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Pancreatic CancerPhase 2NCT04543071

Chemo4METPANC Combination Chemokine Inhibitor, Immunotherapy, and Chemotherapy in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

A Phase 2 study testing Motixafortide, Cemiplimab and Gemcitabine in people with Pancreatic Cancer and Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas, run by Columbia University at 5 sites in United States.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

The purpose of this study is to determine if combination treatment with cemiplimab, motixafortide, gemcitabine, and nab-paclitaxel is effective in decreasing the size of the tumor(s), if it will prolong life in patients, and if it's safe. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
Motixafortide, Cemiplimab and Gemcitabine
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
118 participants
Where
5 sitesUnited States
Study dates
9 Nov 2020to Aug 2028
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

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

  • Histological or pathological confirmation of metastatic pancreas adenocarcinoma
  • Cytologic or histologic proof of pancreas adenocarcinoma needs to be verified by the treating institution pathologist, either from the initial diagnostic biopsy or from the required pre-treatment biopsy, prior to initiation of any study-related therapy.
  • Pathologic confirmation of metastatic (stage IV) disease (unresectable) on research pretreatment biopsy is required prior to initiation of therapy.
  • Patients with endocrine or acinar pancreatic carcinoma are not eligible for the study.
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1
  • Age ≥18 years
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  • Adequate hematological and end-organ function (test results from within 14 days prior to initiation of study treatment):
  • Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 x 109/L without granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support
  • White Blood Cell Count (WBC) count ≥ 2.5 x 109 /L (2500/uL)
  • Lymphocyte count ≥ 0.5 x 109/L (500/uL)
  • Platelet count ≥ 100 x 109/L (100,000/uL) without transfusion
  • Hgb ≥ 9.0 g/dL
  • Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ≤ 2.5X upper limit of normal (ULN), unless elevated secondary to biliary obstruction from the pancreas mass and amenable to decompression prior to initiation of therapy
  • Serum total bilirubin ≤ 1.5X ULN, unless in patients with known Gilbert disease (≤ 3X ULN), or unless elevated secondary to biliary obstruction from the pancreas mass and amenable to decompression prior to administration of investigational therapy
  • Albumin ≥ 3.5 g/dL
  • Creatinine within ULN or calculated creatinine clearance (CrCl) >50 mL/min using the Cockcroft-Gault formula
  • International normalized ratio (INR) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) ≤ 1.5X ULN, except for those on stable anticoagulation for at least two weeks
  • Measurable disease according to Immune Modified (IM)-RECIST and tumor accessible for fresh biopsy
  • Negative pregnancy test: Women of child-bearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test at screening and must agree to use an effective form of contraception from the time of the negative pregnancy test until a minimum of 3 months after the last dose of study drug. Effective forms of contraception include abstinence, hormonal contraceptive (injectable or implantable) in conjunction with a barrier method. Women of non-child-bearing potential must have been postmenopausal for ≥ 1 year or surgically sterile.
  • Birth control agreement: Fertile men must agree to use an effective method of birth control with female partners of childbearing potential (condoms plus an additional contraceptive method such as an injectable or implantable hormonal contraceptive) during the study and for up to 3 months after the last dose of study drug.
  • Informed consent: Participants must be willing and able to provide written informed consent prior to any study-related procedures and to comply with all study requirements.
  • Ability to comply: Participants must be able to comply with the study protocol, according to the investigator's judgement.
  • DVT testing Participants must have undergone lower extremity dopplers to rule out deep venous thrombosis (DVT) within the screening period, and undergo therapeutic anticoagulation if evidence of DVT is identified.
  • Anticoagulation treatment Subjects who are stable on full-dose anticoagulation medication for at least 2 weeks are considered eligible. However, subjects who have an increased clot burden on full-dose anticoagulation, such as central pulmonary embolism, or peripheral pulmonary embolism, and DVT within the extremities will be considered eligible only with the approval of the Principal Investigator.

