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

Purpose

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.

Conditions

  • Metastatic Head-and-neck Squamous-cell Carcinoma
  • Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Over 18 Years
Eligible Genders
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

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 be p16 negative and have proof of HPV-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 60 days 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/HGF analysis

Exclusion Criteria

  • 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 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) - Female participants who are pregnant or breastfeeding A full list of inclusion and exclusion criteria can be found in the protocol.

Study Design

Phase
Phase 3
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking Description
Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Arm 1 (Investigational Arm: ficlatuzumab plus cetuximab)
Intravenous (IV) ficlatuzumab dose A on Day 1 (D1) and D15 of each 28-day cycle IV cetuximab on D1 and D15 of each 28-day cycle
  • Biological: Ficlatuzumab
    Ficlatuzumab (AV-299) is a humanized hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) inhibitory immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody (mAb).
    Other names:
    • AV-299
  • Biological: Cetuximab
    Cetuximab is an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antagonist.
    Other names:
    • Erbitux
Experimental
Arm 2 (Investigational Arm: ficlatuzumab plus cetuximab)
IV ficlatuzumab dose B on D1 and D15 of each 28-day cycle IV cetuximab on D1 and D15 of each 28-day cycle
  • Biological: Ficlatuzumab
    Ficlatuzumab (AV-299) is a humanized hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) inhibitory immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody (mAb).
    Other names:
    • AV-299
  • Biological: Cetuximab
    Cetuximab is an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antagonist.
    Other names:
    • Erbitux
Placebo Comparator
Arm 3 (Comparator Arm: placebo plus cetuximab)
IV placebo (saline, ficlatuzumab-matched) on D1 and D15 of each 28-day cycle IV cetuximab on D1 and D15 of each 28-day cycle
  • Biological: Cetuximab
    Cetuximab is an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antagonist.
    Other names:
    • Erbitux
  • Other: Placebo
    Placebo for this study will be normal saline

Recruiting Locations

University of Kansas Cancer Center
Westwood, Kansas 66205

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Study Contact

Clinical Trials Office
+1.857.400.0101
clinical@aveooncology.com

Detailed Description

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.