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Head and Neck NeoplasmsPhase 2BelieveIT-201NCT05980598

TransCon (TC) TLR7/8 Agonist, TC IL-2 β/γ, Pembrolizumab Prior to Surgery for Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

A Phase 2 study testing TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist, Pembrolizumab and TransCon IL-2 β/γ in people with Head and Neck Neoplasms, run by Ascendis Pharma A/S at 65 sites in 8 countries.

Terminated

Stopped early. The study ended before it was planned to and will not resume.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of this trial is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist, TransCon IL-2 β/γ, and pembrolizumab given prior to curative intent surgery in treatment of participants with newly diagnosed Stage III/IVA resectable locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC). Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Head and Neck Neoplasms
What is being tested?
TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist, Pembrolizumab and TransCon IL-2 β/γ
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
27 participants
Where
65 sitesin 8 countries
Study dates
29 Sep 2023to 28 Mar 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

  • Has local histologically confirmed new diagnosis of resectable, non-metastatic, SCC that is either: Stage III tumor HPV-positive oropharyngeal primary that is tumor size (T) 4, lymph node involvement (N) 0-2, no distant metastases (M) 0; Stage III or IVA oropharyngeal tumor HPV-negative; or Stage III or IVA larynx/hypopharynx/oral cavity primaries regardless of HPV status (per American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC] Staging, 8th edition).
  • Has available archived or fresh core or excisional biopsy of a tumor lesion. Note: Fine needle aspirations may be allowed after discussion with Medical Monitor.
  • Is eligible and plans for primary LA-HNSCC surgery based on investigator decision and per local practice.
  • Has results from tumor HPV status by p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC) for oropharyngeal tumors. (HPV DNA analysis for HPV tumor status is acceptable if that is the local standard of care analysis.)
  • Has adequate organ function at screening.
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 or 1.
  • Has at least one lesion that is deemed by the investigator to be easily and safely accessible for IT injection.

Who cannot join

  • Active autoimmune conditions.
  • Has significant cardiac disease.
  • Has a known bleeding disorder that is deemed to place the participant at unacceptable risk for bleeding complications from IT injections or biopsies.
  • Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving systemic steroid therapy (in doses exceeding 10 mg daily of prednisone equivalent) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to randomization.

Trial locations and contacts

65 sites in 8 countries.

65 sites in 8 countries

United States16 sites
  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02114

  • Ascendis Pharma Investigational Site

    Canton, Ohio, 44718

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Charleston, South Carolina, 29425

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Chicago, Illinois, 60612

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Cincinnati, Ohio, 45219

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Columbus, Ohio, 43210

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Detroit, Michigan, 48201

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Houston, Texas, 77030

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Iowa City, Iowa, 52242

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Knoxville, Tennessee, 37902

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Los Angeles, California, 90067

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Louisville, Kentucky, 40202

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    New York, New York, 11794

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Rochester, Minnesota, 55905

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    San Francisco, California, 94158

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Springfield, Illinois, 62702

Other trials in United States

Spain16 sites
  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Barcelona, 08003

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Barcelona, 08035

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    El Palmar, 30120

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Lugo, 27003

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Madrid, 28027

  • Ascendis Investigational Site II

    Madrid, 28040

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Madrid, 28040

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Madrid, 28050

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Málaga, 29011

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Pamplona, 31008

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Terrassa, 08221

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Valencia, 46009

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Valencia, 46014

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Valencia, 46026

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Zaragoza, 50009

Other trials in Spain

Italy8 sites
  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Meldola, 47014

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Milan, 20133

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Milan, 20141

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Modena, 41125

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Naples, 80131

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Novara, 28100

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Pavia, 27100

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Rozzano, 20089

Other trials in Italy

Georgia6 sites
  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Kutaisi, Imereti, 4600

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Tbilisi, 0114

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Tbilisi, 0144

  • Ascendis Investigational Site II

    Tbilisi, 0159

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Tbilisi, 0159

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Tbilisi, 0186

Other trials in Georgia

Germany6 sites
  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Erlangen, Bavaria, 91054

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Greifswald, 17475

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Jena, 07747

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Leipzig, 04103

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Mannheim, 68167

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Ulm, 89075

Other trials in Germany

Hungary5 sites
  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Budapest, 1122

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Debrecen, 4032

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Győr, 9024

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Pécs, Baranya, 7624

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Zalaegerszeg, 8900

Other trials in Hungary

Taiwan5 sites
  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Kaohsiung City, 80708

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Kaohsiung City, 83301

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Taichung, 404

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Tainan, 70456

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Taoyuan, 333

Other trials in Taiwan

Poland3 sites
  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Gliwice, 44-102

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Siedlce, 08-110

  • Ascendis Investigational Site

    Warsaw, 02-781

Other trials in Poland

About this study

Official title: BelieveIT-201: Phase 2, Randomized Open-labeled Trial of TransCon (TC) TLR7/8 Agonist in Combination With Pembrolizumab or With TC IL-2 β/γ, or Pembrolizumab Alone as Neoadjuvant Therapy for Stage III-IVA Resectable Locoregionally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The purpose of this trial is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist, TransCon IL-2 β/γ, and pembrolizumab given prior to curative intent surgery in treatment of participants with newly diagnosed Stage III/IVA resectable locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC). After surgery, participants will receive local standard-of-care treatment and will be followed for safety, efficacy, and survival for up to 2 years.

