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Metastatic Head and Neck CancerPhase 2VERSATILE002NCT04260126

Study of PDS0101 and Pembrolizumab Combination I/O in Subjects With HPV16 + Recurrent and/or Metastatic HNSCC

A Phase 2 study testing Pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®) and PDS0101 in people with Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer and Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer, run by PDS Biotechnology Corp. at 23 sites in 4 countries.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

VERSATILE-002 is a Phase 2, open-label, multicenter study of the efficacy and safety of PDS0101 administered in combination with pembrolizumab in adults with HPV16 and PD-L1 positive recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
Pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®) and PDS0101
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
95 participants
Where
23 sitesin 4 countries
Study dates
29 Mar 2021to 14 May 2025
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

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 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • The participant (or legally acceptable representative if applicable) provides written informed consent for the study.
  • Be ≥18 years of age on the day of signing the informed consent.
  • Checkpoint-naïve subjects: Have a history of histologically- confirmed diagnosis of squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (HNSCC) that is recurrent, metastatic, or persistent with:
  • Confirmed HPV16 infection
  • Confirmed tumor PDL1 expression defined as a combined positive score (CPS) ≥1 using the FDA-approved Dako PD-L1 immunohistochemistry (IHC) 22C3 PharmDx Assay.
  • No prior receipt of any immunological therapy for metastatic disease.
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  • Checkpoint experienced subjects have a history of histologically-confirmed diagnosis of HNSCC that is recurrent, metastatic, or persistent with:
  • Confirmed HPV16 infection
  • Characterization of tumor PDL1 expression using the FDA-approved PD-L1 IHC 22C3 PharmDx Assay.
  • Receipt of prior treatment with checkpoint inhibitors as a single agent or in combination, and have received at least 2 doses of the agent or a minimum of 6 weeks on treatment
  • Have documented clinical progression or recurrence that has been radiologically confirmed
  • Have recurrent and/or metastatic measurable disease based on RECIST 1.1 as assessed by the local PI/radiology. There must be confirmation that the subject's imaging shows at least 1 lesion that is appropriate for selection as a target lesion per RECIST 1.1. Lesions situated in a previously irradiated area are considered measurable if progression has been demonstrated in such lesions.
  • Have adequate organ function as defined in Hematological: ANC ≥1500/μL, Platelets ≥100 000/μL; Hemoglobin ≥9.0 g/dL or ≥5.6 mmol/L; Renal: Creatinine ≤1.5 × ULN measured or calculated creatinine clearance >30mL/min with creatinine levels or >1.5 × institutional ULN; Hepatic: Total bilirubin ≤1.5 × ULN or direct bilirubin ≤ULN for subjects with total bilirubin levels >1.5 × ULN, AST and ALT ≤2.5 ULN (5 × ULN for subjects with liver metastases); Coagulation: INR, PTT ≤1.5 × ULN. Specimens must be collected within 10 days prior to the start of study combination treatment.
  • If subject received major surgery or radiation therapy of >30 Gy, they must have recovered from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention.
  • For female subjects defined as women of childbearing potential (WOCBP), a negative urine pregnancy test must be obtained during screening. Women who are surgically sterile or at least 2 years postmenopausal do not require pregnancy testing.
  • Note: Female subjects of childbearing potential must be willing to use an effective method of contraception for the course of the study through 120 days after the last dose of study medication.
  • Male subjects of childbearing potential must agree to use a condom as an effective method of contraception starting with the first dose of study therapy through 120 days after the last dose of study therapy.
  • Have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1.

