Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (other)
Phase: 2
Start date: Dec. 2, 2024
Planned enrollment: 24
Ivonescimab (AK112/SMT112) is a bispecific antibody studied primarily in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It has human phase 3 results, including trials comparing it with established immunotherapy or adding it to chemotherapy. The results apply to different patient groups and should not be treated as interchangeable. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Ivonescimab targets both PD-1, an immune checkpoint, and VEGF-A, a protein involved in blood-vessel formation. It is designed to counter immune suppression and tumor angiogenesis simultaneously; whether this design provides a benefit depends on the clinical setting. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events were more frequent with ivonescimab in some comparisons: 29% versus 16% with pembrolizumab in HARMONi-2, and 64% versus 54% with tislelizumab plus chemotherapy in HARMONi-6. In the global HARMONi trial, prominent grade 3–4 events included reduced blood-cell counts; treatment-related deaths occurred in both study groups. These rates come from different regimens and populations and cannot be directly compared across trials. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Last updated: Sep 2026
Goal: Assess whether ivonescimab controls advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) after anti-PD-1 therapy, while evaluating its safety and tolerability.
Patients: Adults with unresectable or metastatic cSCC refractory to anti-PD-1 therapy, measurable disease, ECOG performance status 0–1, and adequate organ function. Key exclusions include prior anti-PD-1 toxicity requiring treatment interruption or immunosuppression, active autoimmune disease, and significant recent cardiovascular, bleeding, or thromboembolic events.
Design: Single-arm treatment study; participants are not randomized, and there is no control group.
Treatments: Ivonescimab is given intravenously over approximately 1–2 hours on day 1 of each 21-day cycle. This investigational bispecific antibody targets PD-1 and VEGF-A to address immune suppression and tumor angiogenesis. Phase 3 trials in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer have shown improved progression-free survival in several settings, but those results do not establish efficacy in cSCC.
Outcomes: The stated primary objective is objective response rate, with additional measures of antitumor activity, safety, tolerability, and exploratory predictors of response or resistance. The listed primary outcome is adverse-event incidence, graded by NCI CTCAE v5.0 through study completion, averaging one year.
Burden on patient: Moderate: intravenous treatment and clinic visits every three weeks, plus safety monitoring and tumor assessments, require repeated travel and time at the treatment center. The provided information does not specify mandatory research biopsies or intensive pharmacokinetic sampling.
Last updated: Sep 2026
Caution: ClinicalTrials.gov appears to have newer eligibility criteria than the version saved here. Review the current criteria in ClinicalTrials.gov.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Ability to understand and willingness to sign informed consent form prior to initiation of the study and any study procedures.
* Age ≥18 years.
* Has advanced (unresectable and/or metastatic) cSCC.
* Refractory to anti-PD-1 therapy. There is no limit on the number of prior lines of therapy.
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1.
* Measurable disease per the RECIST v1.1
* Life expectancy ≥3 months per treating physician's discretion.
* Adequate organ and marrow function as defined below within 28 days of study treatment initiation:
* Hemoglobin \>9.0 g/dL
* Absolute neutrophil count ≥1500/mL
* Platelets ≥100,000/mL
* Total bilirubin ≤1.5 institutional upper limit of normal (ULN). Documented Gilbert syndrome is allowed if total bilirubin is ≤3 × ULN.
* AST/alanine transaminase ≤2.5 × institutional ULN. Transaminases up to 3 × ULN in the presence of liver metastases.
* Serum creatinine ≤1.5 × ULN OR measured or calculated creatinine clearance (CrCl; glomerular filtration rate can also be used in place of creatinine or CrCl) ≥60 mL/min for participants with creatinine levels \>1.5 × institutional ULN (CrCl should be calculated per institutional standard).
* Urine protein \<2+ or 24-hour urine protein quantification \<1.0 g
* For participants not receiving therapeutic anticoagulation: international normalized ratio or activated partial thromboplastin time ≤1.5 × ULN. For patients receiving therapeutic anticoagulation: stable anticoagulant regimen.
* Albumin \>2.5 mg/dL.
