Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (other)
Phase: 2
Start date: July 28, 2025
Planned enrollment: 90
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 previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer across groups defined by mismatch-repair status, prior checkpoint-inhibitor resistance, and liver metastases.
Patients: Adults with measurable metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma, ECOG performance status 0–1, and adequate organ function. One cohort has dMMR/MSI-H disease that progressed on PD-1/PD-L1 therapy; the other two have pMMR/MSS disease with or without active liver metastases and have progressed on or been intolerant to fluoropyrimidine, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin.
Design: Phase II, nonrandomized, single-arm study with three cohorts using a Bayesian optimal phase II design. There is no comparator arm.
Treatments: All participants receive ivonescimab, an investigational bispecific antibody targeting PD-1 and VEGF-A to address immune suppression and tumor angiogenesis. In advanced non-small-cell lung cancer trials, ivonescimab-containing regimens have improved progression-free survival in several settings, but those results do not establish benefit in colorectal cancer. This study evaluates ivonescimab in metastatic colorectal cancer.
Outcomes: The stated primary efficacy objective is objective response rate by iRECIST in each cohort. Safety is assessed through adverse events graded by CTCAE version 5.0; the supplied outcome listing also labels adverse-event incidence as a primary outcome, measured through approximately one year. Exploratory measures include time to response, response duration, progression-free survival, overall survival, and features associated with response.
Burden on patient: Estimated moderate burden. Screening requires recent tumor tissue, potentially through a new biopsy if suitable archived tissue is unavailable, along with blood tests and imaging. Treatment and ongoing safety and response assessments require clinic visits and repeat testing, although the dosing, scan, and visit schedules are not specified. No intensive pharmacokinetic sampling is described.
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:
* Capable of giving signed informed consent
* Male and female adult participants 18 years of age or older on day of signing informed consent.
* Histological or cytological confirmed advanced, metastatic adenocarcinoma of colon or rectum.
* Known MMR or MSI status performed by local standard of practice. (e.g., IHC and/or PCR, next-generation sequencing)
* Cohort-specific criteria
o Cohort 1: MSI-H/dMMR: ICI-refractory
* dMMR or MSI-H per local testing
* Demonstrated radiographic progression on immune checkpoint inhibitors including anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy +/- anti-CTLA-4 therapy. If progression occurred after first imaging assessment, then pseudo-progression should be excluded by concurrent carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) or other tumor marker or ctDNA elevation, or clinical symptom progression, or short-interval repeat imaging confirming progression.
* Must have received at least 2 doses of a PD1/PD-L1 inhibitor.
* Progressive disease either during therapy or within 3 months of last dose of therapy.
* No serious adverse immune-related adverse events (grade 3 or higher) with previous immune checkpoint therapy, that were symptomatic and required prolonged immunosuppression (\>6 weeks).
o Cohort 2: pMMR with liver metastases
* pMMR or MSS per local testing
* Presence of active liver metastases per radiographic imaging
* Patients with any bulky liver metastases measuring \>5.0 cm are not eligible
o Cohort 3: pMMR without liver metastases
* pMMR or MSS per local testing
* No liver metastases per radiographic imaging (note: previously treated or resected liver metastases are allowed if treatment was \>6 months prior without liver progression)
* Known extended RAS and BRAF status as per local standard of practice (Cohorts 2 and 3 only)
* Participant must have progressed (radiologically or clinically) or been intolerant to fluoropyrimidine, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin (Cohorts 2 and 3 only)
* Patient must have evidence of progression on or after the last treatment regimen received and within 6 months prior to study enrollment
* Patients who were intolerant to prior systemic chemotherapy regimens are eligible if there is documented evidence of clinically significant intolerance despite adequate supportive measures.
* Perioperative chemotherapy exposure can be considered if the participant had disease recurrence within 12 months of completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy or 6 months of completion of adjuvant chemotherapy
* ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) PS of 0 to 1.
* Adequate hematologic and organ function as assessed by the following laboratory tests performed within 7 days before treatment initiation:
* Total bilirubin ≤1.5 x the upper limit of normal (ULN). Total bilirubin (≤3 x ULN) is allowed if Gilbert's syndrome is documented.
* Alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤2.5x ULN (≤5 x ULN for patients with liver involvement of their cancer)
* Platelet count ≥100,000 /mm3, Hemoglobin (Hb) ≥9 g/dL, WBC ≥2000/μL absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1500/mm3 without red blood cell transfusion or growth factor administered within 7 days of screening CBC.
* Serum creatinine ≤1.5 x ULN or creatinine clearance ≥50 mL/min (measured or calculated using the Cockroft-Gault formula)
* Prothrombin time-international normalized ratio (PT/INR) ≤ 1.5 x ULN and partial prothrombin time (PTT) or activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) ≤ 1.5 × ULN (unless abnormalities are unrelated to coagulopathy) This applies only to patients who are not on therapeutic anti-coagulation. Patients receiving therapeutic anti-coagulation should be on a stable dose.
* Measurable disease as determined by iRECIST v1.1
* Ability to provide recent tumor tissue is mandatory for all participants at screening, either through pre-treatment biopsy or archived tissue. For archived tissue, FFPE block or a minimum of 10 slides is recommended with exceptions to these criteria permitted for consideration by the principal investigator.
