Unresectable Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaPhase 2/3AHEAD-MERITNCT04534205
A Clinical Trial Investigating the Safety, Tolerability, and Therapeutic Effects of BNT113 in Combination With Pembrolizumab Versus Pembrolizumab Alone for Patients With a Form of Head and Neck Cancer Positive for Human Papilloma Virus 16 and Expressing the Protein PD-L1
A Phase 2/3 study testing BNT113 and Pembrolizumab in people with Unresectable Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer, run by BioNTech SE at 138 sites in 21 countries.
Trial summary
An open-label, controlled, multi-site, interventional, 2-arm, Phase II/III trial of BNT113 in combination with pembrolizumab vs pembrolizumab monotherapy as first line treatment in patients with unresectable recurrent or metastatic HPV16+ HNSCC expressing programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) with combined positive… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Unresectable Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer, Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer
- What is being tested?
- BNT113 and Pembrolizumab
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 358 participants
- Where
- 138 sitesin 21 countries
- Study dates
- 7 Jan 2021to Apr 2029
- Phase
- Phase 2/3
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 sign the written pre-screening informed consent form (ICF) before any pre-screening procedures.
- Patients who present histologically confirmed recurrent or metastatic HPV16+ HNSCC that is considered incurable by local therapies.
- Patients who have a tumor that expresses PD-L1 [CPS ≥1] as determined by the European Conformity (CE)-marked/Food and Drug Administration-approved CDx PD-L1 immunohistochemistry 22C3 pharmDx performed according to the manufacturer's instructions for use.
- Patients must not have had prior systemic anticancer therapy administered in the incurable recurrent or metastatic setting. Systemic therapy which was completed more than 180 days prior to randomization, if given as part of multimodal treatment for locally advanced disease, is allowed.
- Patients who have measurable disease based on RECIST 1.1 as determined by the site and confirmed by BICR. Tumor lesions situated in a previously irradiated area may be considered measurable, if progression has been demonstrated in such lesions disease by RECIST 1.1.
- All patients must provide a tumor tissue sample (formalin fixed paraffin embedded [FFPE] blocks or both slides and curls) from archival tissue. Alternatively, a fresh biopsy sample could be provided if a biopsy sample is performed as part of the patient's standard clinical practice before the first dose of trial treatment. The sample should be preferably derived from a current site of metastatic or recurrent disease. Otherwise, a sample from the primary tumor can be submitted.
Who cannot join
- Medical conditions:
- Patients present primary tumor site of nasopharynx (any histology).
- Patients with another primary malignancy that has not been in complete remission for at least 2 years, with the exception of those with a negligible risk of metastasis or death (such as adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix, non-invasive basal or non-invasive squamous cell skin cancer, localized prostate cancer, non-invasive superficial bladder cancer or breast ductal carcinoma in situ).
- Prior/concomitant therapy:
- Patients who have received or currently receive the following therapy/medication:
- Chronic systemic immunosuppressive treatment including corticosteroid treatment (prednisone >10 mg daily orally [PO] or intravenously [IV], or equivalent) in the 7 days prior to the first dose of trial treatment.
Show all 13Show fewer
- Prior treatment with other immune-modulating agents that was (a) within fewer than 4 weeks (28 days) or five half-lives of the agent (whichever is longer) prior to the first dose of BNT113, or (b) associated with immune-mediated AEs that have not resolved prior to the first dose of BNT113 or that pose an additional risk of on-trial complications, per investigator's assessment, or c) associated with toxicity that resulted in discontinuation of the immune-modulating agent and that poses an additional risk of on-trial complications, per investigator's assessment.
- Prior treatment with live attenuated vaccines within 4 weeks before the first dose of BNT113.
- Prior treatment with an investigational drug (including investigational vaccines) within 4 weeks or five half-lives of the agent (whichever is longer) before the planned first dose of BNT113.