Who cannot join

  • Pregnancy Exclusion: A female subject defined as a WOCBP who has a positive urine pregnancy test (within 72 hours) prior to treatment. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required.
  • Has received prior therapy with 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 (e.g. CTLA-4, OX40, CD137) and was discontinued from that treatment due to a Grade 3 or higher AE.
  • Has received prior systemic anti-cancer therapy including investigational agents within 30 days prior to treatment.
  • Note: Subjects must have recovered from all AEs due to previous therapies to ≤Grade 1 or baseline. Subjects with ≤Grade 2 neuropathy and ≤Grade 2 alopecia are an exception to this criterion and may qualify for therapy.
  • Note: If participant received major surgery, they must have recovered adequately from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention prior to starting treatment.
  • Has received prior radiotherapy within 2 weeks of start of study treatment. Subjects must have recovered from all-radiation-related toxicities, not require corticosteroids and not have had radiation pneumonitis. A 1-week washout is permitted for palliative radiation (<2 weeks of radiotherapy) to non- CNS disease.
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  • Coordination and timing of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination should be based on local investigator clinical assessment and judgment.
  • Note: Whenever possible, it is recommended to avoid COVID vaccination on the day of PDS0101 and/or pembrolizumab dosing because it may be difficult to attribute certain AEs (eg, fever, infusion reaction) to the study drug(s) or the COVID vaccine if they are both administered on the same day.
  • Has received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of treatment. Examples of live vaccines include, but are not limited to, the following: measles, mumps, rubella, varicella/zoster (chicken pox), yellow fever, rabies, Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), and typhoid vaccine. Seasonal influenza vaccines for injection are generally killed virus vaccines and are allowed; however, intranasal influenza vaccines (e.g. FluMist®) are live attenuated vaccines and are not allowed.
  • Received immunotherapy/immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive agents (e.g. IFNs, tumor necrosis factor, interleukins, immunoglobulins or other biological response modifiers [GM-CSF, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, macrophage colony- stimulating factor]) within 6 weeks prior to administration of the first study combination treatment.
  • Is currently participating in or has participated in a study of an investigational agent or has used an investigational device within 30 days prior to the first dose of study treatment.
  • Note: Subjects who entered the follow-up phase of an investigational study may participate as long as it has been 30 days after the last dose of the previous investigational agent.
  • Has undergone prior allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation within the last 5 years. (Subjects eligible as long as there are no symptoms of graft- versus-host disease (GVHD).
  • 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. Current or recent use of physiologic doses of intra-articular, topical, or inhaled corticosteroids is acceptable.
  • Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 3 years. Note: Subjects with basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ (eg, breast carcinoma, cervical cancer in situ) or other malignant tumors that have undergone potentially curative therapy are not excluded.
  • Has known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatosis meningitis. Subjects 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 repeat imaging should be performed during study screening clinical stable and without requirement of steroid treatment for at least 14 days prior to first dose of study treatment).
  • Has severe hypersensitivity (≥Grade 3) to pembrolizumab and/or any of its excipients.
  • Has an active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years (i.e. with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids, or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (e.g. thyroxine, insulin or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency) is not consider a form of systemic treatment and is allowed.
  • Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or has current pneumonitis.
  • Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy.
  • Subjects with known HIV and/or history of Hepatitis B or C infections or known to be positive for Hepatitis B antigen (HBsAg)/Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA or Hepatitis C Antibody or RNA. Active Hepatitis C is defined by a known positive Hep C Ab result and known quantitative HCV RNA results greater than the lower limits of detection of the assay.
  • Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the study, interfere with the participant's participation for the full duration of the study, or is not in the best interest of the participant to participate, in the opinion of the treating Investigator.
  • Has a known psychiatric or substance abuse disorder that would interfere with the subject's ability to cooperate with the requirements of the study.
  • 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 any study treatment.
  • Has had an allogenic tissue/solid organ transplant.
  • Has received administration of colony-stimulating factors (including G-CSF, GM-CSF or recombinant erythropoietin) within 30 days prior to Day 1.
  • Has a history of interstitial lung disease.
  • Female subjects defined as WOCBP unwilling or unable to use highly effective contraception method(s) for the duration of the study:
  • Combined (estrogen and progestogen containing) hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation.
  • Progestogen-only hormonal contraception
  • Intrauterine device
  • Intrauterine hormone-releasing system
  • Bilateral tubal occlusion
  • Vasectomized partner is a highly effective birth control method provided that partner is the sole sexual partner of the WOCBP trial participant and that the vasectomised partner has received medical assessment of the surgical success.
  • Any prior Grade ≥3 immune-related adverse event(irAE) while receiving any previous checkpoint inhibitor or immunotherapy agent, or any unresolved irAE >Grade 1 except for endocrine AEs managed with replacement therapy.
  • Developed immune-related toxicity while on prior checkpoint inhibitor therapy that has not yet returned to Grade 1 or better.
  • History of any drug allergies or significant adverse reactions to any of the components of PDS0101

