Skip to main content
UK clinical trials - updated daily from ClinicalTrials.gov
TrialConnect
← Back to Search
Looking for participantsPhase3

A Study of Ficlatuzumab in Combination With Cetuximab in Participants With Recurrent or Metastatic (R/M) HPV Negative Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Sponsor: AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

NCT ID: NCT06064877

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
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.

Metastatic Head-and-neck Squamous-cell CarcinomaRecurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

How this trial compares with your answers

Answer 2 more questions to improve match

What we know so far

Condition· Matched your search
Age· Tell us your age for better matching
Gender· Tell us your sex for better matching

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

p16 negativePD-L1documentation of negativeMetEGFRare positive

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
Inclusion Criteria: * 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 of a pathology report * At least 1 measurable lesion by contrast CT or MRI scan according to RECIST v.1.1. Such lesions must not have been previously irradiated; if the measurable lesion(s) has been irradiated, clear progression must be documented * Participants must have failed prior therapy with an anti-PD-1/PD-L1 ICI and with platinum-based chemotherapy administered in combination or sequentially, in either the locally advanced or R/M setting. Failure of prior treatment may be due to progression of disease or intolerance to treatment * Patient's tumor must be considered inoperable and incurable * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1 with a life expectancy of at least 12 weeks * For women of childbearing potential (WOCBP), documentation of negative serum pregnancy test within 30 days of randomization * For WOCBP and male participants whose sexual partners are of childbearing potential, agreement to use an effective method of contraception during the study and for at least 5 months after the last dose of study treatment. Birth control methods which may be considered highly effective include methods that achieve a failure rate of less than 1% per year when used consistently and correctly. * Ability to give written informed consent and comply with protocol requirements * Patients with feeding tubes are eligible for the study. * Archived tissue sample must be submitted to the Sponsor-designated laboratory within 60 days of randomization for c-Met analysis (if a tissue sample is not available, a fresh biopsy may be required prior to enrollment) Exclusion Criteria: * Participants who have received \> 2 prior lines of anticancer therapy or prior treatment with cetuximab/alternative EGFR inhibitors for the treatment of R/M HNSCC * History of severe allergic or anaphylactic reactions or hypersensitivity to recombinant proteins or excipients in the investigational agent or cetuximab * Known or suspected untreated and uncontrolled brain metastases or leptomeningeal carcinomatosis Note: Participants with locally treated brain metastases are eligible provided 2 weeks have elapsed since local therapy. Participants are allowed to continue steroid taper during the start of study treatment. * Prior treatment with any other investigational drug or biologic agent or radiation therapy before a washout has been completed (must be completed prior to randomization): 1. 2 weeks (14 days) or 5 half-lives, whichever is shorter, for chemotherapeutic agents, small molecules, and checkpoint inhibitors 2. 3 weeks (21 days) or 5 half-lives, whichever is shorter, for antibody-drug conjugates 3. 4 weeks (28 days) for cell therapies 4. 2 weeks (14 days) for radiation therapy * Any unresolved and significant toxicity (National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events \[NCI-CTCAE\] version 5.0) Grade 2 or greater from previous anticancer therapy (including radiation therapy), other than alopecia * Significant cardiovascular disease, including: Cardiac failure New York Heart Association class III or IV; Myocardial infarction, severe or unstable angina within 6 months prior to randomization; History of serious ventricular arrhythmia (i.e., ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation) * Any other medical condition or psychiatric condition that, in the opinion of the Investigator, might interfere with the participant's involvement in the study or interfere with the interpretation of study results * History of prior malignancy within 2 years prior to randomization (except for adequately treated non-melanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the breast or cervix, superficial bladder cancer, or early-stage prostate cancer, without evidence of recurrence; participants may or may not be on maintenance therapy) * Participants who are positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) with indication of acute or chronic hepatitis (as defined in protocol) * Radiographic evidence (historical or at screening) of interstitial lung disease or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis * Female participants who are pregnant or breastfeeding A full list of inclusion and exclusion criteria can be found in the protocol.

Where Is This Study? (6 UK sites)

NHS Grampian - Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

Aberdeen AB25 2ZN, United Kingdom

Recruiting
Hospital R&D contact (matched)

Fiona Brebner

gram.randd@nhs.scot01224 551121

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust

London SW3 6JJ, United Kingdom

Recruiting
Hospital R&D contact (matched)

Mark Brandon-Grove

research.development@rmh.nhs.uk020 3186 5416

Sarah Cannon Research Institute

London W1G 6AD, United Kingdom

Recruiting

City Hospital Nottingham

Nottingham NG5 1PB, United Kingdom

Recruiting
Hospital R&D contact (matched)

Alison Lloyd

nuhnt.researchsponsor@nhs.net0115 9249924

The Royal Marden Hospital, Surrey

Sutton SM2 5PT, United Kingdom

Recruiting
Hospital R&D contact (matched)

Stephen Barnett

rsc-tr.ResearchAndDevelopment@nhs.net01483 688600

Torbay Hospital

Torquay TQ2 7AA, United Kingdom

WITHDRAWN
Hospital R&D contact (matched)

Dr Fiona Roberts (R&D Director)

tsdft.research@nhs.net01803 656635

How to Get in Touch

Clinical Trials Office

Sponsor contact

CONTACT

+1.857.400.0101 clinical@aveooncology.com
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov · Last verified: 2026-04