- Ongoing treatment with therapeutic PO or IV antibiotics. Note: Patients receiving prophylactic antibiotics (e.g., for prevention of a urinary tract infection or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) may be enrolled.
- Prior treatment with anti-cancer immunomodulating agents, such as blockers of programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1), PD-L1, tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 9 (TNRSF9, 4 1BB, CD137), OX 40, therapeutic vaccines, cytokine treatments, or any investigational agent within 4 weeks or five half-lives of the agent (whichever is longer) before the first dose of BNT113.
- Treatment with non-systemic anti-cancer therapy (e.g., radiotherapy or surgery) within 2 weeks prior to randomization. Note: Prior treatment with bone resorptive therapy, such as bisphosphonates (e.g., pamidronate, zoledronic acid) and denosumab, is allowed.
- NOTE: Other protocol defined Inclusion/Exclusion criteria may apply.
Trial locations and contacts
138 sites in 21 countries.
138 sites in 21 countries
United Kingdom19 sites
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Aberdeen, AB25 2ZN
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast City Hospital
Belfast, BT9 7AB
University Hospitals Birmingham, Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Birmingham, B15 2TH
Addenbrooke's Hospital - Cambridge University Hospitals
Cambridge, CB2 0QQ
Velindre Cancer Centre
Cardiff, CF14 2TL
Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre
Glasgow, G12 0YN
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (St James's University Hospital)
Leeds, LS9 7TF
The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre
Liverpool, L7 8YA
University College London Hospitals
London, NW 12 PG
Guy's Cancer Centre, Guy's Hospital
London, SE1 9RT
The Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Foundation Trust - Fulham Road
London, SW3 6JJ
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
Manchester, M20 4BX
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Nottingham, NG5 1PB
Oxford Cancer Centre
Oxford, OX3 7LE
Royal Preston Hospital Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Preston, PR2 9HT
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
Southampton, SO16 6YD
Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust
Stevenage, SG1 4AB
The Royal Marsden Hospital - Sutton
Sutton, SM2 5PT
Torbay Hospital - South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Torquay, TQ2 7AA
United States15 sites
The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center
Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87131
Winship Cancer Institute
Atlanta, Georgia, 30322
Tufts Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, 02111
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02114
University of Cincinnati Cancer Center
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45219
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas, 77030
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Long Island City, New York, 11101
UCLA Cancer Care
Los Angeles, California, 90095
Norton Cancer Institute
Louisville, Kentucky, 40241
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Miami, Florida, 33136
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut, 06511
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, New York, 10029
Stanford Cancer Institute
Palo Alto, California, 94304
Montefiore Medical Center
The Bronx, New York, 10467
The George Washington Cancer Center
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20052
Brazil15 sites
Fundação PIO XII - Hospital de Amor Barretos
Barretos, 14784-400
Oncocentro - Grupo Oncoclinicas
