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Recurrent or Metastatic Nasopharyngeal CarcinomaPhase 2NCT05126719

A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of MRG003 in Patients With Recurrent Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

A Phase 2 study testing MRG003, Capecitabine tablets and Docetaxel injection in people with Recurrent or Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, run by Lepu Biopharma Co., Ltd. at 23 sites in China.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

The objective of this study is to assess the safety, efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity of MRG003 in patients with recurrent metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 75 years
What is being tested?
MRG003, Capecitabine tablets and Docetaxel injection
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
238 participants
Where
23 sitesChina
Study dates
6 Apr 2023to 30 Dec 2026
Phase
Phase 2
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 to 75 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Willing to sign the ICF and follow the requirements specified in the protocol.
  • Age: ≥18 years, ≤75 years
  • Expected survival time>3 months.
  • Patients with histologically confirmed unresectable, radiation-ineligible recurrent metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
  • Part A: Metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma that has failed or recurred or was intolerant to at least 1 prior line platinum-based systemic chemotherapy and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors
  • Part B: have documented failure of at least 2 prior lines of PD-1 (L1) and therapysystemic chemotherapy, which include at least platinum-based regimen, gemcitabine, taxanes/capecitabine.
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  • Patients must have measurable lesions according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST v1.1).
  • ECOG performance score 0 or 1.
  • Organ functions and coagulation function must meet the basic requirements.
  • No severe cardiac dysfunction with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50%.
  • Serum or urine pregnancy test negative within 72 hours before the first dose of investigational drug.
  • Patients with childbearing potential must use effective contraception during the treatment and for 6 months after the last dose of treatment.