* Anticipated life expectancy greater than 3 months
* Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must agree to follow instructions for method(s) of contraception for the duration of study intervention and 4 months after the last dose of study drug. Males who are sexually active with WOCBP must agree to follow instructions for method(s) of contraception for the duration of study intervention and 4 months after the last dose of study drug. In addition, male participants must be willing to refrain from sperm donation during this time. Contraceptive use by men or women should be consistent with local regulations regarding the methods of contraception for those participating in clinical studies.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Except for MSI-H/dMMR tumors, prior therapy with PD-1, PD-L1, or CTLA-4 inhibitors (Cohorts 2 and 3 only)
* Systemic anti-cancer treatment within 14 days or less than 5 half-lives (whichever is shorter) of the first dose of study treatment.
* Has unresolved clinically significant toxicity of greater than or equal to NCI Institute Common Terminology Criteria for AEs (CTCAE v5.0) grade 2 attributed to any prior therapies (excluding anemia, lymphopenia, alopecia, skin pigmentation, and immune toxicities for MSI-H/dMMR ICI-refractory cohort as listed in cohort inclusion criteria).
* History of arterial thromboembolic event, venous thromboembolic event of grade 3 and above as specified in NCI CTCAE v5.0, transient ischemic attack, cerebrovascular accident, hypertensive crisis, or hypertensive encephalopathy within 12 months prior to enrollment
* Unstable angina, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association \[NYHA\] classification ≥ grade 2) or unstable vascular disease (eg, aortic aneurysm at risk of rupture, Moyamoya disease) that required hospitalization within 12 months prior to randomization, or other cardiac impairment that may affect the safety evaluation of the study drug (eg, poorly controlled arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia)
* Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease within 4 weeks before enrollment
* Poorly controlled hypertension with repeated systolic blood pressure ≥ 150 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 100 mmHg after oral antihypertensive therapy
* Active autoimmune or lung disease requiring systemic therapy (eg, with disease modifying drugs, prednisone \>10 mg daily or equivalent, immunosuppressant therapy) within 2 years prior to randomization, however the following will be allowed: a.
Replacement therapy (eg, thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency) is permitted. b. Intermittent use of bronchodilators, inhaled corticosteroids, or local corticosteroid injections is permitted
* Know 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 enrollment
* History of perforation of the gastrointestinal tract and/or fistula, gastrointestinal obstruction (including incomplete intestinal obstruction requiring parenteral nutrition), or extensive bowel resection (partial colectomy or extensive small bowel resection) within 6 months prior to enrollment
* History of bleeding tendencies or coagulopathy and/or clinically significant bleeding symptoms or risk within 4 weeks prior to enrollment, including but not limited to:
* Hemoptysis (defined as coughing up ≥ 0.5 teaspoon of fresh blood or small blood clots. Note: transient hemoptysis associated with diagnostic bronchoscopy is allowed
* Nasal bleeding/epistaxis (bloody nasal discharge is allowed)
* Current use of prophylactic or full-dose anticoagulants or anti-platelet agents for therapeutic purposes that is not stable prior to enrollment is not permitted.
The use of full-dose anticoagulants is permitted if the international normalized ratio (INR) or activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is within therapeutic limits according to the medical standard of the enrolling institution.
* Subjects whose tumors invade peripheral important organs and blood vessels (such as heart and pericardium, trachea, esophagus, aorta, superior vena cava, etc), and who are at risk of esophageal tracheal fistula or esophageal pleural fistula or intestinal fistula
* Symptomatic CNS metastases, CNS metastases with hemorrhagic features, CNS metastasis ≥ 1.5 cm, CNS radiation within 7 days prior to randomization, potential need for CNS radiation within the first cycle, or leptomeningeal disease. Note: Patients must have stopped corticosteroids or be on physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy (prednisone ≤10 mg daily or equivalent).
* Live vaccine or live attenuated vaccine within 4 weeks prior to planned enrollment, or if scheduled to receive a live vaccine or live attenuated vaccine during the study period.
Inactivated vaccines are permitted.
* Severe infection within 4 weeks prior to enrollment, including but not limited to comorbidities requiring hospitalization, sepsis, or severe pneumonia; active infection (as determined by the investigator) requiring systemic anti-infective therapy within 2 weeks prior to enrollment. Participants with HIV, HCV, or HBV infection may be included if suppressive antiviral therapy has been administered and the viral load is undetectable.
* Has pre-existing peripheral neuropathy that is ≥ grade 2 per NCI CTCAE v5.0.
* Major surgical procedures or serious trauma within 4 weeks prior to enrollment, or plans for major surgical procedures within 4 weeks after the first dose (as determined by the investigator). Minor local procedures (excluding central venous catheterization and port implantation) within 3 days prior to enrollment.
* Uncontrolled pleural effusions, pericardial effusions, or ascites that is clinically symptomatic. Note: Patients managed with indwelling catheters (e.g. PleurX) are allowed.
* History of non-infectious pneumonia requiring systemic corticosteroids, or current interstitial lung disease
* Active or prior history of inflammatory bowel disease (eg, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or chronic diarrhea)
* Known history of allogeneic organ transplantation or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
* Known allergy to any component of any study drug or known history of severe hypersensitivity to other monoclonal antibodies
* Has any other clinically significant cardiac, respiratory, or other medical or psychiatric condition that might interfere with participation in the trial or interfere with the interpretation of trial results, in the opinion of the investigator.
* Participants with a condition requiring systemic treatment with either corticosteroids (\>10 mg daily prednisone equivalent) or other immunosuppressive medications within 14 days of start of study treatment. Inhaled or topical steroids, and adrenal replacement steroid doses \>10 mg daily prednisone equivalent, are permitted in the absence of active autoimmune disease.
* Pregnancy or breast feeding.
* Psychological, familial, or sociological condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule.
Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
[email protected] / 713-792-5111
Status: Recruiting