Belo Horizonte, 30360-680
Fundacao Universidade de Caxias do Sul - Instituto de Pesquisas em Saude IPS-UCS
Caxias do Sul, 95070-560
Hospital Erasto Gaertner
Curitiba, 81520-060
Oncosite - Centro de Pesquisa Clinica em Oncologia
Ijuí, 98700-000
Hospital Marcio Cunha
Ipatinga, 35162-189
Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericordia de Porto Alegre Hospital Santa Rita
Porto Alegre, 90050-170
Hospital Mae de Deus
Porto Alegre, 90110-270
Hospital Sao Lucas da PUCRS
Porto Alegre, 90610-000
Instituto Nacional de Cancer Jose de Alencar Gomes da Silva - INCA
Rio de Janeiro, 20231-050
Nucleo de Oncologia da Bahia
Salvador, 40170-070
Hospital Sao Rafael
Salvador, 41253-190
Hospital de Base de Sao Jose do Rio Preto
São José do Rio Preto, 15090-000
Instituto do Cancer do Estado de São Paulo
São Paulo, 01246-000
IBCC - Instituto Brasileiro de Controle do Cancer
Vila Mariana, 04014-002
Germany14 sites
Charite Universitätsklinikum Berlin - Campus Benjamin Franklin
Berlin, 13353
Klinik für HNO-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie
Cologne, 50937
Medizinische Hochschule Hannover (MHH)
Hanover, 30625
Universitaetsklinik Heidelberg
Heidelberg, 69124
St. Josefs-Hospital, Katholisches Krankenhaus Hagen gem. GmbH
Iserlohn, 58638
Universitätsklinikum Leipzig
Leipzig, 04103
UNIVERSITAETSMEDIZIN der Johannes Gutenberg-Universitaet Mainz
Mainz, 55131
Klinikum rechts der Isar der TUM
München, 81675
Univeritätsklinikum Münster
Münster, 48149
Universitaetsmedizin Rostock - Medizinische Klink III (Hamatologie, Onkologie, Palliativmedizin)
Rostock, 18057
Caritas Klinikum Saarbrucken St. Theresia
Saarbrücken, 66113
Medizinische Universitaetsklinik Tuebingen
Tübingen, 72076
Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Klinik für Hals-Nasen- Ohrenheilkunde und Kopf-Halschirurgie
Ulm, 89081
Universitaetsklinikum Wuerzburg
Würzburg, 97080
Mexico9 sites
Centro Estatal de Cancerologia de Chihuahua
Chihuahua City, 31000
Hospital Civil de Guadalajara Fray Antonio Alcalde
Guadalajara, 44280
Cryptex Investigacion SA de CV
Mexico City, 06100
Consultorio del Dr. Joaquín Gabriel Reinoso Toledo
Monterrey, 64320
Hospital Universitario "Dr Jose Eleuterio Gonzalez" Centro Universitario contra el Cáncer
Monterrey, 64460
Oaxaca Site Management Organization S. C.
Oaxaca City, 68000
Centro de Estudios y Prevención del Cáncer (CEPREC)
Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Region Chiapas, 29038
Sociedad de Metabolismo y Corazón S.C.
Veracruz, 91900
Centro de Atencion e Investigacion Clinica en Oncologia (CAICO)
Yucatán, 97134
France8 sites
CHU de BORDEAUX, Hopital Saint Andre
Bordeaux, 33075
CHU de Caen Normandie
Caen, 14033
Centre Georges Francois Leclerc
Dijon, 21079
Hopital de la Timone
Marseille, 13005
Institut Curie
Paris, 75005
Institut Curie, Groupe Hospitalier Paris Saint-Joseph (GHPSJ)
Paris, 75014
CHU de Tours Hopital Bretonneau
Tours, 37044
Hospital Gustave Roussy
Villejuif, 94800
Spain8 sites
Hospital Clinic Barcelona
Barcelona, 08036
Hospital Univ. Dr. Josep Trueta
Girona, 17007
Complejo Hospitalario de Jaen
Jaén, 23007
Hospital Universitario Fundacion Jimenez Diaz
Madrid, 28040
Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda
Majadahonda, 28222
Hospital Regional de Malaga
Málaga, 29010
Hospital Universitario Son Espases
Palma de Mallorca, 07120
Hospital La Fe
Valencia, 46026
Argentina7 sites
Centro de Oncología e Investigación Buenos Aires COIBA
Berazategui, B1884BBF
Instituto de Oncologia de Cordoba
Córdoba, X500AA1
Centro Oncologico Riojano Integral
La Rioja, 5300
Centro de Investigacion Pergamino SA - Clinica Pergamino
Pergamino, 2700
Instituto de Oncologia de Rosario
Rosario, 2000