This trial contains a safety run-in to evaluate the safety and tolerability of the two treatment arms: Arm A (TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist plus pembrolizumab) and Arm B (TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist plus TransCon IL-2 β/γ). The safety run-in will be followed by the randomized Phase 2, open-label part of the trial comparing the safety, efficacy and survival of treatment Arm A or Arm B compared to treatment Arm C (pembrolizumab monotherapy).

Read the detailed description

This is a randomized, Phase 2, open-label, multicenter trial of TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist in combination with pembrolizumab, TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist in combination with TransCon IL-2 β/γ, or pembrolizumab monotherapy as neoadjuvant therapy in participants with Stage III-IVA resectable LA-HNSCC.

This trial starts with a safety run-in of 12 participants, 6 participants each in Arms A (TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist plus pembrolizumab) and B (TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist plus TransCon IL-2 β/γ) randomized 1:1.

After completing the safety run-in, 80 participants will be randomized in a 2:2:1 ratio in 3 treatment Arms A, B or C (pembrolizumab monotherapy).

Once randomized, participants should begin treatment within 5 calendar days. Participants enrolled after the safety run-in, into the 2:2:1 randomization part of the trial, will be stratified as follows: oropharyngeal HPV p16 positive versus oropharyngeal HPV p16 negative or larynx/hypopharyngeal/oral cavity regardless of HPV p16 status. All participants should receive study drug(s) every 21 days (Q21D) for 2 cycles followed by curative-intent surgery. After surgery, participants may receive standard-of-care treatment in the adjuvant setting, as per investigator's decision and local guidelines.

Being tested
TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist, Pembrolizumab, TransCon IL-2 β/γ
Keywords
HNSCC, Head and Neck Cancer, TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist, TC TLR7/8, TransCon IL-2 β/γ, TC IL-2 β/γ, Neoadjuvant, Neoadjuvant Head and Neck, LA-HNSCC, Locoregionally Advanced HNSCC
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.

  • TransCon TLR7/8 AgonistDrug

    TLR7/8 agonist prodrug

  • PembrolizumabDrug

    Also called Keytruda™

    A type of immunotherapy that works by blocking the PD-1 pathway to help prevent cancer cells from hiding

  • TransCon IL-2 β/γDrug

    Sustained systemic release of IL-2 β/γ with selective receptor binding that may stimulate the immune system to kill cancer cells

Study groups in NCT05980598
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist in combination with pembrolizumabExperimentalParticipants receive 2 cycles, once every 3 weeks of TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist intratumoral (IT) injection in combination with pembrolizumab as a 30-minute intravenous (IV) infusion
Receives: Drug: TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist; Drug: Pembrolizumab
TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist in combination with TransCon IL-2 β/γExperimentalParticipants receive 2 cycles, once every 3 weeks of TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist (IT injection) in combination with TransCon IL-2 β/γ as a 30-minute IV infusion
Receives: Drug: TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist; Drug: TransCon IL-2 β/γ
PembrolizumabActive comparatorParticipants receive 2 cycles, once every 3 weeks of pembrolizumab alone as a 30-minute IV infusion
Receives: Drug: Pembrolizumab

What is being measured

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

  1. Major Pathological Response

    The proportion of participants with a major pathological response (mPR) as assessed by the Central Pathologist at the time of definitive surgery. mPR is defined as ≤10% invasive squamous cell carcinoma within the resected primary tumor specimen and all the sampled regional lymph nodes.

    Measured: Up to 6 weeks after Cycle 2 (each cycle is 21 days)

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Pathological Complete Response

    A central pathology laboratory and local hospital pathologist will evaluate if all the tumor is completely gone from the primary tumor and all the lymph nodes that were removed at surgery.

    Measured: Up to 6 weeks after Cycle 2 (each cycle is 21 days)

  2. Event Free Survival

    The time from the date of randomization to the date of first record of any of the following events: disease progression; local or distant recurrence determined by radiology scans or tumor biopsy as needed, or death due to any cause.

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  3. Overall Survival

    The time from randomization to death due to any cause.

    Measured: Up to 5 years

  4. Safety and Tolerability

    Incidence and severity of adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs).

    Measured: From time of signing of the ICF up to 100 (±7) days following the last dose of study drug

Timeline

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

  1. First posted8 Aug 2023
  2. Study start29 Sep 2023
  3. Primary completion28 Mar 2025
  4. Study completion28 Mar 2025

Why it stopped: The Sponsor made the decision to close enrollment as part of a strategic portfolio review.

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
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
27 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05980598
Sponsor's protocol ID
ASND0038
Acronym
BelieveIT-201
Status last verified
Jul 2025
First submitted
20 Jul 2023
Last updated
1 Aug 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing TransCon TLR7/8 Agonist, Pembrolizumab and TransCon IL-2 β/γ in people with Head and Neck Neoplasms, run by Ascendis Pharma A/S at 65 sites in 8 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 7 inclusion and 4 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: stopped early, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 Aug 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 65 sites in United States, Spain, Italy, Georgia, Germany and 3 more countries. 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 was stopped early (reason given: The Sponsor made the decision to close enrollment as part of a strategic portfolio review.). Results are not available in the source record.

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?

Major Pathological Response (time frame: Up to 6 weeks after Cycle 2 (each cycle is 21 days)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
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 Aug 2025.

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