Sponsor: Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd (industry)
Phase: 2
Start date: Nov. 18, 2025
Planned enrollment: 144
ONO-4578 (BMS-986310) is an investigational oral cancer drug studied alone and with nivolumab, including in combination with chemotherapy. The most informative reported result is from a randomized phase II trial in previously untreated, HER2-negative advanced or recurrent gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer; its findings still need confirmation in a phase III trial. (pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
ONO-4578 is a selective antagonist of EP4, a receptor for prostaglandin E₂. Blocking EP4 is intended to counter signaling that suppresses antitumor immune activity; combining it with the PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab is being investigated for that reason. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
In the phase II trial, 226 patients were assigned to ONO-4578 or placebo, each added to nivolumab and oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. Median progression-free survival was 9.0 versus 6.9 months (hazard ratio 0.67), and objective response rates were 62.0% versus 48.7%, respectively. These are results for the combination regimen, not ONO-4578 alone. (ascopubs.org)
An earlier phase I expansion study of ONO-4578 plus nivolumab reported response rates of 10.0% among 30 patients previously treated with immunotherapy and 16.7% among 30 who had not received it. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
In the phase II trial, grade 3 or higher adverse events occurred in 79.2% of patients receiving ONO-4578 versus 69.3% receiving placebo. Diarrhea and anemia were more frequent with ONO-4578; gastrointestinal ulcers were also reported. Because both groups received nivolumab and chemotherapy, these event rates do not isolate ONO-4578’s effects. (ascopubs.org)
Last updated: Sep 2026
Goal: Evaluate whether adding either of two doses of ONO-4578 plus nivolumab to first-line mFOLFOX6 and bevacizumab improves outcomes in advanced colorectal cancer, while assessing safety.
Patients: Adults with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer, centrally confirmed PD-L1-positive tumors, ECOG performance status 0–1, and no prior systemic therapy for advanced disease. MSI-high/dMMR tumors and BRAF V600E mutations are excluded, as are prior immune-checkpoint therapy and certain autoimmune or pulmonary conditions.
Design: Randomized, open-label, multicenter study assigning participants 1:1:1 to two investigational regimens or an active-control regimen. Treatment is given in 28-day cycles until progression, unacceptable toxicity, investigator decision, consent withdrawal, or study termination.
Treatments: The two investigational arms add different doses of ONO-4578 and nivolumab to mFOLFOX6 plus bevacizumab; the control arm receives mFOLFOX6 plus bevacizumab. ONO-4578 is an oral antagonist of the prostaglandin E2 receptor EP4, intended to reduce immunosuppressive signaling and complement PD-1 blockade by nivolumab. In a separate phase 2 trial in gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer, adding ONO-4578 to nivolumab and chemotherapy yielded median progression-free survival of 9.0 versus 6.9 months and response rates of 62.0% versus 48.7%; these results do not establish benefit in colorectal cancer. mFOLFOX6 combines oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and leucovorin, with bevacizumab as the standard-of-care comparator regimen.
Outcomes: Primary measures are confirmed objective response rate by blinded independent central review under RECIST 1.1 and the numbers of participants with adverse events and serious adverse events. Secondary measures include investigator-assessed response, overall and progression-free survival, duration and timing of response, disease control, tumor-size change, and progression-free survival through subsequent therapy. Efficacy assessments extend up to 39 months; adverse events are collected through 28 days after the last dose.
Burden on patient: Likely moderate relative to standard first-line chemotherapy. All participants receive a multidrug infusion regimen and undergo response imaging and safety monitoring; investigational-arm participants also take oral ONO-4578 and receive nivolumab, potentially increasing treatment time, monitoring, and toxicity-related visits. Central PD-L1 testing is required, but the provided information does not specify extra biopsies, intensive pharmacokinetic sampling, or a scan schedule.
Last updated: Sep 2026
Inclusion Criteria:
* Histologically confirmed advanced (locally advanced or metastatic) colorectal cancer not amenable to curative resection
* ECOG Performance Status of 0-1
* No prior systemic treatment for advanced local or mCRC
* Participants whose tumor is positive for PD-L1 expression as determined at a central laboratory
Exclusion Criteria:
* Participants with high microsatellite instability (MSI-High), or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) tumor
* Participants with BRAF V600E mutation
* Unable to swallow tablets.
* Participants with complication or history of interstitial lung disease, pneumonitis or pulmonary fibrosis
* Participants with an active, known or suspected autoimmune disease.
* Prior treatment with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, anti-PD-L2, or anti-CTLA-4 antibody, or any other antibody or drug specifically targeting T-cell co-stimulation or immune checkpoint pathways.
Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria apply
Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Besançon, Doubs, France
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Pessac, Gironde, France
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Nantes, Loire Atlantique, France
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Marseille, Marseille, France
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Paris, Paris, France
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Paris, Paris, France
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Lyon, Rhone, France
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Poitiers, Vienne, France
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Milan, Italy, Italy
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Milan, Italy, Italy
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Hyōgo, Kobe-shi, Japan
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Osaka, Osaka-shi, Japan
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Osaka, Osaka-shi, Japan
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Osaka, Osaka-shi, Japan
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Madrid, Madrid, Spain
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Seville, Sevilla, Spain
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Valencia, Valencia, Spain
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Phoenix, Arizona, 85054, United States
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Los Angeles, California, 90033, United States
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Lone Tree, Colorado, 80124, United States
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Jacksonville, Florida, 32224, United States
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Columbus, Ohio, 43221, United States
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, United States
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Temple, Texas, 76508, United States
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Salem, Virginia, 24153, United States
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting
Norfolk, Virginia, 23502, United States
No email / No phone
Status: Recruiting