Sanatorio Britanico
Rosario, 2000
CAIPO Centro para la Atencion Integral del Paciente Oncologico
San Miguel de Tucumán, 4000
Australia6 sites
Cancer Research SA
Adelaide, 5000
Flinders Medical Centre
Bedford Park, 5042
St Vincent's Hospital
Fitzroy, VIC 3065
Royal North Shore Hospital
Saint Leonards, 2065
John Flynn Private Hospital
Tugun, 4224
Southern Medical Day Care Centre
Wollongong, 2500
Austria4 sites
LKH - Univ. Klinikum Graz
Graz, 8036
Landeskrankenhaus/ Univ.-Kliniken Innsbruck
Innsbruck, 6020
HNO, Kopf-und Halschirurgie Ordensklinikum Linz Barmherzigen Schwestern
Linz, 4010
Uniklinikum Salzburg, Univ. Klinik fur Innere Medizin III
Salzburg, 5020
Canada4 sites
Cross Cancer Institute
Edmonton, T6G 1Z2
British Columbia Cancer Agency
Kelowna, V1Y 5L3
Jewish General Hospital
Montreal, H3T 1E2
McGill University Health Centre
Montreal, H4A 3J1
Italy4 sites
ASST Spedali Civili Brescia
Brescia, 25123
Mater Salutis Hospital AULSS 9 della Regione Veneto
Legnago, 37045
IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele
Milan, 20132
IRCCS Istituto Europeo di Oncologia
Milan, 20141
Poland4 sites
Uniwersyteckie Centrum Kliniczne
Gdansk, 80-214
Narodowy Instytut Onkologii im. Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie
Gliwice, 44-102
Przychodnia Lekarska KOMED Roman Karaszewski
Konin, 62-500
Wojskowy Szpital Kliniczny z Poliklinika SP ZOZ
Wroclaw, 50-981
South Korea4 sites
Korea University Anam Hospital
Seoul, 02841
Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System
Seoul, 03722
The Catholic University of Korea St. Vincent's Hospital
Suwon, 16247
Ajou University Hospital
Suwon, 16499
Belgium3 sites
Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel
Brussels, 1090
Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent UZ Gent
Ghent, 9000
CHR de la Citadelle
Liège, 4000
Israel3 sites
Rambam Health Clinical
Haifa, 3109601
Hadassah Medical Center - Sharett Institute of Oncology
Jerusalem, 49100
Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center
Tel Aviv, 6423906
Portugal3 sites
Instituto Português de Oncologia de Coimbra Francisco Gentil, E.P.E.
Coimbra, 3000-075
IPO Lisboa Francisco Gentil
Lisbon, 1099-023
Centro Hospitalar Universitario Lisboa Norte
Lisbon, 1649-028
Taiwan3 sites
Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital
Kaohsiung City, 80708
National Taiwan University Hospital
Taipei, 100225
Taipei Veterans General Hospital
Taipei, 11217
Chile2 sites
Centro de Estudios Clinicos SAGA
Santiago, 7500653
Fundación Arturo López Pérez
Santiago, 7500921
Czechia2 sites
Fakultni Nemocnice Olomouc
Olomouc, 779 00
Hospital Na Bulovce (Nemocnice na Bulovce)
Prague 8 - Liben, 180 00
Hungary1 site
Central Hospital of Northern Pest - Military Hospital
Budapest, 1062
About this study
Official title: An Open-label Phase II/III Randomized Trial of BNT113 in Combination With Pembrolizumab Versus Pembrolizumab Monotherapy as a First Line Therapy in Patients With Unresectable Recurrent, or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) Which is Positive for Human Papilloma Virus 16 (HPV16+) and Expresses PD-L1
An open-label, controlled, multi-site, interventional, 2-arm, Phase II/III trial of BNT113 in combination with pembrolizumab vs pembrolizumab monotherapy as first line treatment in patients with unresectable recurrent or metastatic HPV16+ HNSCC expressing programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) with combined positive score (CPS) ≥1.
This trial has two parts.
Read more
Part A, is an initial non-randomized Safety Run-In Phase to confirm the safety and tolerability at the selected dose range level of BNT113 in combination with pembrolizumab.
