Clinical trial · Interventional
Study of Zanzalintinib (XL092) + Pembrolizumab vs Pembrolizumab in Subjects With PD-L1 Positive Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
A Phase 2/3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Study of Zanzalintinib (XL092) in Combination With Pembrolizumab vs Pembrolizumab in First-Line Treatment of Subjects With PD-L1 Positive Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled Phase 2/3 trial of zanzalintinib in combination with pembrolizumab versus zanzalintinib-matched placebo in combination with pembrolizumab in subjects with programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) positive recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) incurable by local therapies who have not received prior systemic therapy for recurrent or metastatic disease.
Conditions
Conditions (1)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma | Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma | ONTOLOGY_EXACT | 0.98 |
Interventions
Interventions (3)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pembrolizumab | Biological | Pembrolizumab | ALIAS |
| Zanzalintinib | Drug | — | UNRESOLVED |
| Zanzalintinib-matched Placebo | Drug | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (2)
- type
- EXPERIMENTAL
- label
- Zanzalintinib + Pembrolizumab
- description
- Subjects with R/M HNSCC will receive zanzalintinib + pembrolizumab
- interventionNames
- Drug: Zanzalintinib
- Biological: Pembrolizumab
- type
- PLACEBO_COMPARATOR
- label
- Zanzalintinib-Matched Placebo + Pembrolizumab
- description
- Subjects with R/M HNSCC will receive zanzalintinib-matched placebo + pembrolizumab
- interventionNames
- Drug: Zanzalintinib-matched Placebo
- Biological: Pembrolizumab
Primary outcomes (2)
- measure
- Progression-Free Survival (PFS) per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR)
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- All
- Minimum age
- 18 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically or cytologically-confirmed R/M HNSCC that is considered incurable by local therapy. * Should not have had prior systemic therapy administered in the recurrent or metastatic setting. Systemic therapy which was completed more than 6 months prior to randomization if given as part of multimodal treatment for locally advanced disease is allowed. * The eligible primary tumor locations are the oropharynx, oral cavity, hypopharynx, and larynx. * PD-L1 expression level Combined Positive Score (CPS) ≥ 1. * Participants with oropharyngeal cancer must have human papillomavirus (HPV) status from tumor tissue. * Measurable disease according to RECIST 1.1 as determined by the Investigator. * Tumor samples (archival or fresh tumor biopsy) are required. If archival tissue is unavailable, must provide fresh tumor tissue biopsy prior to randomization. * Recovery to baseline or ≤ Grade 1 severity (CTCAE v5) from adverse events (AEs) related to any prior treatments, unless AE(s) are clinically nonsignificant and/or stable on supportive therapy. * Age 18 years (or the legal age of consent in your country, if higher than 18) or older on the day of consent. * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-1. * Adequate organ and marrow function. Exclusion Criteria: * Nasopharynx, salivary gland or occult primary site (regardless of p16 status). * Has disease that is suitable for local therapy administered with curative intent. * Has received prior therapy with zanzalintinib, any 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 (for example, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), OX-40, CD137). * Life expectancy \< 3 months. * Had progressive disease within 6 months of completion of curatively intended systemic treatment for locoregionally advanced HNSCC. * Radiation therapy for bone metastases within 2 weeks, any other radiation therapy within 4 weeks prior to randomization. * Known brain metastases or cranial epidural disease unless adequately treated with radiotherapy and/or surgery (including radiosurgery) and stable for at least 4 weeks prior to randomization. * Positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) test. * Positive hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody test. * Major surgery (eg, GI surgery, removal or biopsy of brain metastasis) within 8 weeks prior to randomization. Complete wound healing from major or minor surgery must have occurred at least prior to randomization. * Corrected QT interval calculated by the Fridericia formula (QTcF) \> 480 ms per electrocardiogram (ECG) within 28 days before randomization. * Pregnant or lactating females. * Administration of a live, attenuated vaccine within 30 days before randomization.
References
Publications (1)
- DERIVEDSaba NF, Harrington K, Licitra L, Machiels JP, He C, Jew T, Andrianov V, Haddad R. STELLAR-305: phase II/III study of zanzalintinib plus pembrolizumab versus pembrolizumab alone in patients with HNSCC. Future Oncol. 2025 May;21(11):1349-1356. doi: 10.1080/14796694.2025.2485015. Epub 2025 Apr 18. PMID 40248950