New drug duo takes on tough head and neck cancers
NCT ID NCT05054439
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Sep 02, 2026 · Updated 5 times
Summary
This phase II trial tests a new drug called SI-B001 combined with the chemotherapy paclitaxel in 42 adults with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Participants have already tried standard treatments like immunotherapy or platinum chemo. The study aims to see if the combination can shrink tumors and control the disease longer, while monitoring safety.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- SI-B001 (a targeted drug) combined with paclitaxel (a chemotherapy drug)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this combination could offer a new treatment option for patients with advanced head and neck cancer that has stopped responding to standard therapies.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial (42 people) with no control group, so results may not be definitive. Side effects from the drug combination are possible and being studied.
Why investors are watching
Sichuan Baili Pharmaceutical is testing its drug SI-B001 combined with standard chemotherapy in patients with advanced head and neck cancer who have already tried an immunotherapy drug. For a small company, this phase II readout matters because it could show whether SI-B001 adds benefit in a hard-to-treat group, and the result will shape the drug's future development.
If it works: If the trial shows the combination controls the disease safely, the company could have evidence to move SI-B001 into a larger study or seek partnerships. A positive result would validate the drug's potential in a cancer type with limited options after immunotherapy fails.
If it fails: The trial could fail to show enough benefit, or safety problems could emerge, which would set the program back. Many phase II cancer trials do not succeed, so a negative result would likely reduce the drug's commercial prospects for this indication.
AI-written from the trial record. Speculative, and not investment advice.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
-
45 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Dec 2021
- Expected to finish
-
Dec 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
-
A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 years and older
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. The participants could understand and sign the informed consent form and must participate voluntarily. 2. No gender limit; 3. Age: ≥18 years old 4. Locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck confirmed by histology or pathology as recurrent metastatic or without indications of radical local treatment; 5. Patients who have failed or are intolerant to prior anti-PD-1 monotherapy ± platinum-based chemotherapy; Cohort-A: Patients with recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (non-nasopharyngeal carcinoma) who have progressed on or are intolerant to first-line anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibody ± platinum-based doublet chemotherapy, receiving SI-B001 in combination with paclitaxel/docetaxel in the second-line setting (patients with no prior treatment with docetaxel, paclitaxel, nab-paclitaxel, or paclitaxel liposome receive paclitaxel in combination; patients with prior docetaxel treatment receive paclitaxel in combination; patients with prior treatment with paclitaxel, nab-paclitaxel, or paclitaxel liposome receive docetaxel in combination). Cohort-B: Patients with recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (non-nasopharyngeal carcinoma) who have progressed on or are intolerant to first-line platinum-based doublet chemotherapy ± EGFR monoclonal antibody, and subsequently progressed on or are intolerant to second-line anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monoclonal antibody-containing therapy, receiving SI-B001 in combination with paclitaxel/docetaxel in the third-line setting (patients with no prior treatment with docetaxel, paclitaxel, nab-paclitaxel, or paclitaxel liposome receive paclitaxel in combination; patients with prior docetaxel treatment receive paclitaxel in combination; patients with prior treatment with paclitaxel, nab-paclitaxel, or paclitaxel liposome receive docetaxel in combination). 6. Previously received only ≤ 2-line treatment for recurrent and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck; 7. Agree to provide tumor tissue samples (FFPE block or 10 unstained sections of 5μm size) or fresh tissue samples that have been archival within 1 year of primary or metastatic lesion. If the patient fails to provide them, they can be included after the investigator's judgment; 8. There must be at least one measurable lesion in accordance with the RECIST V1.1 definition. Tumor lesions located in the area of previous radiotherapy or other local regional treatment sites are generally not measurable unless there is definite progression of the lesion or the lesion persists three months after radiotherapy; 9. Physical fitness ECOG score 0 or 1; 10. Toxicity of previous antitumor therapy has returned to ≤1 as defined by NCI-CTCAE V5.0 (except for toxicity that the investigators judged to be of no safety risk, such as hair loss, grade 2 peripheral neurotoxicity, and stabilized hypothyroidism after hormone replacement therapy); 11. Organ function levels must meet the following requirements and meet the following standards: 1. Bone marrow function: absolute neutrophil count (ANC)≥1.5×10\*9/L, platelet count ≥100×10\*9/L, hemoglobin ≥90 g/L; 2. Liver function: Total bilirubin TBIL≤1.5×ULN (total bilirubin ≤3×ULN in Subjects with Gilbert's syndrome, liver cancer or liver metastasis), AST and ALT ≤2.5×ULN in patients without liver