Part B, is a randomized part to generate pivotal efficacy and safety data of BNT113 in combination with pembrolizumab versus pembrolizumab monotherapy in the first line setting in patients with unresectable recurrent or metastatic HPV16+ HNSCC expressing PD-L1 with CPS ≥1. Patients included in the Safety Run-In Phase of the trial (Part A) will not be randomized to Part B and will continue on-trial treatment (BNT113 plus pembrolizumab) within Part A.
For Part B, an optional pre-screening phase is available for all patients where patients' tumor samples may be submitted for central HPV16 DNA and central PD-L1 expression testing prior to screening into the main trial.
Patients will be treated with BNT113 in combination with pembrolizumab or with pembrolizumab monotherapy for approximately up to 24 months.
- Conditions
- Unresectable Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer, Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer
- Being tested
- BNT113, Pembrolizumab
- Keywords
- Cancer vaccine, RNA vaccine, HNSCC, BNT113, Pembrolizumab, HPV16, Metastatic, Unresectable, Recurrent, Head and neck, mRNA vaccine, HPV-positive, Head and neck cancer
- Medical subject headings
- Head and Neck Neoplasms, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck, Neoplasm Metastasis, Recurrence
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
BNT113Biological
IV injection
PembrolizumabBiological
IV infusion
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Part A (Safety Run-In) - BNT113 + Pembrolizumab | Experimental | Safety Run-In Phase to confirm the safety and tolerability at the selected dose range level of BNT113 in combination with pembrolizumab. Receives: Biological: BNT113; Biological: Pembrolizumab |
| Part B (Randomized phase) - BNT113 + Pembrolizumab | Experimental | BNT113 in combination with pembrolizumab. Receives: Biological: BNT113; Biological: Pembrolizumab |
| Part B (Randomized phase) - Pembrolizumab monotherapy | Active comparator | Pembrolizumab monotherapy. Receives: Biological: Pembrolizumab |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Part A - Occurrence of treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE) - BNT113 in combination with pembrolizumab
TEAE assessed according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0 (CTCAE v5.0) including Grade ≥3, serious, and fatal TEAEs, by relationship.
Measured: up to 27 months
Part B - Overall survival (OS)
OS defined as the time from randomization to death from any cause.
Measured: up to 48 months
Part B - Progression-free survival (PFS)
PFS defined as the time from randomization to the first objective tumor progression (per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 [RECIST 1.1] assessed by the blinded independent central review [BICR]), or death from any cause, whichever occurs first.
Measured: up to 48 months
Secondary outcomes (8)
Part A and B - Overall response rate (ORR)
ORR defined as the proportion of patients in whom a complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) (per RECIST 1.1 assessed by BICR and investigator) is observed as best overall response.
Measured: up to 48 months
Part A and B - Duration of response (DOR)
DOR defined as the time from first objective response (CR or PR per RECIST 1.1) to first occurrence of objective tumor progression (progressive disease [PD] per RECIST 1.1) or death from any cause, whichever occurs first. In Part A, assessment will be done by both BICR and investigator; in Part B, only by BICR.
Measured: up to 48 months
Part A - Disease control rate (DCR)
DCR defined as the proportion of patients in whom a CR or PR or stable disease (SD) (per RECIST 1.1, assessed at least 6 weeks after first dose by BICR and investigator) is observed as best overall response.
Measured: up to 48 months
Part B - Progression free survival (PFS)
PFS defined as the time from randomization to the first objective tumor progression (per RECIST 1.1 by investigator's assessment) or death from any cause, whichever occurs first.
Measured: up to 48 months
Part B - PFS rate at 6 months
Defined as the proportion of patients without objective tumor progression (per RECIST 1.1 assessed by BICR and investigator) or death from any cause
Measured: from randomization until 6 months after randomization
Part B - PFS rate at 12 months
Defined as the proportion of patients without objective tumor progression (per RECIST 1.1 assessed by BICR and investigator) or death from any cause.
