A Study of ASP-1929 Photoimmunotherapy in Combination With Pembrolizumab in First-line Treatment of Locoregional Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck With No Distant Metastases

Phase 3RecruitingNCT06699212

Rakuten Medical, Inc.412 enrolled

Overview

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if ASP-1929 photoimmunotherapy (PIT) in combination with pembrolizumab works to treat recurrent squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (HNSCC) with no distant metastases. It will also learn about the safety of ASP-1929 PIT in combination with pembrolizumab. Researchers will compare ASP-1929 PIT in combination with pembrolizumab to pembrolizumab alone or pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy (carboplatin or cisplatin, plus 5-fluorouracil or paclitaxel or docetaxel) according to physician's choice (control arm). The overall primary study hypothesis being tested is whether ASP-1929 PIT plus pembrolizumab combination treatment improves the overall survival (OS) of the population defined by the inclusion/exclusion criteria over the control arm.

This is a phase 3 multicenter, randomized study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ASP-1929 photoimmunotherapy (PIT) in combination with pembrolizumab versus pembrolizumab-based standard of care (SOC) as first-line treatment of locoregional recurrent HNSCC in patients with no distant metastases. Patients will be enrolled into the study starting with 3 treatment arms, ASP-1929 PIT at doses of 320 mg/m\^2 or 640 mg/m\^2 in combination with pembrolizumab treatment arms or a SOC treatment arm in which patients may receive pembrolizumab alone or pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy according to physician's choice. Treatment assignment within the SOC treatment arm will be based on the decision of the site investigator. To ensure that the SOC treatment arm is appropriately balanced, a 50% enrollment cap will be imposed on pembrolizumab monotherapy and pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy, so that approximately the same number of patients will have been treated within each category. At the start of the study all patients will be randomized 2:2:1 ratio to ASP-1929 PIT 320 mg/m\^2 plus pembrolizumab versus ASP-1929 PIT 640 mg/m\^2 plus pembrolizumab versus SOC (pembrolizumab alone or pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy according to physician's choice). An interim analysis (IA) will be conducted for this study as part of the dose optimization process. Patient enrollment will continue during the period of preparation and conduct of this IA. Based on the findings from the first interim analysis (IA1), the Sponsor will have the option to close one of the two ASP-1929 PIT treatment arms for enrollment. The final decision on the optimized ASP-1929 PIT dose for this study will be made in agreement with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Interventions

ASP-1929 PhotoimmunotherapyCOMBINATION_PRODUCT

ASP-1929 IV infusion followed by illumination with light dose of 50 J/cm\^2 for superficial lesions and 100 J/cm for interstitial lesions within 24 +/- 4 hours after the end of ASP-1929 infusion (up to 24 months)

PembrolizumabBIOLOGICAL

200 mg Q3W or 400 mg Q6W, IV infusion over 30 minutes (up to 24 months)

CarboplatinDRUG

Area under the curve (AUC) 5 mg/mL/min IV infusion, Q3W up to 6 cycles

CisplatinDRUG

100 mg/m\^2 IV infusion, Q3W up to 6 cycles

5-fluorouracilDRUG

1000 mg/m\^2 per day from Days 1-4 of each cycle, IV infusion, Q3W up to 6 cycles

PaclitaxelDRUG

100 mg/m\^2 IV infusion given on Days 1 and 8, Q3W up to 6 cycles or 175 mg/m\^2 IV infusion given on Day 1, Q3W up to 6 cycles

