Experimental combo for head and neck cancer shows promise, but trial halted early
NCT ID NCT05814666
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This Phase 2 trial tested whether adding danvatirsen to the standard immunotherapy pembrolizumab helps people with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. About 69 adults with PD-L1 positive tumors were randomly assigned to receive the combination or pembrolizumab alone. The study was terminated early, so its findings are limited.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- danvatirsen and pembrolizumab
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this combination could offer a new treatment option for people with advanced head and neck cancer that has returned or spread.
- What could go wrong
- The trial was terminated early, so results are limited. It is a small Phase 2 study, and the combination may not prove more effective or safe than pembrolizumab alone.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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AMR Kansas City Oncology
Merriam, Kansas, 66204, United States
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Barts Health MHS Trust (Barts and The London NHS Trust) - St Bartholomew's (Barts) Hospital
London, EC1A 7BE, United Kingdom
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Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada, 89169, United States
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Dong-A University Hospital
Busan, 49201, South Korea
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East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, Lister Hospital
Northwood, HA6 2RN, United Kingdom
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Emory University Hospital Midtown
Atlanta, Georgia, 30308, United States
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Gyeongsang National University Hospital
Jinju, 52727, South Korea
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Korea University Medical Center (KUMC)
Seoul, 02841, South Korea
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Kosin University College of Medicine - Kosin University Gospel Hospital (KUGH)
Busan, 602-702, South Korea
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Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70809, United States
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Miami Cancer Institute
Miami, Florida, 33176, United States
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Morristown Medical Center
Morristown, New Jersey, 07960, United States
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Mount Sinai
New York, New York, 10029, United States
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Prisma Health Cancer Institute
Greenville, South Carolina, 29605, United States
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Saint James's University Hospital (SJUH) - St James's Institute of Oncology
Leeds, United Kingdom
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Stony Brook Cancer Center
Stony Brook, New York, 11794, United States
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TMPN Hunt Cancer Care
Torrance, California, 90505, United States
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The Catholic University of Korea - Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital
Seoul, South Korea
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The Christ Hospital Cancer Center
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45219, United States
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The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust
Liverpool, United Kingdom
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The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
London, SW3 6JJ, United Kingdom
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The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Sutton, SM2 5PT, United Kingdom
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The University of Arizona Cancer Center
Tucson, Arizona, 85719, United States
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UT Southwestern Medical Center/Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center
Dallas, Texas, 75390, United States
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University Hospitals Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States
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University of California Irvine (UCI)
Irvine, California, 92617, United States
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University of California Los Angeles
Westwood, Los Angeles, California, 90024, United States
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University of Cincinnati Medical Center
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, United States
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University of Colorado Hospital (UCH) Anschutz Cancer Pavilion
Aurora, Colorado, 80045, United States
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University of Illinois Cancer Center
Chicago, Illinois, 60612, United States
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University of Kansas Medical Center
Westwood, Kansas, 66205, United States
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University of Maryland Baltimore, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center
Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a One-Two punch of radiation and immunotherapy shrink head and neck tumors before surgery?
- Can a glowing drug light up head and neck tumors?
- Can a Two-Target antibody shrink Hard-to-Treat cancers?
- New drug combo aims to shrink oral cancers before surgery
- Modified herpes virus joins forces with immunotherapy to attack head and neck tumors
- New drug SKB571 takes on recurrent head and neck cancer