Measured: from randomization until 12 months after randomization
Part B - Occurrence of TEAEs - BNT113 in combination with pembrolizumab compared to pembrolizumab monotherapy
TEAEs assessed according to CTCAE v5.0 including Grade ≥3, serious, and fatal TEAEs by relationship.
Measured: up to 27 months
Part B - Occurrence of dose reduction, delay, and discontinuation of trial treatments due to TEAEs
BNT113 in combination with pembrolizumab compared to pembrolizumab monotherapy.
Measured: up to 27 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 Sep 2020
- Study start7 Jan 2021
- Primary completionApr 2029 (estimated)
- Study completionApr 2029 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Unresectable Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by BioNTech SEThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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 2/3
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 358 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- BioNTech SE
- Sponsor type
- Industry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- BioNTech Responsible Person, Study director, BioNTech SE
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04534205
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- BNT113-01
- Other IDs
- 2020-001400-41, 2024-512671-12-00
- Acronym
- AHEAD-MERIT
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 27 Aug 2020
- Last updated
- 28 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- An Open-label Phase II/III Randomized Trial of BNT113 in Combination With Pembrolizumab Versus Pembrolizumab Monotherapy as a First Line Therapy in Patients With Unresectable Recurrent, or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) Which is Positive for Human Papilloma Virus 16 (HPV16+) and Expresses PD-L1
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04534205
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- AHEAD-MERIT / BNT113-01
- Conditions
- Unresectable Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer, Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer
- Keywords
- Cancer vaccine, RNA vaccine, HNSCC, BNT113, Pembrolizumab, HPV16, Metastatic, Unresectable
- Phase
- Phase 2/3
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 358 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- BioNTech SEIndustry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Study start
- 7 Jan 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Apr 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Apr 2029 (estimated)
- First posted
- 1 Sep 2020 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
An open-label, controlled, multi-site, interventional, 2-arm, Phase II/III trial of BNT113 in combination with pembrolizumab vs pembrolizumab monotherapy as first line treatment in patients with unresectable recurrent or metastatic HPV16+ HNSCC expressing programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) with combined positive score (CPS) ≥1.
This trial has two parts.
Part A, is an initial non-randomized Safety Run-In Phase to confirm the safety and tolerability at the selected dose range level of BNT113 in combination with pembrolizumab.
Part B, is a randomized part to generate pivotal efficacy and safety data of BNT113 in combination with pembrolizumab versus pembrolizumab monotherapy in the first line setting in patients with unresectable recurrent or metastatic HPV16+ HNSCC expressing PD-L1 with CPS ≥1. Patients included in the Safety Run-In Phase of the trial (Part A) will not be randomized to Part B and will continue on-trial treatment (BNT113 plus pembrolizumab) within Part A.
For Part B, an optional pre-screening phase is available for all patients where patients' tumor samples may be submitted for central HPV16 DNA and central PD-L1 expression testing prior to screening into the main trial.
Patients will be treated with BNT113 in combination with pembrolizumab or with pembrolizumab monotherapy for approximately up to 24 months.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Part A (Safety Run-In) - BNT113 + Pembrolizumab | Experimental | Biological: BNT113, Biological: PembrolizumabSafety Run-In Phase to confirm the safety and tolerability at the selected dose range level of BNT113 in combination with pembrolizumab. |
| Part B (Randomized phase) - BNT113 + Pembrolizumab | Experimental | Biological: BNT113, Biological: PembrolizumabBNT113 in combination with pembrolizumab. |
| Part B (Randomized phase) - Pembrolizumab monotherapy | Active comparator | Biological: PembrolizumabPembrolizumab monotherapy. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Patients must sign the written pre-screening informed consent form (ICF) before any pre-screening procedures.
- Patients who present histologically confirmed recurrent or metastatic HPV16+ HNSCC that is considered incurable by local therapies.
- Patients who have a tumor that expresses PD-L1 [CPS ≥1] as determined by the European Conformity (CE)-marked/Food and Drug Administration-approved CDx PD-L1 immunohistochemistry 22C3 pharmDx performed according to the manufacturer's instructions for use.