DocetaxelDRUG

75 mg/m\^2 IV Infusion, Q3W up to 6 cycles

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Histological or cytological evidence of squamous cell carcinoma of a head and neck primary site (per American Joint Committee on Cancer \[AJCC\], other than nasopharynx or cuSCC). * Appropriate for SOC first-line treatment of their recurrent head and neck cancer with pembrolizumab ± chemotherapy. * No known history of any distant metastatic disease (M1 by AJCC eighth edition). * Tumors with at least one PIT-accessible and RECIST 1.1 measurable lesion as assessed by investigator. * Anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1-treatment naïve. * Combined positive score (CPS) ≥ 1 as determined locally by an FDA-approved test * Have results from testing of human papillomavirus (HPV) status for oropharyngeal cancer * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1 at the time of screening * Adequate hematologic, renal, and hepatic organ function * Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must have a negative pregnancy test at screening and must be willing to use a highly effective birth control while on study or be surgically sterile or abstain from heterosexual sexual activity for the course of the study through 180 days after the last dose of study treatment. Male patients must agree to use a highly effective method of contraception starting with the first dose of study medication through 120 days after the last dose of study treatment. Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosed and/or treated for additional malignancy within 2 years before randomization except for those with a negligible risk of metastasis or death (such as adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix, basal cell skin cancer, localized prostate cancer, or ductal carcinoma in situ). Patients with a history of other prior cancer treated with complete surgical resection and with no evidence of disease may be eligible based on discussion with the Medical Monitor. * History of significant (Grade ≥ 3) cetuximab infusion reactions * Prior allogeneic tissue/solid organ transplant * Known or active central nervous system metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis * Life expectancy of less than 3 months * Active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in past 2 years (i.e., with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids, or immunosuppressive drugs); replacement therapy (e.g., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency) is not considered a form of systemic treatment. * Evidence of interstitial lung disease or current active, noninfectious pneumonitis * Active infection requiring systemic therapies such as antibiotic, antifungal, or antiviral intervention * Known or active bacterial, viral, or fungal infection including tuberculosis, Hepatitis B (e.g., HBV DNA is detected), or Hepatitis C (e.g., RNA \[qualitative\] is detected) * Known history of testing positive for human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related illness * Prior or ongoing Grade ≥ 3 tumor hemorrhage within 12 weeks of randomization * Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements * Prior systemic chemotherapy or targeted small molecule therapy or radiation therapy within 2 weeks of C1D1 or has not recovered (i.e., Grade ≤ 1 or at baseline) from adverse events (AEs) due to previously administered agent * Prior anticancer monoclonal antibody therapy or investigational agent or intervention within 4 weeks of C1D1 or has not recovered (i.e., Grade ≤ 1 or at baseline) from AEs due to previously administered agent * Prior receipt of ASP-1929 at any time * Receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy (in doses exceeding 10 mg per day of prednisone equivalent) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 14 days prior to randomization * Received a live vaccine within 4 weeks of randomization; seasonal influenza vaccines for injection are generally inactivated flu vaccines and are allowed; however intranasal influenza vaccines (e.g., Flu-Mist®) are live attenuated vaccines, and are not allowed * Requiring future examinations or treatments within 4 weeks after an ASP-1929 PIT treatment exposing the patient to significant light (e.g., eye examinations, surgical procedures, endoscopy) that is unrelated to the ASP-1929 PIT treatment * Major surgery or significant traumatic injury within 4 weeks before randomization, or anticipation of the need for major surgery during the course of study treatment

Locations (22)

City of Hope

Duarte, California, United States

RECRUITING

University of Miami

Miami, Florida, United States

RECRUITING

Tampa General Hospital

Tampa, Florida, United States

RECRUITING

University of Kentucky Medical Center

Lexington, Kentucky, United States

WITHDRAWN

Thomas Jefferson University, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

RECRUITING

Rhode Island Hospital

Providence, Rhode Island, United States

RECRUITING

Avera Cancer Institute

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States

RECRUITING

University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center

Houston, Texas, United States

RECRUITING

Aichi Cancer Center

Aichi, Japan

RECRUITING

Hiroshima University Hospital

Hiroshima, Japan

RECRUITING

...and 12 more locations

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Overall survival (OS)

OS is defined as the time from randomization until death due to any cause.

Time frame: Up to approximately 48 months

Secondary Outcomes

Complete response rate (CRR) per modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as assessed by central reviewer

CRR is defined as the proportion of patients with best overall response of confirmed CR

Time frame: Up to approximately 48 months

Overall response rate (ORR) per modified RECIST 1.1 as assessed by central reviewer

ORR is defined as the proportion of patients with best overall response of confirmed CR or confirmed partial response (PR)

Time frame: Up to approximately 48 months

Progression-free survival (PFS) per modified RECIST 1.1 as assessed by central reviewer

PFS is defined as the time from randomization to the first documented tumor progression or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first.