Who cannot join

  • Grade ≥2 peripheral neuropathy per CTCAE v5.0.
  • Is expected to require surgery or any other form of systemic or local anti-tumor therapy during the study.
  • Received systemic chemotherapy, targeted therapy, biologics or immunotherapy, or major surgery (except for minor surgery within 2 weeks and fully recovered) within 3 weeks prior to the first dose of study treatment; received thoracic radiotherapy >30 Gy within 6 months prior to the first dose of study treatment; received prior radiotherapy (except radiotherapy for CNS, wash-out period ≥ 28 days is required) within 14 days before the first dose of study treatment, received traditional Chinese medicine with anti-tumor indications within the 2 weeks before the first dose of study treatment.
  • Known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or meningeal metastases. Patients with brain metastases may participate provided they are treated and stable
  • Residual toxicities due to prior anti-tumor therapy (including biologics, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy) or ≥ Grade 1 (CTCAE v5.0) clinically significant laboratory abnormality.
  • History of severe cardiac dysfunction, stroke, or transient ischemic attack (TIA) within 6 months prior to enrollment. History of ventricular tachycardia or torsades de pointes. Any clinically important abnormality in the rhythm, conduction, or morphology of the resting ECG. Note: Patients with arrhythmia are eligible if they are receiving antiarrhythmic medication and the screening electrocardiogram (ECG) shows controllable rhythm and heart rate.
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  • Pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis within 3 months prior to the first dose of study drug.
  • Known history of malignancy (except for patients with cutaneous basal cell carcinoma, superficial bladder carcinoma, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, cervical carcinoma in situ, or papillary thyroid carcinoma who have undergone successful curative treatment) unless the patient has received potentially curative therapy and has not had disease recurrence within 5 years starting from the treatment.
  • Note: The 5-year recurrence-free time requirement does not apply to NPC for which the patient is enrolled.
  • Uncontrolled or poorly controlled hypertension (e.g., systolic blood pressure > 160 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure > 100 mmHg) or diabetes mellitus (glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) > 8%).
  • Patients with active bleeding, history of coagulopathy, or receiving coumarin anticoagulant therapy.
  • History of ≥ Grade 3 immune-related AEs (irAEs), including skin toxicity, diarrhea, enteritis, fatigue, immune-related nephritis, immune-related hepatitis, and infusion reactions.
  • Known allergic reactions to any component or excipients of MRG003 (citric acid monohydrate, sodium citrate dihydrate, trehalose dihydrate, sodium chloride, and polysorbate 80) or capecitabine/docetaxel, or known allergic reactions to other anti-EGFR agents (including investigational drug) or to other monoclonal antibodies ≥ Grade 3.
  • Known active hepatitis B or C. Presence of other serious liver diseases, including chronic autoimmune hepatic disorders, primary biliary cirrhosis or sclerosing cholangitis, alcoholic liver disease, or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
  • Concurrent, serious, uncontrolled infection or known infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (HIV antibody positive), or diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS); or uncontrolled autoimmune disease; or previous allogeneic tissue/organ transplantation, stem cell or bone marrow transplantation, or previous solid organ transplantation.
  • Active bacterial, viral, fungal, rickettsial, or parasitic infection requiring systemic anti-infection therapy (unless treated and resolved prior to study treatment).
  • Received live-virus vaccines within 30 days prior to the first dose of study treatment. Seasonal influenza vaccines or approved COVID-19 vaccines that do not contain live virus are permitted.
  • History of moderate to severe dyspnea at rest or severe primary lung disease (current need for continuous oxygen therapy and oxygen saturation < 93% without oxygen therapy) due to advanced cancer or its complications, or history of any interstitial lung disease (ILD) (including ILD that requires oral or intravenous corticosteroids) or noninfectious pneumonitis
  • Patients who are receiving an immunologically based treatment for any reason, including chronic use of systemic steroids equivalent to > 10 mg/day of prednisone within 7 days prior to the first dose of study treatment or at any time during the study. Note: Use of inhaled or topical steroids or systemic corticosteroids equivalent to ≤ 10 mg/day prednisone is permitted, as is short-term use of corticosteroids at doses equivalent to > 10 mg/day prednisone (e.g., pre-medication prior to contrast).
  • Chronic autoimmune or inflammatory disease requiring or receiving systemic therapy within the last 2 years, including but not limited to inflammatory bowel disease, myasthenia gravis, myositis, autoimmune hepatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Wegener's granulomatosis, Sjogren's syndrome, Guillain - Barre's syndrome, multiple sclerosis, vasculitis, or glomerulonephritis (exceptions: vitiligo, hypothyroidism on stable hormone replacement therapy, controlled asthma, type I diabetes mellitus, Graves' disease, Hashimoto's disease, or with medical monitor's approval).
  • Uncontrolled pleural, abdominal, pelvic effusion or pericardial effusion that requires ≥ 1 drainage per month.
  • Patients who are using strong CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers and for who stop the use is not recommended.
  • Any patient with a positive pregnancy or is breast-feeding. Female and male patients who are not expected to use adequate contraception during treatment and for 180 days after the last dose of treatment.
  • Any other disease or clinically significant abnormality in laboratory parameters, or serious medical or psychiatric illnesses/conditions, substance abuse disorder including alcoholism, which in the judgment of the Investigator might compromise the safety of the patient, integrity of the study, interfere with the patient participation in the study, or confound or compromise the study objectives and their interpretability.

Trial locations and contacts

23 sites in 1 country.

23 sites in 1 country

China23 sites

  • Peking University Cancer Hospital

    Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100142

  • Hunan Cancer Hospital

    Changsha, Hunan, 410031

  • Sichuan Cancer Hospital

    Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041

  • Chongqing University Cancer Hospital

    Chongqing, Chongqing Municipality, 400030

  • Fujian Cancer Hospital

    Fuzhou, Fujian, 350014

  • First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University

    Ganzhou, Jiangxi, 341001

  • Ganzhou Cancer Hospital

    Ganzhou, Jiangxi, 341005

  • Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center

    Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510000

  • Guigang City People's Hospital

    Guigang, Guangxi, 537199

  • The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guizhou Medical University