- Patients must not have had prior systemic anticancer therapy administered in the incurable recurrent or metastatic setting. Systemic therapy which was completed more than 180 days prior to randomization, if given as part of multimodal treatment for locally advanced disease, is allowed.
- Patients who have measurable disease based on RECIST 1.1 as determined by the site and confirmed by BICR. Tumor lesions situated in a previously irradiated area may be considered measurable, if progression has been demonstrated in such lesions disease by RECIST 1.1.
Key exclusion criteria (13 listed)
- Patients present primary tumor site of nasopharynx (any histology).
- Patients with another primary malignancy that has not been in complete remission for at least 2 years, with the exception of those with a negligible risk of metastasis or death (such as adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix, non-invasive basal or non-invasive squamous cell skin cancer, localized prostate cancer, non-invasive superficial bladder cancer or breast ductal carcinoma in situ).
- Patients who have received or currently receive the following therapy/medication:
- Prior treatment with anti-cancer immunomodulating agents, such as blockers of programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1), PD-L1, tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 9 (TNRSF9, 4 1BB, CD137), OX 40, therapeutic vaccines, cytokine treatments, or any investigational agent within 4 weeks or five half-lives of the agent (whichever is longer) before the first dose of BNT113.
- Treatment with non-systemic anti-cancer therapy (e.g., radiotherapy or surgery) within 2 weeks prior to randomization. Note: Prior treatment with bone resorptive therapy, such as bisphosphonates (e.g., pamidronate, zoledronic acid) and denosumab, is allowed.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| BNT113IV injection | Biological | Part A (Safety Run-In) - BNT113 + Pembrolizumab, Part B (Randomized phase) - BNT113 + Pembrolizumab |
| PembrolizumabIV infusion | Biological | Part A (Safety Run-In) - BNT113 + Pembrolizumab, Part B (Randomized phase) - BNT113 + Pembrolizumab, Part B (Randomized phase) - Pembrolizumab monotherapy |
Primary outcome
Part A - Occurrence of treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE) - BNT113 in combination with pembrolizumab
Time frame: up to 27 months
TEAE assessed according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0 (CTCAE v5.0) including Grade ≥3, serious, and fatal TEAEs, by relationship.
Part B - Overall survival (OS)
Time frame: up to 48 months
OS defined as the time from randomization to death from any cause.
Part B - Progression-free survival (PFS)
Time frame: up to 48 months
PFS defined as the time from randomization to the first objective tumor progression (per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 [RECIST 1.1] assessed by the blinded independent central review [BICR]), or death from any cause, whichever occurs first.
8 secondary outcomes
Part A and B - Overall response rate (ORR)
Time frame: up to 48 months
Part A and B - Duration of response (DOR)
Time frame: up to 48 months
Part A - Disease control rate (DCR)
Time frame: up to 48 months
Part B - Progression free survival (PFS)
Time frame: up to 48 months
Part B - PFS rate at 6 months
Time frame: from randomization until 6 months after randomization
Part B - PFS rate at 12 months
Time frame: from randomization until 12 months after randomization
Part B - Occurrence of TEAEs - BNT113 in combination with pembrolizumab compared to pembrolizumab monotherapy
Time frame: up to 27 months
Part B - Occurrence of dose reduction, delay, and discontinuation of trial treatments due to TEAEs
Time frame: up to 27 months
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 28 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
BioNTech Responsible Person study director
BioNTech SE
138 sites in 21 countries: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2/3 study testing BNT113 and Pembrolizumab in people with Unresectable Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer, run by BioNTech SE at 138 sites in 21 countries.
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 6 inclusion and 13 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: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 138 sites in United Kingdom, United States, Brazil, Germany, Mexico and 16 more countries. 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 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
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?
Part A - Occurrence of treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE) - BNT113 in combination with pembrolizumab (time frame: up to 27 months). The study lists 3 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 28 Oct 2026.