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ACTIVE NOT RECRUITINGPhase2/Phase3

A Clinical Trial Investigating the Safety, Tolerability, and Therapeutic Effects of BNT113 in Combination With Pembrolizumab Versus Pembrolizumab Alone for Patients With a Form of Head and Neck Cancer Positive for Human Papilloma Virus 16 and Expressing the Protein PD-L1

Sponsor: BioNTech SE

NCT ID: NCT04534205

View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

At a glance

What the study gets you
Access to the study treatment being tested
Type of study
Interventional (receives a drug or procedure)
Time in hospital
In-person visits at study sites — visit count not specified by the sponsor
Drug or intervention
BNT113 (biological), Pembrolizumab (biological)
How long the study runs
Study runs about 91 months (dates as stated)
About the drug or intervention
BNT113 — biological: IV injection · Pembrolizumab — biological: IV infusion
Patient visit burden
Not specified by the sponsor
Type of study
Testing a treatment
Ages
18 Years and over
Who
All
Number of participants
358
Started
2021-01-07
Last checked
2026-09

Plain English Summary

What is this study?

  • • Testing a new treatment for unresectable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
  • • Phase2/Phase3 - 358 participants
  • • An open-label, controlled, multi-site, interventional, 2-arm, Phase II/III trial of BNT113 in combination with pembrolizumab vs pembrolizumab monotherapy as first line treatment in patients with unresectable recurrent or metastatic HPV16+ HNSCC expressing programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) with combined positive score (CPS) ≥1

Who can take part?

  • • Ages 18 Years and over
  • • Diagnosed with unresectable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Where?

  • • Aberdeen - Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
  • • Belfast - Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast City Hospital
  • • Birmingham - University Hospitals Birmingham, Queen Elizabeth Hospital
  • • Cambridge - Addenbrooke's Hospital - Cambridge University Hospitals
  • • +15 more UK sites

This is a simplified summary. Always discuss with your doctor before making any decisions.

About This Trial

An open-label, controlled, multi-site, interventional, 2-arm, Phase II/III trial of BNT113 in combination with pembrolizumab vs pembrolizumab monotherapy as first line treatment in patients with unresectable recurrent or metastatic HPV16+ HNSCC expressing programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) with combined positive score (CPS) ≥1. This trial has two parts. Part A, is an initial non-randomized Safety Run-In Phase to confirm the safety and tolerability at the selected dose range level of BNT113 in combination with pembrolizumab. Part B, is a randomized part to generate pivotal efficacy and safety data of BNT113 in combination with pembrolizumab versus pembrolizumab monotherapy in the first line setting in patients with unresectable recurrent or metastatic HPV16+ HNSCC expressing PD-L1 with CPS ≥1. Patients included in the Safety Run-In Phase of the trial (Part A) will not be randomized to Part B and will continue on-trial treatment (BNT113 plus pembrolizumab) within Part A. For Part B, an optional pre-screening phase is available for all patients where patients' tumor samples may be submitted for central HPV16 DNA and central PD-L1 expression testing prior to screening into the main trial. Patients will be treated with BNT113 in combination with pembrolizumab or with pembrolizumab monotherapy for approximately up to 24 months.

Unresectable Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaMetastatic Head and Neck CancerRecurrent Head and Neck Cancer

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What we know so far

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Preliminary match based on your answers. Full eligibility requires on-site assessment including medical history, physical exam, and lab tests. This does not guarantee enrolment.

Eligibility at a Glance

Key info

  • Age: 18 Years and over
  • Who can join: All genders

Biomarkers mentioned

PD-L1CD137

What the study is looking for

  • ✓Patients must sign the written pre-screening agreement to take part form (ICF) before any pre-screening procedures.
  • ✓Patients who present confirmed by a biopsy recurrent or that has spread HPV16+ HNSCC that is considered incurable by...

