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MelanomaPhase 1/2NCT03901573

High-Risk Skin Cancers With Atezolizumab Plus NT-I7

A Phase 1/2 study testing NT-I7 and atezolizumab in people with Melanoma and Merkel Cell Carcinoma, run by NeoImmuneTech at 8 sites in United States.

Terminated

Stopped early. The study ended before it was planned to and will not resume.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of this study is to test whether the addition of NT-I7 to atezolizumab provides clinically meaningful outcomes for patients with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 naive or relapsed/refractory high-risk melanoma, Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) and cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC) Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
NT-I7 and atezolizumab
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
31 participants
Where
8 sitesUnited States
Study dates
26 Dec 2019to 15 Aug 2023
Phase
Phase 1/2
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Patients must be ≥18 years of age on day of signing informed consent document.
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤2 (Karnofsky ≥60%).
  • Patients must have adequate organ and marrow function.
  • Patients positive for HIV can be considered.
  • Arm I - cSCC: Patients must have biopsy-proven metastatic cSCC or locoregional cSCC that has recurred following standard locoregional therapy with surgery and/or radiation therapy; MCC: Patients must have biopsy-proven metastatic MCC or locoregional MCC in need of systemic therapy, including patients that have not had prior systemic therapy or have recurred following standard locoregional therapy with surgery and/or radiation therapy. Prior chemotherapy is allowed.
  • Arm II - MCC: Patients must have biopsy-proven metastatic MCC or locoregional MCC that has recurred following anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1, or has SD following anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1, defined as 12 weeks of SD per RECIST 1.1; cSCC: Patients must have biopsy-proven metastatic cSCC or locoregional cSCC that has recurred following anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1, or has SD following anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1, defined as 12 weeks of SD per RECIST 1.1; Melanoma: Patients must have biopsy-proven metastatic melanoma or locoregional melanoma that has recurred following anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or has SD following anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1, defined as 12 weeks of SD per RECIST 1.1.
  • Note: Prior therapy with ipilimumab is allowed (subject to a 6-week washout period) but not required.
  • Note: Progression following targeted therapies (e.g., BRAF inhibitor and/or MEK inhibitor) or other approved (e.g., talimogene laherparepvec [T-VEC]) or investigational therapies is allowed.

Who cannot join

  • Pregnancy, lactation, or breastfeeding.
  • Significant cardiovascular disease.
  • Poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
  • Major surgical procedure, other than for diagnosis, within 28 days prior to Cycle 1, Day 1, or anticipation of need for a major surgical procedure during the study.
  • Patients who have had chemotherapy or radiotherapy within 2 weeks (4 weeks for nitrosoureas or systemic mitomycin C) prior to Cycle 1, Day 1.
  • Patients who had prior treatment with immune CPIs, immunomodulatory monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), and/or mAb-derived therapies within 6 weeks before the initiation of study treatment, except for prior anti-PD-L1/anti-PD-1, which requires a 3-week washout period.
Show all 19Show fewer
  • Patients who have received treatment with any other investigational agent within 4 weeks prior to Cycle 1, Day 1.
  • Patients who have received treatment and failed therapy with checkpoint inhibition plus a T-cell growth factor, e.g., IL-2 (NTKR-204), IL-15 (ALT-803) or IL-7 (CYT107).
  • Patients with known primary central nervous system (CNS) malignancy, untreated CNS metastases, or active CNS metastases (progressing or requiring corticosteroids for symptomatic control) are excluded, with some exceptions.
  • Patients who have leptomeningeal disease.
  • Patients with autoimmune disease history.
  • Patients who have received treatment with systemic immunosuppressive medications within 2 weeks prior to Cycle 1, Day 1.
  • Patients who have a history of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonitis (including drug induced), organizing pneumonia (i.e., bronchiolitis obliterans, cryptogenic organizing pneumonia, etc.), or evidence of active pneumonitis on screening chest CT scan. History of radiation pneumonitis in the radiation field (fibrosis) is permitted.
  • Patients with active hepatitis B (defined as having a positive hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] test at screening).
  • Patients with active tuberculosis (TB).
  • Patients who have severe infections within 4 weeks prior to Cycle 1, Day 1.
  • Patients who have signs or symptoms of recent infection (not meeting the above criteria for severe infections) within 2 weeks before initiation of study treatment.
  • Patients with prior allogeneic bone marrow transplantation or prior solid organ transplantation.
  • Patients who have received a live, attenuated vaccine within 4 weeks prior to Cycle 1, Day 1 or anticipate that such a live attenuated vaccine be required during the study.