Trial locations and contacts

23 sites in 4 countries.

23 sites in 4 countries

United States18 sites

  • University of Michigan

    Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109

  • University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Baltimore, Maryland, 21201

  • University of North Carolina

    Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599

  • Medical University of South Carolina Hollings Cancer Center

    Charleston, South Carolina, 29425

  • The University of Virginia

    Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908

  • Ohio State University

    Columbus, Ohio, 43210

  • Texas Oncology - Sammons Cancer Center

    Dallas, Texas, 75246

  • Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute

    Detroit, Michigan, 48201

  • Marin Cancer Center

    Greenbrae, California, 94904

  • Mayo Clinic

    Jacksonville, Florida, 32224

  • University of Tennessee

    Knoxville, Tennessee, 37920

  • University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center - Markey Cancer Center

    Lexington, Kentucky, 40536

  • West Virginia University

    Morgantown, West Virginia, 26506

  • Atlantic Health

    Morristown, New Jersey, 07962

  • Fox Chase Cancer Center

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19111

  • Mayo Clinic

    Rochester, Minnesota, 55902

  • University of California San Francisco

    San Francisco, California, 94158

  • Cleveland Clinic Florida

    Weston, Florida, 33331

Other trials in United States

United Kingdom3 sites

  • The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust (Chelsea)

    Chelsea, London, SW3 6JJ

  • Edinburgh Cancer Centre

    Edinburgh, UK EH4 2XU

  • The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust (Sutton)

    Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5PT

Other trials in United Kingdom

Ireland1 site

  • St. James Hospital

    Dublin, D08NHY1

Other trials in Ireland

Puerto Rico1 site

  • FDI Clinical Research

    San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00927

Other trials in Puerto Rico

About this study

Official title: A Phase II, Open-Label, Multi-Center Study of PDS0101 and Pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®) Combination Immunotherapy in Subjects With Recurrent and/or Metastatic HNSCC and High-Risk HPV16 Infection

VERSATILE-002 is a Phase 2, open-label, multicenter study of the efficacy and safety of PDS0101 administered in combination with pembrolizumab in adults with HPV16 and PD-L1 positive recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Read the detailed description

PDS0101 is a novel T-cell HPV-specific immunotherapy delivered subcutaneously that has been shown to stimulate high levels of HPV16-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells within patients by activating multiple immune pathways. These HPV-specific T cells then target tumors such as head and neck, anal and cervical cancers that are caused by HPV infection. The number of HNSCC cases has been increasing steadily over the last 10-15 years and over 90% of HPV-positive head and neck cancers are HPV16 positive. Pembrolizumab has been shown to have efficacy against both HPV-positive and HPV-negative head and neck cancers. However, its effectiveness is more optimal in tumors that are PD-L1 positive and have evidence of immune cells within the tumor. We hypothesize that increasing tumor-targeting HPV-specific T-cells with PDS0101 will be associated with an increased response to pembrolizumab. This study will explore in a preliminary manner whether combination treatment with PDS0101 plus pembrolizumab will improve clinical efficacy over that seen with pembrolizumab alone in the KEYNOTE-048 study. Subjects will be enrolled into either the checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) naïve cohort or the CPI refractory cohort.