metastasis, AST and ALT ≤5.0×ULN in patients with liver metastasis; 3. Renal function: creatinine (Cr) ≤1.5×ULN, or creatinine clearance (Ccr) ≥50 mL/min (according to Cockcroft and Gault formula); 4. Urine routine / 24-hour protein quantification: qualitative urine protein ≤1+ (if qualitative urine protein ≥2+, 24-hour protein \< 1g can be included in the group); 5. Cardiac function: left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50%; 6. Coagulation function: International standardized ratio (INR) ≤1.5×ULN, and activated partial thrombin time (APTT) ≤1.5×ULN; 12. Eligible patients (male and female) who are fertile must agree to use a reliable contraceptive method (hormonal or barrier method or abstinence, etc.) with their partner during the trial and for at least 6 months after the last medication; women of childbearing age must have a negative blood or urine pregnancy test within 7 days prior to the first use of the study drug. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Squamous cell carcinoma of primary origin in the nasopharynx, salivary glands, paranasal sinuses, skin, or of unknown primary site; 2. Have received chemotherapy, radiotherapy, biotherapy, endocrine therapy, immunotherapy and other anti-tumor therapy within 4 weeks prior to the first use of the study drug, except the following: * Nitrosorea or mitomycin C within 6 weeks before the first administration of the study drug; * Oral fluorouracil and small molecule targeted drugs are 2 weeks before the first administration of the study drug or within the 5 half-lives of the drug (whichever is longer); * The traditional Chinese medicines with anti-tumor indications were within 2 weeks before the first use of the study drug; 3. Received an unmarketed clinical investigational drug or treatment within 4 weeks prior to the first use of the investigational drug; 4. Has undergone major organ surgery (excluding needle biopsy, tracheotomy, gastrostomy, etc.) or has significant trauma within 4 weeks before the first use of study drugs, or needs to undergo elective surgery during the trial; 5. Patients who have previously been treated with paclitaxel, nab-paclitaxel, liposomal paclitaxel, and docetaxel; 6. Previous recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation or organ transplantation; 7. A history of serious cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, including but not limited to: * Severe cardiac rhythm or conduction abnormalities, such as ventricular arrhythmias requiring clinical intervention, grade iii atrioventricular block, etc. * In the resting state, QT interval was prolonged (QTc \> 450 msec in men or QTc \> 470 msec in women). * Acute coronary syndrome, congestive heart failure, aortic dissection, stroke or other grades 3 or higher cardio-cerebrovascular events within 6 months prior to the first administration; * New York Heart Association (NYHA) heart function grade ≥II heart failure; 8. Active autoimmune diseases and inflammatory diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic treatment of psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, etc., with the exception of type I diabetes, only replacement therapy can control hypothyroidism, no systemic treatment of skin disease (e.g., vitiligo, psoriasis); 9. A history of other malignancies within 5 years prior to first administration, except for radical basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and/or radical excised carcinoma in place, and second primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck; 10. Poorly controlled hypertension (systolic blood pressure \& GT; 150 mmHg or diastolic pressure \> 100 mmHg); 11. Pulmonary disease defined as grade 3 or higher according to CTCAE V5.0; Patients with past or present interstitial lung disease (ILD); 12. Cerebral parenchymal or meningeal metastases with clinical symptoms are not suitable for inclusion by the investigator; 13. Experienced ≥ grade 3 infusion-related reactions during previous anti-EGFR antibody therapy; 14. Known allergies to paclitaxel or its standard pretreatments or other contraindications to products containing castor oil; 15. Human immunodeficiency virus antibody (HIVAb) positive, active tuberculosis, active hepatitis B virus infection (HBV-DNA copy number \> 104) or hepatitis C virus infection (HCV-RNA \> center detection lower limit); 16. Active infections requiring systemic treatment, such as severe pneumonia, bacteremia, sepsis, etc.; 17. Pregnant or lactating women; 18. Persons with mental disorders or poor compliance; 19. The investigator considers that the subject has a history of other serious systemic diseases or other reasons and is not suitable to participate in this clinical study.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
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
-
Hunan Cancer Hospital
Changsha, Hunan, China
-
Shanghai Oriental Hospital
Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 200120, China
-
The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guizhou Medical University
Guiyang, Guizhou, China
-
The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University
Guilin, Guangxi, China
-
Union Hospital Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Wuhan, Hubei, China
-
West China Hospital,Sichuan University
Chengdu, Sichuan, China
-
Zhejiang Cancer Hospital
Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- New PET tracer aims to light up hidden cancer targets
- Can immunotherapy before surgery stop early oral cancer from returning?
- Can a glowing dye show surgeons where head and neck tumors end?
- Can a Four-Part combo before surgery wipe out head and neck tumors?
- Can a new drug shrink advanced solid tumors?
- Can steroid shots shield salivary glands from radiation damage?