Who cannot join

  • Prior systemic therapy for PDAC: Participants may not have had systemic chemotherapy, investigational therapy, or treatment with T-cell co-stimulating or immune check point blockade therapies (including anti-CTLA-4, anti PD-1, and anti PD-L1 therapeutic antibodies) prior to initiation of study treatment.
  • Prior radiation therapy for PDAC Participants may not have had radiation therapy to within two weeks prior to initiation of study treatment. Participants may not have had previous radiotherapy to the primary pancreas lesion or a metastatic site except for palliation for pain. Participants who receive radiation to 25% or more of the bone marrow will be excluded.
  • Prior surgery for PDAC Participants may not have had surgical resection of PDAC prior to initiation of study treatment
  • Patients currently receiving any other investigational agents
  • Adverse events from prior anti-cancer therapy that have not resolved to Grade ≤ 1 or better, with the exception of alopecia of any grade and Grade ≤ 2 peripheral neuropathy
  • Concomitant treatment with other anti-neoplastic agents (hormone therapy acceptable)
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  • Uncontrolled pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, or ascites. Subjects who required drainage within the four weeks prior or require pleural, pericardial, or peritoneal catheters for drainage are ineligible.
  • Uncontrolled tumor-related pain Patients requiring narcotic pain medication must be on a stable regimen for at least two weeks prior to study entry.
  • History of leptomeningeal or brain/ Central Nervous System (CNS) metastases
  • Uncontrolled hypercalcemia (ionized calcium > 1.5 mmol/L, calcium > 12 mg/dL, or corrected serum calcium > upper limit of normal) or symptomatic hypercalcemia requiring continued use of bisphosphonate therapy.
  • Recent major surgery or significant traumatic injury Participants may not have undergone major surgery or experienced significant traumatic injury within 14 days prior to initiating study treatment, or be recovering from procedure related adverse events of > Grade 1.
  • Active or history of autoimmune disease or immune deficiency Includes, but is not limited to, myasthenia gravis, myositis, autoimmune hepatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, Wegener granulomatosis, Sjögren's syndrome, Guillain-Barré syndrome, or multiple sclerosis, with the following exceptions:
  • Patients with a history of autoimmune-related hypothyroidism who are on stable thyroid-replacement hormone for the past three months are eligible for the study.
  • Patients with controlled Type 1 diabetes mellitus who are on a stable insulin regimen for the past month are eligible for the study.
  • Patients with eczema, psoriasis, lichen simplex chronicus, or vitiligo with dermatologic manifestations only (e.g., patients with psoriatic arthritis are excluded) are eligible for the study provided all of following conditions are met:
  • Rash must cover <10% of body surface area;
  • Disease is well-controlled at baseline and requires only low-potency topical corticosteroids;
  • No occurrence of acute exacerbations of the underlying condition requiring psoralen plus ultraviolet A radiation, methotrexate, retinoids, biologic agents, oral calcineurin inhibitors, or high-potency or oral corticosteroids within the previous 12 months.
  • History of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, organizing pneumonia (e.g., bronchiolitis obliterans), drug-induced pneumonitis, or idiopathic pneumonitis, or evidence of active pneumonitis on screening chest computed tomography scan (history of radiation pneumonitis or fibrosis in the radiation field is permitted).
  • Positive for HIV at screening or any time prior to screening Patients without prior positive HIV test result will undergo an HIV test at screening, unless not permitted under local regulations.
  • Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (chronic or acute) Defined as having a positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) test at screening. Patients with a past or resolved HBV infection, defined as having a negative HBsAg test and a positive total hepatitis B core antibody test at screening, are eligible for the study.
  • Active hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection: Defined as positive HCV antibody test followed by a positive HCV RNA test at screening.
  • The HCV RNA test will be performed only for patients who have a positive HCV antibody test.
  • Known clinically significant liver disease, including alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, and inherited liver disease.
  • Active tuberculosis
  • Infection: Patients may not have had a severe infection requiring antibiotic treatment within the two weeks prior to initiation of study treatment. This includes, but is not limited to, hospitalization for complications of infection, bacteremia, or severe pneumonia. However, patients who were admitted for biliary tract infection due to bile duct obstruction at time of diagnosis must have a functioning biliary stent (as evidenced by declining total bilirubin and ≤ 2X ULN) and resolved infection (defined by normalization of elevated white blood cell count, absence of signs of infection) and completion of an antibiotic course (at least a seven-day course) prior to initiation of therapy. Patients receiving prophylactic antibiotics (e.g., to prevent a urinary tract infection or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation) are eligible for the study.
  • Significant cardiovascular disease: Patient may not have significant cardiovascular disease (such as New York Heart Association Class II or greater cardiac disease, myocardial infarction, or cerebrovascular accident) within 12 months prior to initiation of study treatment, seizure disorder, uncontrolled hypertension, or unstable arrhythmia or unstable angina within 3 months prior to initiation of study treatment.
  • Left ventricular ejection fraction below institutional lower limit of normal or below 50%, whichever is lower.
  • Baseline QTcF ≥ 450 ms (males) or ≥ 470 ms (females)
  • Grade ≥ 3 hemorrhage or bleeding event within 28 days prior to initiation of study treatment
  • Prior autologous stem cell, allogeneic stem cell, or solid organ transplantation
  • History of other malignancy Patient may not have a history of malignancy other than PDAC within two years prior to screening, with the exception of those with a negligible risk of metastasis or death (e.g., 5- year overall survival of > 90%), such as adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix, non-melanoma skin carcinoma, localized prostate cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ, or Stage I uterine cancer.
  • Recent vaccination: Patients may not have been treated with a live, attenuated vaccine within four weeks prior to initiation of study treatment, or anticipate the need for such a vaccine during treatment with cemiplimab or within five months after the last dose of cemiplimab.
  • History of severe allergic anaphylactic reactions to chimeric or humanized antibodies or fusion proteins
  • Known allergy or hypersensitivity to any of the study drug excipients
  • Recent immunosuppressive treatment: Patients may not have been treated with systemic immunosuppressive medication (including, but not limited to, corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, methotrexate, thalidomide, calcineurin inhibitors, and anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha agents) within two weeks prior to initiation of study treatment, or anticipate the need for systemic immunosuppressive medication during the course of the study, with the following exceptions:
  • Patients who received a one-time pulse dose of systemic immunosuppressant medication are eligible for the study after approval from the Principal Investigator.
  • Pregnancy: Pregnant women are excluded from this study because there is an unknown, but potential risk for adverse events to the fetus. Breastfeeding should be discontinued prior to start of treatment because there is an unknown, but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment.
  • Other contraindicated conditions Any other disease, metabolic dysfunction, physical examination finding, or clinical laboratory finding that contraindicates the use of an investigational drug, may affect the interpretation of the results, or may render the patient at high risk from treatment complications in the opinion of the treating investigator.
  • Uncontrolled psoriasis, porphyria, proximal myopathy or neuropathy
  • Severe depression Subjects hospitalized for depression within the past two years, or who have prior suicidal attempts will be excluded.
  • Has received transfusions of blood products (including platelets or red blood cells) within 4 weeks prior to study Day 1.
  • Patients who received mineralocorticoids (e.g., fludrocortisone), corticosteroids for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma, or low-dose corticosteroids for orthostatic hypotension or adrenal insufficiency are eligible for the study if receiving equivalent to ≤ 10 mg of prednisone daily (10mg prednisone is equivalent to either cortisone - 50mg; hydrocortisone - 40mg; triamcinolone - 8mg; prednisolone - 10mg; methylprednisolone - 8mg; betamethasone - 1.5mg; or dexamethasone - 1.5mg). Patients receiving > 10 mg of prednisone or equivalent per day for greater than five days within 28 days of starting study related therapy are not eligible. Steroids administered prior to gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel should be administered as per standard institutional guidelines.

