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Updated June 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 1INTERVENTIONAL

Ulixertinib/Palbociclib in Patients With Advanced Pancreatic and Other Solid Tumors

Ulixertinib (BVD-523) in Combination With Palbociclib in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors With Expansion Cohort in Previously Treated Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer and Metastatic RAS-mutant and NF1-mutant (no BRAFV600 Mutations) Melanoma

Ulixertinib/Palbociclib in Patients With Advanced Pancreatic and Other Solid Tumors (NCT03454035) is a Phase 1 interventional studying Tumor, Solid and Pancreatic Cancer, sponsored by UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

This phase I study is designed to establish the safety, maximally tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of the ERK inhibitor ulixertinib (BVD-523) when combined with the CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 1 trials test a new treatment for the first time in humans, focusing on safety, dosing, and how the body processes the drug. For Tumor, Solid, a Phase 1 study typically enrolls a small number of participants — often healthy volunteers or patients who have exhausted standard treatment options. Phase 1 results determine whether a treatment moves into larger Phase 2 efficacy studies.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

With a target enrollment of 45 participants, this is a small study — typical of early-phase research, rare-disease trials, or pilot studies designed to generate preliminary signal before a larger study is launched.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: 1. Written willing to sign a consent form and HIPAA authorization for release of personal health information. NOTE: HIPAA authorization may be included in the willing to sign a consent form or obtained separately. 2. Age ≥ 18 years at the time of consent (no upper age limit) 3. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status of ≤ 2 4. Tumor Eligibility: 1. Dose escalation cohorts: diagnosed by tissue sample (biopsy-confirmed) advanced solid tumor refractory to standard of care therapy, or for which there is no accepted standard of care 2. Expansion cohort (at RP2D): metastatic pancreatic cancer or malign melanoma patients who have received at least one line of therapy in the metastatic setting 3. Expansion cohort (at RP2D) for diagnosed by tissue sample (biopsy-confirmed) unresectable stage III or stage IV melanoma with the following additional eligibility requirements: - Tumors molecular profiling genetic aberrations: NRASG12/G13/Q61, KRASG12/G13, HRASG12/G13, any amplifications of the NRAS, KRAS, or HRAS genes. For NF1 mutations, subjects with loss-of-function NF1mutations and without any BRAFV600 mutations will be enrolled. - Documented disease refractory to at least one PD1/PD-L1 inhibitor, defined as disease progression following at least two infusions of the same drug. - Subjects with RAS-mutant and NF1-mutant (no concurrent BRAFV600 mutations) melanoma that have not taken prior immune checkpoint inhibitors will be allowed if they are not eligible to receive prior immune checkpoint inhibitors due to requirement for immunosuppression 5. Measurable or non-measurable (but evaluable) disease according to RECIST v1.1 for dose escalating cohorts; measurable disease as per RECIST v1.1 required for expansion cohort 6. Life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Written informed consent and HIPAA authorization for release of personal health information. NOTE: HIPAA authorization may be included in the informed consent or obtained separately. 2. Age ≥ 18 years at the time of consent (no upper age limit) 3. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status of ≤ 2 4. Tumor Eligibility: 1. Dose escalation cohorts: Histologically confirmed advanced solid tumor refractory to standard of care therapy, or for which there is no accepted standard of care 2. Expansion cohort (at RP2D): metastatic pancreatic cancer or malign melanoma patients who have received at least one line of therapy in the metastatic setting 3. Expansion cohort (at RP2D) for histologically confirmed unresectable stage III or stage IV melanoma with the following additional eligibility requirements: * Tumors molecular profiling genetic aberrations: NRASG12/G13/Q61, KRASG12/G13, HRASG12/G13, any amplifications of the NRAS, KRAS, or HRAS genes. For NF1 mutations, subjects with loss-of-function NF1mutations and without any BRAFV600 mutations will be enrolled. * Documented disease refractory to at least one PD1/PD-L1 inhibitor, defined as disease progression following at least two infusions of the same drug. * Subjects with RAS-mutant and NF1-mutant (no concurrent BRAFV600 mutations) melanoma that have not taken prior immune checkpoint inhibitors will be allowed if they are not eligible to receive prior immune checkpoint inhibitors due to requirement for immunosuppression 5. Measurable or non-measurable (but evaluable) disease according to RECIST v1.1 for dose escalating cohorts; measurable disease as per RECIST v1.1 required for expansion cohort 6. Life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks 7. Recovered from all reversible acute toxic effects of last anti-cancer treatment (other than alopecia) to ≤Grade 1 or baseline. Patients with baseline neuropathy that is ≤ grade 2 are eligible for enrollment. 