Time frame: Up to approximately 48 months

OS rates at 12, 18, and 24 months

OS rates at 12, 18, and 24 months are defined as the proportions of patients who are alive at these time points

Time frame: 12, 18, and 24 months

Duration of Response (DOR) per modified RECIST 1.1 as assessed by central reviewer

DOR is defined as the time from first response (CR or PR) that is subsequently confirmed to the time of disease progression or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first

Time frame: Up to approximately 48 months

Duration of CR per modified RECIST 1.1 as assessed by central reviewer

Duration of CR is defined as the time from first response (CR) that is subsequently confirmed to the time of disease progression or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first

Time frame: Up to approximately 48 months

Time to response (TTR)

TTR is defined as the time from randomization to the first confirmed response (CR or PR)

Time frame: Up to approximately 25 months

CRR from randomization to End of Treatment as assessed by the central reviewer

CRR (confirmed response) from randomization to end of treatment is defined as the proportion of patients with the best overall response of CR, where the CR occurs anytime during the study treatment period (e.g., CR after Progressive Disease \[PD\] will be counted).

Time frame: Up to approximately 25 months

Proportion of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0

TEAEs refer to any AEs that begin or worsen on or after the start of any study treatment through 30 days after the last dose of study treatment and any additional immune-related adverse events (irAEs) that begin between 30 days and 90 days after the last dose of anti-PD1 treatment. In addition, any serious AE with an onset date more than 30 days after the last dose of study treatment assessed by the investigator as related to study treatment will be considered a TEAE.

Time frame: Up to approximately 48 months

Proportion of treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) by CTCAE v5.0

Any TEAE (defined in Outcome 10) for which there is a reasonable possibility that the investigational treatment caused the adverse event.

Time frame: Up to approximately 48 months

Proportion of serious adverse events (SAEs) by CTCAE v5.0

An AE or suspected adverse reaction is considered 'serious' if, in the view of either the Investigator or Sponsor, it meets one or more of the following criteria (21 CFR 312.32 (a)): Results in death, Is life-threatening, Requires inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization, Results in persistent or significant disability/incapacity, or Is a congenital anomaly/birth defect or Important medical event.

Time frame: Up to approximately 48 months

Quality of Life assessment: EORTC Core Quality of Life Questionnaire- Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30)

EORTC-QLQ-C30 is a 30-item questionnaire developed to assess the quality of life of cancer patients. Each scale or item score is standardized to a range of 0 to 100. Higher scores on the functional scales reflect better functioning, whereas higher scores on the symptom scales indicate more severe symptoms or greater levels of distress. Similarly, higher scores on the global health status scale denote better overall health and quality of life. Thus, an optimal quality of life profile is characterized by high scores on the functional and global health status scales, combined with low scores on the symptom scales. The summed scores of Functional scales, Symptom scales, and Global health status domains of EORTC-QLQ-C30 are compared between treatment arms.

Time frame: Up to approximately 28 months

Quality of Life assessment: EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire Head and Neck Module (QLQ-H&N35)

EORTC QLQ-H\&N35 is a 35-item questionnaire developed to assess QoL of head and neck cancer participants and consists of 7 multi-item scales that assess pain, swallowing, senses, speech, social eating, social contact and sexuality. Each scale or item score is standardized to a range of 0 to 100. Lower score on each scale represents fewer symptoms and less impact on the patient's daily life. The summed scores of the scales of EORTC-QLQ-H\&N35 are compared between treatment arms.

Time frame: Up to approximately 28 months

Population pharmacokinetics (PK) - Clearance (Experimental Arm Only)

A structural compartment model with population factors such as age, race, ECOG, and sex will be utilized to analyze concentration levels. The clearance estimates associated with different factors will be reported.

Time frame: Before the start of 1st ASP-1929 infusion, 0.25 hours, 4 hours, 24 hours, 192 hours, 360 hours after end of 1st infusion; same timepoints for 2nd ASP-1929 infusion

Presence of anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) (Experimental Arm Only)

Average concentration level of ADAs at baseline and 15 days after ASP-1929 infusion for the first 2 treatments.

Time frame: Before the start of 1st ASP-1929 infusion, 15 days after end of 1st infusion; same timepoints for 2nd ASP-1929 infusion

A Study of ASP-1929 Photoimmunotherapy in Combination With Pembrolizumab in First-line Treatment of Locoregional Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck With No Distant Metastases

Overview

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (22)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes

Central Contacts