Who cannot take part

  • ✗Medical conditions:
  • ✗Patients present primary tumor site of nasopharynx (any histology).
  • ✗Prior/concomitant therapy:
  • ✗Patients who have received or currently receive the following therapy/medication:
  • ✗Prior treatment with live attenuated vaccines within 4 weeks before the first dose of BNT113.
See the full criteria
Key Inclusion Criteria: * Patients must sign the written pre-screening informed consent form (ICF) before any pre-screening procedures. * Patients who present histologically confirmed recurrent or metastatic HPV16+ HNSCC that is considered incurable by local therapies. * Patients who have a tumor that expresses PD-L1 \[CPS ≥1\] as determined by the European Conformity (CE)-marked/Food and Drug Administration-approved CDx PD-L1 immunohistochemistry 22C3 pharmDx performed according to the manufacturer's instructions for use. * Patients must not have had prior systemic anticancer therapy administered in the incurable recurrent or metastatic setting. Systemic therapy which was completed more than 180 days prior to randomization, if given as part of multimodal treatment for locally advanced disease, is allowed. * Patients who have measurable disease based on RECIST 1.1 as determined by the site and confirmed by BICR. Tumor lesions situated in a previously irradiated area may be considered measurable, if progression has been demonstrated in such lesions disease by RECIST 1.1. * All patients must provide a tumor tissue sample (formalin fixed paraffin embedded \[FFPE\] blocks or both slides and curls) from archival tissue. Alternatively, a fresh biopsy sample could be provided if a biopsy sample is performed as part of the patient's standard clinical practice before the first dose of trial treatment. The sample should be preferably derived from a current site of metastatic or recurrent disease. Otherwise, a sample from the primary tumor can be submitted. Key Exclusion Criteria: Medical conditions: * Patients present primary tumor site of nasopharynx (any histology). * Patients with another primary malignancy that has not been in complete remission for at least 2 years, with the exception of those with a negligible risk of metastasis or death (such as adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix, non-invasive basal or non-invasive squamous cell skin cancer, localized prostate cancer, non-invasive superficial bladder cancer or breast ductal carcinoma in situ). Prior/concomitant therapy: * Patients who have received or currently receive the following therapy/medication: 1. Chronic systemic immunosuppressive treatment including corticosteroid treatment (prednisone \>10 mg daily orally \[PO\] or intravenously \[IV\], or equivalent) in the 7 days prior to the first dose of trial treatment. 2. Prior treatment with other immune-modulating agents that was (a) within fewer than 4 weeks (28 days) or five half-lives of the agent (whichever is longer) prior to the first dose of BNT113, or (b) associated with immune-mediated AEs that have not resolved prior to the first dose of BNT113 or that pose an additional risk of on-trial complications, per investigator's assessment, or c) associated with toxicity that resulted in discontinuation of the immune-modulating agent and that poses an additional risk of on-trial complications, per investigator's assessment. 3. Prior treatment with live attenuated vaccines within 4 weeks before the first dose of BNT113. 4. Prior treatment with an investigational drug (including investigational vaccines) within 4 weeks or five half-lives of the agent (whichever is longer) before the planned first dose of BNT113. 5. Ongoing treatment with therapeutic PO or IV antibiotics. Note: Patients receiving prophylactic antibiotics (e.g., for prevention of a urinary tract infection or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) may be enrolled. * Prior treatment with anti-cancer immunomodulating agents, such as blockers of programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1), PD-L1, tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 9 (TNRSF9, 4 1BB, CD137), OX 40, therapeutic vaccines, cytokine treatments, or any investigational agent within 4 weeks or five half-lives of the agent (whichever is longer) before the first dose of BNT113. * Treatment with non-systemic anti-cancer therapy (e.g., radiotherapy or surgery) within 2 weeks prior to randomization. Note: Prior treatment with bone resorptive therapy, such as bisphosphonates (e.g., pamidronate, zoledronic acid) and denosumab, is allowed. NOTE: Other protocol defined Inclusion/Exclusion criteria may apply.

Where Is This Study? (19 UK sites)

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

Aberdeen AB25 2ZN, United Kingdom

Hospital R&D contact (matched)

Colleen Bowthorpe

colleen.bowthorpe@nhs.scot01387 241815

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast City Hospital

Belfast BT9 7AB, United Kingdom

Hospital R&D contact (matched)

Alison Murphy

alison.murphy@belfasttrust.hscni.net028 9063 6366

University Hospitals Birmingham, Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Birmingham B15 2TH, United Kingdom

Hospital R&D contact (matched)

Sarah Pountain Head of Research Governance

R&D@uhb.nhs.uk0121 371 4185

Addenbrooke's Hospital - Cambridge University Hospitals

Cambridge CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom

Hospital R&D contact (matched)

Stephen Kelleher

cuh.research@nhs.net01223 348490

Velindre Cancer Centre

Cardiff CF14 2TL, United Kingdom

Hospital R&D contact (matched)

Sarah Townsend

Velindre.R&Doffice@wales.nhs.uk02920 196165

Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre

Glasgow G12 0YN, United Kingdom

Hospital R&D contact (matched)

Jennifer McLean

jennifer.mclean@health.scot.nhs.uk0131 537 4718

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (St James's University Hospital)

Leeds LS9 7TF, United Kingdom

Hospital R&D contact (matched)

R&I Team

leedsth-tr.researchfacilitation@nhs.net0113 2060469

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre

Liverpool L7 8YA, United Kingdom

Hospital R&D contact (matched)

Dr Maria Maguire

maria.maguire2@nhs.net0151 556 5321

University College London Hospitals

London NW 12 PG, United Kingdom

Hospital R&D contact (matched)

Rajinder Sidhu - Associate Director, Research Governance and Operations

uclh.jro-communications@nhs.net020 3447 9825

Guy's Cancer Centre, Guy's Hospital

London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom

The Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Foundation Trust - Fulham Road

London SW3 6JJ, United Kingdom

Hospital R&D contact (matched)

Mark Brandon-Grove

research.development@rmh.nhs.uk020 3186 5416

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

Manchester M20 4BX, United Kingdom

Hospital R&D contact (matched)

Research and Innovation Office

the-christie.ri@nhs.net---

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

Nottingham NG5 1PB, United Kingdom

Hospital R&D contact (matched)

Alison Lloyd

nuhnt.researchsponsor@nhs.net0115 9249924

Oxford Cancer Centre

Oxford OX3 7LE, United Kingdom

Hospital R&D contact (matched)

Research Support Team

research@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk01865 902401

Royal Preston Hospital Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Preston PR2 9HT, United Kingdom

Hospital R&D contact (matched)

Paul Brown

Research.Access@lthtr.nhs.uk01772 522031

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

Southampton SO16 6YD, United Kingdom

Hospital R&D contact (matched)

Dr Mikayala King

researchmanagement@uhs.nhs.uk023 81208215

Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust

Stevenage SG1 4AB, United Kingdom

Hospital R&D contact (matched)

Rishma Bhatti, Head of Research (Mount Vernon Cancer Centre)

mvccresearch.enh-tr@nhs.net0203 826 2068 / 2069

The Royal Marsden Hospital - Sutton

Sutton SM2 5PT, United Kingdom

Hospital R&D contact (matched)

Mark Brandon-Grove

research.development@rmh.nhs.uk020 3186 5416

Torbay Hospital - South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Torquay TQ2 7AA, United Kingdom

Hospital R&D contact (matched)

Dr Fiona Roberts (R&D Director)

tsdft.research@nhs.net01803 656635
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov · Last verified: 2026-09