of Response (DOR) per RECIST 1.1 by BICR.

    Time frame: Approximately 3 years.

  • Phase 3 - Clinical Benefit Rate (CBR) per RECIST 1.1 by BICR.

    Time frame: Approximately 3 years.

  • Phase 3 - ORR, per RECIST 1.1 by investigator's assessment.

    Time frame: Approximately 3 years.

  • Phase 3 - DOR, per RECIST 1.1 by investigator's assessment.

    Time frame: Approximately 3 years.

  • Phase 3 - PFS, per RECIST 1.1 by investigator's assessment.

    Time frame: Approximately 3 years.

  • Phase 3 - 14. Time to deterioration (TTD) in global health status measured by the EORTC QLQ C30 items for global health status and quality of life scale (item 29/30)

    Time frame: Approximately 3 years.

  • Phase 3 - Time to deterioration (TTD) in pain measured by the EORTC HN 35 (items 31-34) pain domain.

    Time frame: Approximately 3 years.

Eligibility criteria

Sex: AllAge: 18 Years and olderHealthy volunteers: No
Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥18 years on the day the Informed Consent Form is signed. * Histologically or cytologically confirmed R or M HNSCC. Eligible primary tumor locations are oral cavity, hypopharynx, larynx or oropharynx (with documented HPV-negative disease if presenting with OPSCC). Note: primary tumor location of paranasal sinuses and nasopharynx, any histology are excluded. * No prior systemic therapy administered in the R or M setting; and completed systemic therapy \>6 months prior if given as part of multimodal treatment for locoregionally advanced disease in the adjuvant or definitive setting. * Archival tumor tissue or willing to undergo pretreatment biopsy at Screening if archival tissue is insufficient or unavailable. * PD-L1 CPS ≥1. * Measurable disease based on RECIST 1.1. * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1. * Adequate organ function, as defined in the protocol. Exclusion Criteria: * Disease suitable for local therapy administered with curative intent. * Prior treatment with anti-TGFβ therapy. * Prior therapy with an anti-EGFR antibody (exception: radio sensitizing agents and multimodal treatment for locoregionally advanced disease). * Prior history of Grade ≥2 intolerance or hypersensitivity reaction to anti-EGFR therapy or other murine proteins. * Prior therapy with an immune checkpoint inhibitor completed within 6 months prior to study treatment initiation. * Progressive disease \<6 months from completion of curative intent systemic therapy for locoregionally advanced HNSCC. * Life expectancy less than 3 months. * Known active central nervous system metastases, history of spinal cord compression from tumor involvement, a history of carcinomatous meningitis, or leptomeningeal disease are excluded. * Current active major bleeding, or a recent major bleeding episode within 4 weeks prior to enrollment. * Subject participated in another clinical study or received treatment with another investigational drug must wait at least 5 half-lives of the treatment received or 4 weeks (whichever is shorter) following prior therapy. * Active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment in the past 2 years. * Subjects with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection with active disease who meet the criteria for anti-HBV therapy and are not on a suppressive antiviral therapy prior to initiation of study treatment. * Subjects with a known history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) who have not completed curative antiviral treatment or have an HCV viral load above the limit of quantification at Screening. * Known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). * Receipt of any organ transplantation, including autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation, with the exception of transplants that do not require immunosuppression. * Known to be diagnosed and/or treated for any other additional malignancy within 2 years prior to randomization with the exception of the following: curatively treated basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, and curatively resected in situ cervical cancer, and curatively resected in situ breast cancer, and low-risk early stage prostate cancer. * Any condition requiring systemic treatment with either corticosteroids (\>10 mg daily of prednisone or equivalent) or other immunosuppressive medication within 7 days prior to the first dose of study treatment, except for topical, intranasal, intrabronchial, or ocular steroids. * Use of a live or live attenuated vaccine within 4 weeks prior to Screening. Other Inclusion/Exclusion criteria may apply as defined in the protocol.

Study locations (53)

Site # 0137

Birmingham, Alabama, 35233

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Site #0147

Phoenix, Arizona, 85054

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Site #0107

La Jolla, California, 92093

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Site #0106

Los Angeles, California, 90095

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Site#0144

Sacramento, California, 95817

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Site #0130

San Francisco, California, 94143

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Site #0150

Stanford, California, 94305

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Site #0122

Aurora, Colorado, 80012

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Site #0124

Aurora, Colorado, 80045

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Site#0121

Aurora, Colorado, 80045

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Site#0127

Newark, Delaware, 19713

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Site #0148

Jacksonville, Florida, 32224

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Site #0136

Palm Bay, Florida, 32901

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Site #0105

Tampa, Florida, 33612

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Site #0133

Chicago, Illinois, 60064

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Site#0140

Iowa City, Iowa, 52242

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Site #0149

Westwood, Kansas, 66205

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Site#0109

Lexington, Kentucky, 40536

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Site#0111

Louisville, Kentucky, 40202

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Site#0115

Louisville, Kentucky, 40202

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Site #0112

Baltimore, Maryland, 21201

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Site #0131

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114

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Site#0101

Boston, Massachusetts, 02136

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Site #0156

Maplewood, Minnesota, 55109

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Site #0146

Rochester, Minnesota, 55905

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Site #0114

St Louis, Missouri, 63110

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Site #0119

Hackensack, New Jersey, 07601

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Site #0145

Newark, New Jersey, 07103

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Site #0155

New York, New York, 10003

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Site#0142

New York, New York, 10021

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Site#0118

Durham, North Carolina, 27703

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Site#0154

Canton, Ohio, 44708

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Site#0117

Cincinnati, Ohio, 45221

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Site #0151

Cleveland, Ohio, 44106

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Site #0108

Cleveland, Ohio, 44195

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Site #0113

Portland, Oregon, 97213

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Site #0103

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15206

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Site #0123

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15240

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Site #0132

Providence, Rhode Island, 02903

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Site#0104

Charleston, South Carolina, 29425

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Site#0126

Nashville, Tennessee, 37203

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Site #0116

Nashville, Tennessee, 37232

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Site#0102

Houston, Texas, 77005

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Site #0152

Waco, Texas, 676712

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Site#0134

Charlottesville, Virginia, 22904

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Site #0129

Richmond, Virginia, 23219

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Site #0138

Richmond, Virginia, 23249

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Site # 0160

Edmonds, Washington, 98026

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Site # 0159

Seattle, Washington, 98104

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Site #0125

Seattle, Washington, 98109

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Site#0120

Vancouver, Washington, 98684

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Site #0141

Madison, Wisconsin, 53705

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Site #0157

Madison, Wisconsin, 53792

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