Trial locations and contacts

8 sites in 1 country.

8 sites in 1 country

United States8 sites
  • Dana Farber

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02215

  • MGH

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02215

  • Northwestern University

    Chicago, Illinois, 60208

  • Cleveland Clinic

    Cleveland, Ohio, 44106

  • City of Hope

    Duarte, California, 91010

  • Mt Sinai

    New York, New York, 10029

  • Providence Portland Medical Center

    Portland, Oregon, 97213

  • Washington University

    St Louis, Missouri, 63110

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: A Phase 1b/2a, Open Label Study to Evaluate Anti-tumor Efficacy and Safety of rhIL-7-hyFc (NT-I7) in Combination With Anti-PD-L1 (Atezolizumab) in Patients With Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 naïve or Relapsed/Refractory High-risk Skin Cancers

The purpose of this study is to test whether the addition of NT-I7 to atezolizumab provides clinically meaningful outcomes for patients with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 naive or relapsed/refractory high-risk melanoma, Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) and cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC)

Read the detailed description

This is a Phase 1b/2a, open-label, multicenter study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and anti-tumor effect of NT-I7 (rhIL-7-hyFc) in combination with atezolizumab (MPDL3280A, anti-PD-L1) in patients with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 naïve or relapsed/refractory high-risk skin cancers including cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC), Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) and melanoma.

This study has been designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability, including the Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) or recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D), of NT-I7 in combination with atezolizumab.

There are two phases to this study:

  • Phase 1b, a NT-I7 dose-escalation phase to determine the MTD or RP2D
  • Phase 2a, a non-randomized parallel dose expansion phase to confirm the MTD or RP2D in both arms.

Arm I: Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 (checkpoint inhibitors, CPI) naïve patients with cSCC and MCC

Arm II: Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 relapsed/refractory patients with cSCC, MCC and melanoma

Number of Patients A total of up to 84 patients will be enrolled; Up to 24 patients will be enrolled in the Phase 1b (up to 6 patients per dose level, using 3 + 3 design), and 60 patients will be enrolled in the Phase 2a (24 patients in Arm I, i.e., 12 patients for each indication, and 36 in Arm II, i.e., 12 patients for each indication).

Being tested
NT-I7, atezolizumab
Medical subject headings
Melanoma, Carcinoma, Merkel Cell

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • NT-I7Drug

    Also called efineptakin alfa, rhIL-7-hyFc

    Dose Escalation (Phase 1b) - NT-I7 IM (intramuscular) on Day 1 of each Cycle until MTD or RP2D is achieved.

    Dose Expansion - NT-I7 IM (intramuscular) on Day 1 of each Cycle, at Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) or RP2D defined in escalation phase

  • atezolizumabDrug

    Also called Tecentriq

    Dose Escalation - atezolizumab IV (intravenous) on Day 1 of each Cycle

    Dose Expansion - atezolizumab IV (intravenous) on Day 1 of each Cycle

Study groups in NCT03901573
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Checkpoint Inhibitor-Naive cSCC, MCC PtsExperimentalAnti-PD-1/PD-L1 naïve patients with cSCC and MCC
Receives: Drug: NT-I7; Drug: atezolizumab
Checkpoint Inhibitor-Relapsed/Refractory cSCC MCC Melanoma PtsExperimentalAnti-PD-1/PD-L1 relapsed/refractory patients with cSCC, MCC and melanoma
Receives: Drug: NT-I7; Drug: atezolizumab

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Phase 1b: To Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of NT-I7 in Combination With Atezolizumab, Including Estimation of the Maximum Tolerated Dose and/or the Recommended Phase 2 Dose

    1. Incidence, nature, and severity of adverse events graded according to NCI CTCAE 5.0
    2. Incidence and nature of dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs)

    Note: ORR (Defined as the percentage of patients who have at least one confirmed partial response (PR) or complete response (CR) according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v.1.1). ORR is included in Phase 2a Primary Outcome Measure.

