New drug targets virus to fight rare cancer
NCT ID NCT04925544
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase 2 trial tests a drug called VK-2019 in 13 patients with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive nasopharyngeal cancer that has returned or spread and has no standard treatment. VK-2019 works by blocking a key viral protein, EBNA1, which the virus needs to survive. The main goal is to see if the drug can shrink tumors.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- VK-2019 (a drug that targets the EBNA1 protein of the Epstein-Barr virus)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could provide a new treatment option for patients with Epstein-Barr virus-related nasopharyngeal cancer who have run out of standard therapies.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial with only 13 participants, so results may not apply to all patients. The drug may not shrink tumors or improve survival, and side effects are still being studied.
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
-
Stanford University
Stanford, California, 94305, United States
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