Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Oral NRC-2694-A in Combination With Paclitaxel in Patients With Recurrent and/or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Who Progressed on or After Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Trial end date: 2024-04-19
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

This is a Phase 2, open-label, multicenter, single-arm study of NRC-2694-A in combination with paclitaxel in patients with R/M HNSCC with progression on or after ICI therapy.

A total of approximately 46 male and female patients will be enrolled. This sample size is based on Simon's 2-stage design with historical control ORR of 30% and a target ORR of 50%.

• Phase: Phase 2
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: NATCO Pharma Ltd.
• Treatments: Paclitaxel

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Is willing and capable of understanding the written informed consent, provides signed and witnessed written informed consent, and agrees to comply with protocol requirements.

• Is male or female aged 18 years or older at the time of consent.

• Has histologically confirmed unresectable R/M HNSCC (oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx).

• Has documented radiographical progressive disease assessed by the principal investigator per RECIST v1.1.

• Has a measurable lesion per RECIST v1.1.

• Has ECOG performance status score of ≤2.

• Must have progressed during or after receiving ICI therapy, such as pembrolizumab or nivolumab. Patients with prior immune-mediated reactions due to ICI therapies (eg, pembrolizumab or nivolumab) and who had fully recovered prior to study entry will also be eligible.

• Female patients of childbearing potential should have a negative urine test before enrollment. If the urine pregnancy test is positive or gives equivocal results, a serum pregnancy will be required for confirmation.

• Patients of reproductive age must use acceptable methods of contraception throughout the study period and for 30 days following the last dose of investigational product (see protocol for further guidance).

• During screening and at subsequent visits, the investigator should ensure adequate bone marrow reserve (WBC count at least 3000/mm3, neutrophil count ≥1500/mm3, platelet count ≥100,000/mm3, and hemoglobin level 8.0 g/dL), renal function (creatinine clearance ≥60 mL/min calculated by Cockcroft-Gault formula), liver function (total bilirubin level ≤1.5 × ULN [except patients with documented Gilbert's syndrome] and serum transaminase levels ≤2.5 × ULN or ≤5 × ULN for liver metastasis and/or obstructive jaundice).

• Must have completed a duration of at least 4 weeks after stopping ICI therapy and must have recovered from all toxicities due to this therapy.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Has a major illness, including active cardiac, hepatic, endocrine, pulmonary, or autoimmune disease, interstitial lung disease, renal or psychiatric disorders, inadequately controlled with therapy corresponding to the illness.

• Has uncontrolled brain metastases. Patients are allowed if brain metastasis has been previously treated with surgery, whole brain irradiation, and/or stereotactic radiosurgery and are considered controlled (controlled by the dose ≤10 mg/day of prednisone or equivalent) at the time of the first dose of investigational product. Radiological evaluation of brain metastasis will be performed only if the patient has symptoms. For asymptomatic patients, brain imaging during screening is not required.

• Has baseline prolongation of QT/QTc interval (eg, repeated demonstration of a QTc interval >480 milliseconds [CTCAE Grade 1] using Fredericia's QT correction formula).

• Has a history of additional risk factors for Torsade de pointes (eg, heart failure, hypokalemia, family history of long QT syndrome).

• Has had prior cetuximab therapy within 4 weeks prior to Day 1 Cycle 1, except if it was used concomitantly with radiotherapy or as an induction therapy.

• Has received any other EGFR-targeted therapies.

• Currently participating in any clinical trial or receiving investigational therapy on expanded access or compassionate basis.

• Has nasopharyngeal carcinomas or salivary gland cancers.

• Has already received investigational products or any other salvage therapy after failure of pembrolizumab/nivolumab therapy.

• Female patient who tested positive for pregnancy.

• Female patient who is breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant, or male patient planning to father a child within the duration of the study.

• Has tested positive for HIV, HBsAg, HCV antibody, or HCV RNA at screening. However, patients who test positive for HCV antibody, but negative for HCV RNA, will be allowed. In addition, patients with controlled HIV, chronic HBV on suppressive antiviral therapy, or a history of HCV infection status post-curative antiviral treatment with an HCV viral load below limit of quantification are permitted to participate (DHHS 2020).

• Has active infection requiring systemic anti-infective therapy within 7 days prior to Day 1 Cycle 1.

• Has had major surgery within 4 weeks prior to screening.

• Administered a live attenuated vaccine within 4 weeks prior to Day 1 Cycle 1 or anticipation that such a live attenuated vaccine will be required during the study.

• Has known or suspected hypersensitivity to any components of the formulation used for the investigational products.

• Has concurrent disease or any clinically significant abnormality following the investigator's review of the screening physical examination findings, 12-lead ECG results, and clinical laboratory tests, which in the judgment of the investigator would interfere with the patient's participation in this study or evaluation of study results.

• Unable to come for study visits per schedule.

• Has a history of malignancies other than HNSCC.

• Has known current drug or alcohol abuse.

• Has prior exposure to paclitaxel.