Being tested
Pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®) and PDS0101
Keywords
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Human Papillomavirus, Immunotherapy, PDS0101, Vaccine, Human papillomavirus 16, Keynote 643, MK3475-643
Medical subject headings
Head and Neck Neoplasms, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck

What participants receive

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

  • Pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®) and PDS0101Combination product

    IV infusion of pembrolizumab 200 mg + two 0.5mL sub-cutaneous injections of PDS0101 administered on Cycle 1, 2, 3, 4 and 12. IV infusion of Pembrolizumab 200 mg monotherapy will be administered Cycles 5 - 11 and 13 - 35.

Study groups in NCT04260126
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Pembrolizumab and PDS0101ExperimentalPembrolizumab will be administered via IV Infusion followed by subcutaneous injections of PDS0101 five times throughout the course of the study. Pembrolizumab monotherapy will be administered every cycle there is not a combination treatment until disease progression or up to Cycle 35.
Receives: Combination Product: Pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®) and PDS0101

What is being measured

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

  1. Best Overall Response (BOR) of confirmed complete response (CR) or confirmed partial response (PR) of the combination of pembrolizumab and PDS0101.

    RECIST 1.1

    Measured: 24 Months

Secondary outcomes (3)

  1. Progression-Free Survival (PFS) in all patients

    RECIST 1.1

    Measured: 12 and 24 months

  2. Overall Survival in all patients

    Overall survival (OS) is defined as time from date of first dose until death from any cause. Those subjects who are still alive will be censored at their last known date of contact.

    Measured: 24 months

  3. Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events using NCI CTCAE, version 50 (v.11.27.17) [Safety and Tolerability] of Pembrolizumab and PDS0101 combination treatment

    AE's will be summarized by severity using NCI CTCAE, version 50 (v.11.27.17) and by relationship to study treatment.

    Measured: 24 months

Timeline

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

  1. First posted7 Feb 2020
  2. Study start29 Mar 2021
  3. Primary completion14 May 2025
  4. Study completion14 May 2025

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
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
95 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04260126
Sponsor's protocol ID
PDS0101-HNC-201
Other IDs
KEYNOTE 643, MK-3475-643, 2021-004046-38
Acronym
VERSATILE002
Status last verified
Sep 2025
First submitted
5 Feb 2020
Last updated
1 Oct 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Gandhapudi SK, Ward M, Bush JPC, Bedu-Addo F, Conn G, Woodward JG. Antigen Priming with Enantiospecific Cationic Lipid Nanoparticles Induces Potent Antitumor CTL Responses through Novel Induction of a Type I IFN Response. J Immunol. 2019 Jun 15;202(12):3524-3536. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1801634. Epub 2019 May 3.

    PubMed 31053626

  • Weiss J, Kaczmar J, Chintakuntlawar A, Worden FP, Mehra R, Kang H, Zinner RG, Arnold SM, Bhateja P, Harrington K, Gupta S, Zhao Y, Pham DC, Najeeb S, Kaur V, Sukari A, Giri A, Panella TJ, Grewal J, Galligan B, Nadler E, Grant C, Arteta-Bulos R, Noble DJ, Schaaf D, Price KAR. PDS0101 With Pembrolizumab in HPV16-Positive Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Phase 2 Nonrandomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncol. 2026 Sep 17:e263492. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2026.3492. Online ahead of print.

    PubMed 42752531

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing Pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®) and PDS0101 in people with Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer and Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer, run by PDS Biotechnology Corp. at 23 sites in 4 countries.

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 18 inclusion and 37 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 Oct 2025. 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 United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Puerto Rico. 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?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

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?

Best Overall Response (BOR) of confirmed complete response (CR) or confirmed partial response (PR) of the combination of pembrolizumab and PDS0101. (time frame: 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 NCT04260126, which also lists 2 linked publications.

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 1 Oct 2025.

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