* Participants must have adequate washout from prior therapy at the time of study treatment initiation: 4 weeks from major surgery; 4 weeks from antibody-based therapy; 2 weeks or 5 half-lives (whichever is shorter) from any targeted therapy or small molecule therapy; 3 weeks or 5 half-lives (whichever is shorter) from chemotherapy or 6 weeks in the case of certain therapies (e.g., extensive radiotherapy, mitomycin C, and nitrosoureas); 4 weeks from radiation therapy; and at least 2 weeks from palliative radiotherapy.
* Prior treatment with anti-VEGF therapy is allowed.
* Adequately controlled blood pressure with 0 or 1 antihypertensive medication (defined as blood pressure ≤150/100 mmHg at screening and no changes in antihypertensive medication within 7 days of Day 1 Cycle 1.
* Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) should have a negative urine or serum pregnancy within 72 hours prior to study treatment initiation. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required.
* WOCBP must agree to use adequate contraception during the study treatment period and for 120 days after completion of study treatment. A woman is considered to be of childbearing potential if she is postmenarcheal, has not reached a postmenopausal state (≥12 continuous months of amenorrhea with no identified cause other than menopause), and is not permanently infertile due to surgery (i.e., removal of ovaries, fallopian tubes, and/or uterus) or another cause as determined by the investigator (e.g., Müllerian agenesis). Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately.
* Male participants of childbearing potential must agree to use adequate contraception during the study treatment period and for 120 days after completion of study treatment.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Participants who have previously been treated with PD-1 inhibitors and required dose interruption, permanent discontinuation, or systemic immunosuppression due to irAEs.
* History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to ivonescimab.
* Pregnant or breastfeeding.
* Participants with an active, known or suspected autoimmune disease. Participants with type I diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism only requiring hormone replacement, skin disorders (such as vitiligo, psoriasis, or alopecia) not requiring systemic treatment, or conditions not expected to recur in the absence of an external trigger are permitted to enroll.
* Known history of positive test for human immunodeficiency virus or known acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
* Known history of acute or chronic hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus infection.
* Previous solid organ or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant.
* Active infection requiring IV antibiotics or other uncontrolled intercurrent illness requiring hospitalization.
* Unresolved toxicities from prior therapy (defined as having not resolved to NCI CTCAE v.5.0 Grade ≤1 or baseline) or any other toxicity that is deemed irreversible by the investigator. Exceptions include endocrinopathies from prior therapy or disease and successfully treated (such as hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus), alopecia, vitiligo, and Grade ≤2 peripheral neuropathy.
* Major blood vessel invasion.
* Major surgical procedures or serious trauma within 4 weeks prior to study treatment initiation, or plans for major surgical procedures within 4 weeks after the first dose of study treatment (as determined by the investigator). Minor local procedures (excluding central venous catheterization and port implantation) within 3 days prior to study treatment initiation.
* Unstable angina, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association \[NYHA\] classification Grade ≥2) or vascular disease (e.g., aortic aneurysm at risk of rupture) that required hospitalization within 12 months prior to study treatment initiation, or other cardiac impairment that may affect the safety evaluation of the study drug (e.g., poorly controlled arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia).
* History of esophageal gastric varices, severe ulcers, wounds that do not heal, abdominal fistula, intra-abdominal abscesses, or acute gastrointestinal bleeding within 6 months prior to study treatment initiation.
* History of arterial thromboembolic event, venous thromboembolic event of Grade ≥3 as specified in NCI CTCAE v5.0, transient ischemic attack, cerebrovascular accident, hypertensive crisis, or hypertensive encephalopathy within 6 months prior to study treatment initiation.
* Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease within 4 weeks prior to study treatment initiation.
* History of perforation of the gastrointestinal tract and/or fistula, history of gastrointestinal obstruction (including incomplete intestinal obstruction requiring parenteral nutrition), extensive bowel resection (partial colectomy or extensive small bowel resection) within 6 months prior to study treatment initiation.
* Treatment with a live, attenuated vaccine within 4 weeks prior to study treatment initiation, or anticipation of need for such a vaccine during the course of the study.
* Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment.
Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy, or in situ cervical cancer.
* Has a known psychiatric or substance abuse disorder that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the study.
* Inability to comply with the study and follow-up procedures.
* Participants who are receiving any other investigational agents.
* Participants with psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.
Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
[email protected] / 713-563-3885
Status: Recruiting