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Combination Study With Eftilagimod Alpha (a Soluble LAG-3 Fusion Protein) and Pembrolizumab in Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic HNSCC

TACTI-003 (Two ACTive Immunotherapeutics): A Multicenter, Open Label, Randomized, Phase II Trial to Investigate a Soluble LAG-3 Fusion Protein, Eftilagimod Alpha (Efti; IMP321) in Combination With Pembrolizumab (PD-1 Antagonist) for First Line Treatment of Subjects With Unresectable Recurrent or Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (HNSCC)

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04811027
Acronym
TACTI-003
Enrollment
171
Registered
2021-03-23
Start date
2021-08-27
Completion date
2025-11-05
Last updated
2025-12-11

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

HNSCC

Keywords

HNSCC

Brief summary

Evaluate the safety and efficacy of eftilagimod alpha in combination with pembrolizumab against pembrolizumab alone in 1st line metastatic or recurrent HNSCC with programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) positive (combined positive score \[CPS\] ≥1) tumors, and determine the efficacy and safety of efti plus pembrolizumab in patients with PD-L1 negative tumors.

Detailed description

Up to 154 patients will be recruited in the TACTI-003 (Two ACTive Immunotherapies) Phase IIb study which will take place across several countries in Australia, Europe and United States of America in up to 35 experienced clinical sites. It will evaluate the safety and efficacy of eftilagimod alpha in combination with pembrolizumab against pembrolizumab alone in 1st line metastatic or recurrent HNSCC with PD-L1 positive (CPS ≥1) tumors, and determine the efficacy and safety of efti plus pembrolizumab in patients with PD-L1 negative tumors. Subjects in cohort A (CPS ≥1) will be randomized 1:1 to receive either P+E: efti plus pembrolizumab or P only: pembrolizumab alone. Subjects in cohort B (CPS \<1) will receive a combination of efti and pembrolizumab P+E. Efti will be administered for up to 24 months using a 30 mg subcutaneous dosing every 2 or 3 weeks. Pembrolizumab will be administered for up to 24 months using a 400 mg intravenous (30 min) dosing every 6 weeks.

Interventions

APC activator, MHC II agonist, LAG-3 fusion protein

DRUGpembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®)

anti-PD-1 antibody

Sponsors

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
Immutep S.A.S.
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Main Inclusion Criteria: 1. Histologically- or cytologically-confirmed recurrent disease not amenable to curative treatment with local or systemic therapy, or metastatic (disseminated) HNSCC of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx that is considered incurable by local therapies and to be treated in the first line palliative setting and who are PD-X naïve. 2. Availability of tissue for PD-L1 biomarker analysis from a core or excisional biopsy. 3. Availability of PD-L1 biomarker result by using the FDA approved Dako standardized diagnostic test (PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx). 4. Availability of tissue for testing of human papillomavirus (HPV) status for oropharyngeal cancer (p16 expression testing). 5. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1. Main

Exclusion criteria

1. Disease is suitable for local therapy administered with curative intent. 2. Previously treated with ≥ 1 systemic regimen for recurrent and/or metastatic disease (with the exception of systemic therapy completed \>6 months prior if given as part of multimodal treatment for locally or locoregionally advanced disease). 3. Histologically or cytologically confirmed head and neck cancer of any other primary anatomic location in the head and neck not specified in the inclusion criteria including subjects with HNSCC of unknown primary, squamous cell carcinoma originating from skin, or non-squamous histologies (e.g. nasopharynx, salivary gland or mucosal melanoma). 4. Has progressive disease (PD) within 6 months of completion of curatively intended systemic treatment for locally or locoregionally advanced HNSCC, or requires chemotherapy based therapeutic regimen due to e.g., rapidly progressing disease or need of aggressive sympton control. 5. Prior therapy with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, anti-PD-L2, anti-CD137, or anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) antibody (including ipilimumab or any other antibody or drug specifically targeting T-cell co-stimulation or checkpoint pathways). 6. Has received prior chemotherapy, anti-cancer monoclonal antibody, major surgery, another systemic cancer therapy or has participated in a trial of an investigational agent or has used an investigational device within 4 weeks prior to cycle 1 day 1. 7. Known active central nervous system metastasis and/or carcinomatous meningitis. Subjects with previously treated brain metastases may participate provided they are radiologically stable: i.e. without evidence of progression documented by repeat imaging performed after therapy completed for CNS metastasis and with at least 4 weeks difference, clinically stable and without requirement for steroid treatment for at least 14 days prior to cycle 1 day 1. 8. Receives continuous systemic treatment with either corticosteroids (\>10 mg daily prednisone equivalents) or other immunosuppressive medications within 7 days prior to cycle 1 day 1. Inhaled or topical steroids and physiological replacement doses of up to 10 mg daily prednisone equivalents are permitted in the absence of active auto-immune disease.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Objective response rate (ORR) according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1Up to 24 months

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
Objective response rate (ORR) according to iRECISTUp to 24 months
Duration of responses according to iRECIST and RECIST 1.1Up to 24 months
Disease control rate according to iRECIST and RECIST 1.1Up to 24 months
Overall survival (OS)Up to 24 months
Frequency of (serious) adverse eventsUp to 24 months
Severity of (serious) adverse events according to the United States National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE), v5.0Up to 24 months
Progression free survival (PFS) according to iRECIST and RECIST 1.1Up to 24 months

Countries

Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Romania, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 14, 2026