    Measured: 1. On or after administration of study treatment through 30 days after the last dose of study treatment (approximately 25 months after enrollment) 2.First 21 days (C1/D1 through Day 21)

  2. Phase 2a: To Evaluate the Objective Response Rate (ORR) According to RECIST 1.1 and iRECIST, as Determined by the Investigator

    Pooling of dose levels for this Outcome Measure was pre-specified in the Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP Section 4.2.1) and the study protocol. Phase 1b dose-escalation results are summarized by dose level (120, 360, 840, 1200 µg/kg), and Phase 2a results under 1200 µg/kg. Efficacy analyses pool Phase 1b doses (120-840 µg/kg) and the Phase 2a 1200 µg/kg dose to reflect the predefined analysis strategy and study objectives. This approach was chosen due to small sample sizes and early study termination, as documented in the Clinical Study Report (CSR).

    Measured: C1D1 until the start of a new anticancer treatment, disease progression, pregnancy, death, withdrawal of consent or end of study, whichever occurs first, up to 1 year

Secondary outcomes (3)
  1. To Evaluate Immunogenicity of NT-I7 in Combination With Atezolizumab

    The ADA status will be defined using the baseline and postbaseline results. Anti-drug antibody negative is defined as negative results at all time points. Anti-drug antibody positive is defined as a positive result at any time point, including baseline.

    Measured: C1D1 through end of 90-day follow-up

  2. To Make a Preliminary Assessment of the Anti-tumor Activity of NT-I7 in Combination With Atezolizumab

    Pooling of dose levels for this Outcome Measure was also pre-specified in the SAP and study protocol to maintain consistency across efficacy endpoints. For this Outcome Measure (e.g., Disease Control Rate), pooled groups were defined as Phase 1b (120-840 µg/kg) and Phase 2a (1200 µg/kg). This approach aligns with the predefined analyses and study objectives and prevents misleading subgroup estimates given the limited enrollment and early study termination.

    Measured: C1D1 until the start of a new anticancer treatment, disease progression, pregnancy, death, withdrawal of consent or end of study, whichever occurs first, up to 1 year

  3. To Make a Preliminary Assessment of the Anti-tumor Activity of NT-I7 in Combination With Atezolizumab (DCR)

    For Outcome Measure 4 and 5, pooling was also pre-specified in SAP Section 4.8 and CSR Section 11.4. Kaplan-Meier analyses were conducted on pooled groups for interpretability and statistical validity. Separate reporting by Arm was not feasible due to small sample sizes and early termination.

    Measured: C1D1 until the start of a new anticancer treatment, disease progression, pregnancy, death, withdrawal of consent or end of study, whichever occurs first, up to 1 year

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted3 Apr 2019
  2. Study start26 Dec 2019
  3. Primary completion15 Aug 2023
  4. Study completion15 Aug 2023

Why it stopped: Strategic decision by sponsor

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 1/2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Non-randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
31 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03901573
Sponsor's protocol ID
NIT-106
Other IDs
ION-02
Status last verified
Oct 2025
First submitted
26 Mar 2019
Last updated
22 Oct 2025
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1/2 study testing NT-I7 and atezolizumab in people with Melanoma and Merkel Cell Carcinoma, run by NeoImmuneTech at 8 sites in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 19 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: stopped early, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Oct 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 8 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this combined phase mean?

Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 22 Oct 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Phase 1b: To Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of NT-I7 in Combination With Atezolizumab, Including Estimation of the Maximum Tolerated Dose and/or the Recommended Phase 2 Dose (time frame: 1. On or after administration of study treatment through 30 days after the last dose of study treatment (approximately 25 months after enrollment) 2.First 21 days (C1/D1 through Day 21)). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 22 Oct 2025.

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