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
- Ficlatuzumab (biological), Cetuximab (biological), Placebo (other)
- How long the study runs
- Study runs about 46 months (dates as stated)
- About the drug or intervention
- Ficlatuzumab — biological: Ficlatuzumab (AV-299) is a humanized hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) inhibitory immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody (mAb). · Cetuximab — biological: Cetuximab is an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antagonist. · Placebo — other: Placebo for this study will be normal saline
- Patient visit burden
- Not specified by the sponsor
In plain English
This study tests ficlatuzumab together with cetuximab in adults with head and neck cancer that has come back (recurrent) or spread to other parts of the body (metastatic), and that is not linked to HPV (human papillomavirus). The cancer must have already been treated with immunotherapy and platinum chemotherapy without success. The study is run by AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Who can take part
- Adults aged 18 or over, male or female
- Confirmed diagnosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma that has come back or spread
- If the cancer started in the oropharynx (throat area), a pathology report must show it is p16 negative (a marker linked to HPV)
- At least one tumour that can be measured on a scan (CT or MRI with contrast) that has not been treated with radiotherapy, or has clearly got worse since radiotherapy
- Previous treatment with an immunotherapy (anti-PD-1/PD-L1) and platinum chemotherapy has failed, either because the cancer got worse or because the treatment was not tolerated
- The tumour cannot be removed by surgery and cannot be cured
- Well enough for everyday activity (performance status 0 or 1) with a life expectancy of at least 12 weeks
- Women who can become pregnant need a negative pregnancy test within 30 days of joining, and must use highly effective contraception (as must men with partners who can become pregnant) during the study and for at least 5 months after the last dose
- Able to give written informed consent and follow the study rules
- People with feeding tubes can take part
- A stored tissue sample must be sent for testing within 60 days (a fresh biopsy may be needed if none is available)
Who may not be able to
- More than 2 previous lines of cancer treatment, or previous treatment with cetuximab or similar drugs (EGFR inhibitors) for this cancer
- Severe allergic reactions to the study drug, cetuximab, or similar protein drugs
- Untreated or uncontrolled cancer spread to the brain, or leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (cancer in the lining of the brain and spinal cord) — treated brain metastases are allowed if 2 weeks have passed
- Not enough time elapsed since previous cancer treatments, other experimental drugs, or radiotherapy (times vary from 2 to 4 weeks depending on the treatment)
- Ongoing significant side effects (grade 2 or above) from previous cancer treatment, other than hair loss
- Serious heart problems, such as severe heart failure, heart attack or unstable angina in the last 6 months, or serious abnormal heart rhythms
- Any other medical or mental health condition that the study doctor thinks would interfere with taking part or understanding results
- Another cancer in the last 2 years (with some exceptions, such as treated early skin, breast, cervix, bladder or prostate cancer)
- Hepatitis B or hepatitis C with signs of acute or chronic liver disease
- Evidence of interstitial lung disease or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis on scans
- Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
What taking part involves
- • Taking ficlatuzumab (an experimental drug) together with cetuximab — how they are given is not stated, ask the trial team
- • Having a tissue sample sent for c-Met testing (a fresh biopsy may be needed)
- • Being randomised — details of study groups are not stated, ask the trial team
Time commitment: Not stated — ask the trial team about number of visits, how long the study lasts, and what taking part involves.
Plain-English summary (AI-generated) from registry data. Not eligibility advice — only the trial team can confirm whether you can take part. Use the eligibility checker to see how your health profile matches this trial.
- Type of study
- Testing a treatment
- Ages
- 18 Years and over
- Who
- All
- Number of participants
- 410
- Started
- 2024-01-11
- Last checked
- 2026-04
Plain English Summary
What is this study?
- • Testing a new treatment for metastatic head-and-neck squamous-cell carcinoma
- • Phase3 - 410 participants
- • The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of ficlatuzumab plus cetuximab compared to placebo plus cetuximab in participants with recurrent/metastatic (R/M) HPV-negative Head and Neck Cancer
Who can take part?
- • Ages 18 Years and over
- • Diagnosed with metastatic head-and-neck squamous-cell carcinoma
Where?
- • Aberdeen - NHS Grampian - Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
- • London - The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
- • London - Sarah Cannon Research Institute
- • Nottingham - City Hospital Nottingham
- • +2 more UK sites
This is a simplified summary. Always discuss with your doctor before making any decisions.
About This Trial
The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of ficlatuzumab plus cetuximab compared to placebo plus cetuximab in participants with recurrent/metastatic (R/M) HPV-negative Head and Neck Cancer. The primary hypothesis is that ficlatuzumab combined with cetuximab is superior to cetuximab alone in terms of progression-free survival and/or overall survival.
More detail
This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 study is designed to compare the efficacy and safety of two dose levels of ficlatuzumab combined with cetuximab (Arm 1 or Arm 2) to a control arm of placebo plus cetuximab (Arm 3) in participants with R/M human papilloma virus (HPV)-negative HNSCC. Eligible participants must have failed prior therapy with an anti-PD-1 \[programmed cell death protein 1\] or PD-L1 \[programmed death ligand 1\] immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) and with platinum-based chemotherapy, administered in combination or sequentially. Failure of prior treatment may be due to progression of disease or intolerance to treatment. It is anticipated that the study will enroll approximately 410 participants across 3 arms.
How this trial compares with your answers
Answer 2 more questions to improve match
What we know so far
Still need:
- • Tell us your age for better matching
- • Tell us your sex for better matching
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
Treatment history
Treatments you must have had:
- ✓ to have proof of p16 negative status submitted on the basis of a pathology report
- ✓ an anti-PD-1/PD-L1 ICI
- ✓ to enrollment)
What the study is looking for
- ✓Male or female and ≥ 18 years of age
- ✓Histologically and/or cytologically confirmed primary diagnosis of R/M HNSCC
- ✓Participants with oropharyngeal cancer will be required to have proof of p16 negative status submitted on the basis...
- ✓Patient's tumor must be considered inoperable and incurable
- ✓activity scale (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1 with a life expectancy of at least 12 weeks
Who cannot take part
- ✗Participants who have received \> 2 prior lines of anticancer therapy or prior treatment with cetuximab/alternative...
- ✗History of severe allergic or anaphylactic reactions or hypersensitivity to recombinant proteins or excipients in...
- ✗Prior treatment with any other investigational drug or biologic agent or radiotherapy before a washout has been...
- ✗2 weeks (14 days) or 5 half-lives, whichever is shorter, for chemotherapeutic agents, small molecules, and...
- ✗3 weeks (21 days) or 5 half-lives, whichever is shorter, for antibody-drug conjugates
See the full criteria
Where Is This Study? (6 UK sites)
NHS Grampian - Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Aberdeen AB25 2ZN, United Kingdom
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
London SW3 6JJ, United Kingdom
Sarah Cannon Research Institute
London W1G 6AD, United Kingdom
City Hospital Nottingham
Nottingham NG5 1PB, United Kingdom
The Royal Marden Hospital, Surrey
Sutton SM2 5PT, United Kingdom
Torbay Hospital
Torquay TQ2 7AA, United Kingdom
How to Get in Touch
Clinical Trials Office
Sponsor contactCONTACT