Trial locations and contacts

5 sites in 1 country.

5 sites in 1 country

United States5 sites

  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02215

  • Medical College of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Diagnostic Labratories

    Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226

  • Columbia University Irving Medical Center

    New York, New York, 10032

  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

    New York, New York, 10065

  • Brown University

    Providence, Rhode Island, 02912

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: A Phase 2 Study With Combination Chemotherapy (Gemcitabine and Nab-Paclitaxel), Chemokine (C-X-C) Motif Receptor 4 Inhibitor (BL-8040), and Immune Checkpoint Blockade (Cemiplimab) in METastatic Treatment naïve PANCreas Adenocarcinoma

The purpose of this study is to determine if combination treatment with cemiplimab, motixafortide, gemcitabine, and nab-paclitaxel is effective in decreasing the size of the tumor(s), if it will prolong life in patients, and if it's safe. The treatment consists of standard chemotherapy (gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel) which is FDA approved and is standard treatment for patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Participants will receive immunotherapy (cemiplimab) which activates the body's immune system to attack cancer cells. Cemiplimab is FDA approved for treatment of skin cancer but not for pancreas cancer. Participants will also receive Motixafortide, a new medication which has shown in the laboratory to help immunotherapy work better. Motixafortide has been tested together with immunotherapy (Pembrolizumab), and chemotherapy (5-Fluorouracil and liposomal Irinotecan) and was deemed safe to test additional patients. Motixafortide has not been tested with the specific immunotherapy (Cemiplimab) and chemotherapy (gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel) which participants will receive and is being tested in this clinical trial.

Read the detailed description

Pancreas adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive pancreatic cancer for which little progress has been made towards effective treatment. This is a Phase 2 open-label, multi-center study for patients with treatment-naïve metastatic PDAC. The goal of the study is to assess the preliminary efficacy of a CXCR4 antagonist (motixafortide), (cemiplimab), gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel compared based on the response rate to historical controls in first line metastatic PDAC. Subjects will be treated with 5 days of motixafortide daily alone in the priming phase, followed by motixafortide twice a week, cemiplimab once every three weeks and and standard of care chemotherapy (gemcitabine and nabpaclitaxel).