    Guiyang, Guizhou, 550000

  • Hainan General Hospital

    Haikou, Hainan, 570311

  • Zhejiang Cancer Hospital

    Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022

  • Maoming People's Hospital

    Maoming, Guangdong, 525000

  • Jiangxi Cancer Hospital

    Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330029

  • Guangxi Medical University Affiliated Tumor Hospital

    Nanning, Guangxi, 530021

  • People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

    Nanning, Guangxi, 530021

  • Shanghai East Hospital

    Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 200123

  • Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College

    Shantou, Guangdong, 515041

  • Yue Bei People's Hospital

    Shaoguan, Guangdong, 512026

  • Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

    Wuhan, Hubei, 430022

  • Yibin Second People's Hospital

    Yibin, Sichuan, 644000

  • Henan Cancer Hospital

    Zhengzhou, Henan, 450003

  • Zhongshan City People's Hospital

    Zhongshan, Guangdong, 528403

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: An Open-Label, Multi-Center Phase II Clinical Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of MRG003 in Patients With Recurrent Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

The objective of this study is to assess the safety, efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity of MRG003 in patients with recurrent metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Read the detailed description

The study consists of two stages.

Part A of this study is an open-label, single arm, multicenter Phase IIa clinical study in patients with inoperable, radiotherapy ineligible RM-NPC who have failed (or are intolerable) at least 1 prior line platinum-based systemic chemotherapy and PD-1 (L1) inhibitors.

Part B is an open-label, randomized, multicenter Phase IIb study to compare the efficacy and safety of MRG003 versus capecitabine/docetaxel in patients with RM-NPC who have failed at least 2 prior lines of systemic chemotherapy and PD-1 (L1) inhibitors.

Being tested
MRG003, Capecitabine tablets, Docetaxel injection
Keywords
MRG003, Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC), Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma., EGFR
Medical subject headings
Recurrence, Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

What participants receive

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

  • MRG003Drug

    Administered intravenously

  • Capecitabine tabletsDrug

    Administered peros

  • Docetaxel injectionDrug

    Administered intravenously

Study groups in NCT05126719
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
MRG003ExperimentalPart A: On the first day of every 3 weeks, MRG003 will be administered via intravenous infusion at 2.0 mg/kg or 2.3 mg/kg calculated based on the actual body weight. Part B: On the first day of every 3 weeks, MRG003 will be administered via intravenous infusion at 2.3 mg/kg calculated based on the actual body weight.
Receives: Drug: MRG003
Capecitabine tablets/Docetaxel injectionActive comparatorPart B: Capecitabine tablets: 1000 mg/m2, bid, d1-14, po, Q3W, or Docetaxel injection: 75 mg/m2, d1, IV, Q3W
Receives: Drug: Capecitabine tablets; Drug: Docetaxel injection

What is being measured

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

  1. Objective Response Rate (ORR) by Independent Review Committee (IRC)

    ORR is defined as the proportions of patients with a complete response (CR) and partial response (PR). ORR will be assessed by Independent Review Committee (IRC) according to RECIST v1.1.

    Measured: Baseline to disease progression, intolerable drug-related toxicities, withdrawal of consent, or study discontinuation for any reasons (up to 24 months)

Secondary outcomes (13)

  1. Objective Response Rate (ORR) by Investigator

    ORR is defined as the proportions of patients with a complete response (CR) and partial response (PR). ORR will be assessed by investigator according to RECIST v1.1.

    Measured: Baseline to Baseline to disease progression, intolerable drug-related toxicities, withdrawal of consent, or study discontinuation for any reasons (up to 24 months)

  2. Progression Free Survival (PFS)

    PFS is defined as the duration from the start of treatment or randomization (part B) to the onset of tumor progression or death of any cause.

    Measured: Baseline to Baseline to disease progression, intolerable drug-related toxicities, withdrawal of consent, or study discontinuation for any reasons (up to 24 months)

  3. Duration of Response (DoR)

    DOR is defined as the duration from the initial recording of objective disease response to the first onset of tumor progression, or death of any cause.

