New drug duo aims to shrink throat tumors before standard care

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Male/female participants who are at least 18 years of age on the day of signing informed consent with histologically confirmed diagnosis of stage III-IVa (Exclude T3N0) nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) will be enrolled in this study. 2. The participant (or legally acceptable representative if applicable) provides written informed consent for the trial. 3. Have measurable disease based on RECIST 1.1. Lesions situated in a previously irradiated area are considered measurable if progression has been demonstrated in such lesions. 4. Archival tumor tissue sample or newly obtained \[core or excisional\] biopsy of a tumor lesion not previously irradiated has been provided. Formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks are preferred to slide. Newly obtained biopsies are preferred to archived tissue. 5. Have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 1. Evaluation of ECOG is to be performed within 7 days prior to the first dose of study intervention. 6. Epsitein-Barr virus-encoded RNA(EBER) positive. 7. Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) positive. 8. Female subjects of childbearing potential should be willing to use 2 methods of birth control or be surgically sterile or abstain from heterosexual activity for the course of the study through 120 days after the last dose of study medication. 9. Male subjects should agree to use an adequate method of contraception starting with the first dose of study therapy through 120 days after the last dose of study therapy. 10. Have adequate organ function. Specimens must be collected within 10 days prior to the start of study intervention. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Presence of any distant metastasis. 2. Has received prior therapy with EGFR target therapy, or an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti PD L2 agent or with an agent directed to another stimulatory or co-inhibitory T-cell receptor (eg, CTLA-4, OX 40, CD137). 3. Has received prior systemic anti-cancer therapy including investigational agents within 4 weeks \[could consider shorter interval for kinase inhibitors or other short half-life drugs\] prior to \[allocation\]. 4. Has received prior radiotherapy within 2 weeks of start of study intervention or radiation-related toxicities requiring corticosteroids. Note: Two weeks or fewer of palliative radiotherapy for non-CNS disease is permitted. The last radiotherapy treatment must have been performed at least 7 days before the first dose of study intervention. 5. Has received a live vaccine or live-attenuated vaccine within 30 days before the first dose of study intervention. Administration of killed vaccines is allowed. 6. Has received an investigational agent or has used an investigational device within 4 weeks prior to study intervention administration. 7. Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy (in dosing exceeding 10 mg daily of prednisone equivalent) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of study drug. 8. Known additional malignancy that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 3 years. Note: Participants with basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ, excluding carcinoma in situ of the bladder, that have undergone potentially curative therapy are not excluded. Participants with low-risk early-stage prostate cancer (T1-T2a, Gleason score ≤6, and PSA \<10 ng/mL) either treated with definitive intent or untreated in active surveillance with stable disease are not excluded. 9. Has known active CNS metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis. Participants with previously treated brain metastases may participate provided they are radiologically stable, i.e., without evidence of progression for at least 4 weeks by repeat imaging (note that the repeat imaging should be performed during study screening), clinically stable and without requirement of steroid treatment for at least 14 days prior to first dose of study intervention. 10. Has severe hypersensitivity (≥Grade 3) to pembrolizumab, MRG003 and/or any of its excipients. 11. Has active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years except replacement therapy (eg., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid) 12. Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease that required steroids or has current pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease. 13. Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy. 14. History of Hepatitis B (defined as HBsAg reactive) or known active Hepatitis C virus (defined as detectable HCV RNA \[qualitative\]) infection. Note: Testing for Hepatitis B or C is not required unless mandated by local health authority. 15. Concurrent active Hepatitis B (defined as HBsAg positive and/or detectable HBV DNA) and Hepatitis C virus (defined as anti-HCV Ab positive and detectable HCV RNA) infection. Note: Hepatitis B and C screening tests are not required unless: * Known history of HBV and HCV infection * As mandated by local health authority 16. Has not adequately recovered from major surgery or has ongoing surgical complications. 17. Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality or other circumstance that might confound the results of the study, interfere with the participant's participation for the full duration of the study, such that it is not in the best interest of the participant to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator. 18. Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial. 19. Is pregnant or breastfeeding or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the study, starting with the screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of trial treatment. 20. Has had an allogenic tissue/solid organ transplant. 21. History of HIV infection. HIV testing is not required unless mandated by local health authority.