Being tested
Motixafortide, Cemiplimab, Gemcitabine, Nab paclitaxel
Medical subject headings
Pancreatic Neoplasms, Adenocarcinoma

What participants receive

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

  • MotixafortideDrug

    Also called BL-8040

    1.25 mg/kg subcutaneous (SC) monotherapy daily for 5 days during priming, followed by twice weekly

  • CemiplimabDrug

    Also called REGN2810

    350 mg intravenous (IV) once every 21 days

  • GemcitabineDrug

    Also called Gemzar

    1000 mg/m2 IV on days days 1, 8, 14 (every 28 days)

  • Nab paclitaxelDrug

    Also called Abraxane

    125 mg/m2 IV on days 1, 8, 14 (every 28 days)

Study groups in NCT04543071
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Motixafortide, Cemiplimab, Gemcitabine, Nab-PaclitaxelExperimentalParticipants will receive standard FDA-approved doses of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel for pancreas cancer and cemiplimab at the dose that is approved for participants with skin cancer. Participants will also receive motixafortide at a dose that has been deemed safe in previous studies when used in combination with immunotherapy and chemotherapy. If the combination study treatment causes a serious side effect in participants, the study treatment will be modified.
Receives: Drug: Motixafortide; Drug: Cemiplimab; Drug: Gemcitabine; Drug: Nab paclitaxel

What is being measured

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

  1. Overall Response Rate (Complete Response (CR) + Partial Response (PR))

    Complete response is defined as the disappearance of all lesions. Partial response is defined as ≥30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions, in the absence of CR, new lesions, and unequivocal progression in non-target lesions.

    Measured: 16 weeks

Secondary outcomes (5)

  1. Incidence of Treatment Related Toxicities

    All participants will be evaluable for toxicity from the time of their first treatment with the study drugs. The counts of treatment-related toxicities will be reported by type and severity according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 5.

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  2. Median Overall Survival

    Overall survival is defined as the time from the date of first treatment with study drug to the time of death from any cause or last follow-up if alive.

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  3. Median Progression Free Survival

    Progression free survival is defined as the time from first treatment with the study drug to the earliest of either disease progression or death from any cause.

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  4. Duration of Clinical Benefit

    Duration of clinical benefit is defined as the time from first treatment with the study drug to the earliest of either disease progression or death from any cause in subjects who achieved a CR, PR, or stable disease (SD).

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  5. Disease Control Rate

    The number of participants that achieve disease control rate (CR+PR+SD) by 16 weeks.

    Measured: 16 weeks

Timeline

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

  1. First posted9 Sep 2020
  2. Study start9 Nov 2020
  3. Primary completionJun 2028 (estimated)
  4. Study completionAug 2028 (estimated)

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
Model description
The study will use a Simon optimal 2-stage design. An initial 10 patients will be recruited to assess dose level tolerability in Stage 1 pilot phase. An additional 108 patients will be recruited for Stage 2 if the efficacy threshold is met.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
118 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04543071
Sponsor's protocol ID
AAAS9513
Status last verified
Sep 2026
First submitted
10 Aug 2020
Last updated
21 Sep 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Undecided

Publications

  • Raufi AG, D'Souza EK, May MS, Sedycias S, Pellicciotta I, Pan S, Wang S, Palermo C, Sastra S, Sender N, Ross I, Li L, Luthria K, Shah P, Tagore S, Walsh ZH, Turk A, Sema B, Iuga A, Dajiang S, Kluger MD, Schrope BA, Brown D, Fojo T, Schvartzman JM, Pumpalova Y, Moy RH, Bates S, Wu L, Hibshoosh H, Tan AC, Schwartz GK, Chabot JA, Olive KP, Izar B, Manji GA. Motixafortide, cemiplimab, gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in metastatic pancreatic cancer: a single-arm phase 2 study with single-cell correlatives. Nat Commun. 2026 Aug 21;17(1):10350. doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-76559-4.

    PubMed 42811017

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing Motixafortide, Cemiplimab and Gemcitabine in people with Pancreatic Cancer and Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas, run by Columbia University at 5 sites in United States.

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 24 inclusion and 43 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: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 5 sites in United States. 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?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

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?

Overall Response Rate (Complete Response (CR) + Partial Response (PR)) (time frame: 16 weeks). 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 NCT04543071, which also lists 1 linked publication.

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 21 Sep 2026.

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