    Measured: Baseline to Baseline to disease progression, intolerable drug-related toxicities, withdrawal of consent, or study discontinuation for any reasons (up to 24 months)

  4. Disease Control Rate (DCR)

    DCR is defined as the proportions of patients achieving CR, PR, and stable disease (SD) after treatment.

    Measured: Baseline to Baseline to disease progression, intolerable drug-related toxicities, withdrawal of consent, or study discontinuation for any reasons (up to 24 months)

  5. Overall Survival (OS)

    OS is defined as the duration from the start of treatment or randomization (part B) to death of any cause.

    Measured: Sign the informed consent form to Baseline to disease progression, intolerable drug-related toxicities, withdrawal of consent, or study discontinuation for any reasons (up to 24 months)

  6. Adverse Events (AEs)

    Any reaction, side effect, or untoward event that occurs during the course of the clinical trial whether or not the event is considered related to the study drug.

    Measured: Baseline to 30 (for AE) and 45 (for SAE) days after the last dose of study treatment.

  7. PK parameter for MRG003: (Cmax)

    Maximum observed plasma concentration.

    Measured: Baseline to 30 days after the last dose of study treatment

  8. PK parameter for MRG003: (AUClast)

    Area under the curve up to the last validated measurable plasma concentration.

    Measured: Baseline to 30 days after the last dose of study treatment.

  9. PK parameter for total antibody (TAb): Cmax

    Maximum observed plasma concentration.

    Measured: Baseline to 30 days after the last dose of study treatment.

  10. PK parameter for TAb: AUClast

    Area under the curve up to the last validated measurable plasma concentration.

    Measured: Baseline to 30 days after the last dose of study treatment.

  11. PK parameter for Monomethyl Auristatin E (MMAE): Cmax

    Maximum observed plasma concentration.

    Measured: Baseline to 30 days after the last dose of study treatment.

  12. PK parameter for MMAE: AUClast

    Area under the curve up to the last validated measurable plasma concentration.

    Measured: Baseline to 30 days after the last dose of study treatment.

  13. The proportion of patients with positive ADA immunogenicity results.

    The incidence of patients with positive ADA immunogenicity results per each pre-specified time point.

    Measured: Baseline to 30 days after the last dose of study treatment.

Timeline

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

  1. First posted19 Nov 2021
  2. Study start6 Apr 2023
  3. Primary completion30 Dec 2024
  4. Study completion30 Dec 2026 (estimated)

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 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Sequential
Model description
The study consists of two stages. Part A of this study is a single arm IIa clinical study and Part B is a parallel IIb study.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
238 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05126719
Sponsor's protocol ID
MRG003-005
Status last verified
Aug 2026
First submitted
17 Nov 2021
Last updated
31 Aug 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Han F, Lv X, Zhou YJ, He Q, Guo Y, Xiang YQ, Shu XL, Pan SM, Qu SH, Zhang P, Jiang Y, Xu MJ, Lei KJ, Qu S, Wang XH, Jin YS, Zhao B, Dai R, Wang FH, Xu RH. Becotatug vedotin, MRG003, in previously treated recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A multicenter, single-arm, phase IIa trial. Med. 2026 Apr 10;7(4):101029. doi: 10.1016/j.medj.2026.101029. Epub 2026 Feb 19.

    PubMed 41720100

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing MRG003, Capecitabine tablets and Docetaxel injection in people with Recurrent or Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, run by Lepu Biopharma Co., Ltd. at 23 sites in China.

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 12 inclusion and 24 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 31 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 23 sites in China. 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 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.

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?

Objective Response Rate (ORR) by Independent Review Committee (IRC) (time frame: Baseline to disease progression, intolerable drug-related toxicities, withdrawal of consent, or study discontinuation for any reasons (up to 24 months)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05126719, which also lists 1 linked publication.

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 31 Aug 2026.

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