8. Demonstrate adequate organ function as defined in the table below; all screening labs to be obtained within 28 days prior to day -6 of ulixertinib Hemoglobin (Hgb) ≥ 9 g/dL Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) ≥ 1,500 /mm3 Platelets ≥ 100,000/mm3 Creatinine ≤1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) or Calculated creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min using the Cockcroft-Gault formula Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 x ULN; if tumor involvement of the liver ≤ 5 x ULN \*Note: Hematology and other lab parameters that are ≤ grade 2 but still meet the criteria for study entry are allowed. Furthermore, changes in laboratory parameters during the study should not be considered adverse events unless they meet the criteria for dose modification(s) of study medication outlined by the protocol and/or worsen from baseline during therapy. 9. Adequate cardiac function; left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \>50% as assessed by ultrasound/echocardiography (ECHO); corrected QT interval (QTc) \<470ms 10. Females of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 3 days prior to day -6 of ulixertinib. NOTE: Females are considered of childbearing potential unless they are surgically sterile (have undergone a hysterectomy, bilateral tubal ligation, or bilateral oophorectomy) or they are naturally postmenopausal for at least 12 consecutive months 11. Females of childbearing potential and males must be willing to abstain from heterosexual activity\* or use effective methods of contraception from the time of informed consent until 120 days after treatment discontinuation. Acceptable contraception methods can be comprised of an intrauterine device (IUD), vasectomy of a female subject's male partner, contraceptive rod implanted into the skin, OR use of two of the following: diaphragm with spermicide (cannot be used in conjunction with cervical cap/spermicide), cervical cap with spermicide (nulliparous women only), contraceptive sponge (nulliparous women only), male condom or female condom (cannot be used together), hormonal contraceptive.\] \*Abstinence is acceptable if this is the usual lifestyle and preferred contraception for the subject. 12. Subject is willing and able to comply with study procedures based on the judgment of the investigator or protocol designee. 13. Willing to provide archival tissue (if available) and consent to mandatory pretreatment and on-treatment biopsy as deemed safe by the treating physician (expansion cohort only) for research purposes only. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Pregnant or breastfeeding (NOTE: breast milk cannot be stored for future use while the mother is being treated on the study) 2. Treatment with any cancer-directed therapy (chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biologic, radiation or immunotherapy, etc.) or investigational drug within 28 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is shorter) prior to day -6 of ulixertinib 3. A history or current evidence/risk of retinal vein occlusion (RVO) or central serous retinopathy (CSR). 4. Major surgery within 28 days prior to day -6 of ulixertinib 5. Not willing to avoid grapefruit, grapefruit juices, grapefruit hybrids, oranges, pummelos, and exotic citrus fruits from 7 days prior to day -6 of ulixertinib and during the entire study due to potential CYP3A4 interaction with the study medications. 6. Intake of any herbal preparations or medications (including, but not limited to, Saint John's Wort and ginkgo biloba) and dietary supplements within 7 days prior to day -6 of ulixertinib due to potential CYP3A4 interaction with the study medications 7. Unable or unwilling to discontinue use of any drug known to be a strong inhibitor of CYP3A4, CYP1A2 or CYP2D6 or strong inducer of CYP3A4 (prohibited inducers and inhibitors must be discontinued within 2 weeks prior to day -6 of ulixertinib; see section 10.3 Appendix C) 8. Unable or unwilling to discontinue use of any drug known to be a sensitive CYP3A4 substrate with a narrow therapeutic index as defined in the protocol. 9. Central nervous system metastases are allowed only for patients RAS-mutated and NF1-mutant melanoma cohorts (1) no leptomeningeal disease is present, (2) Intracranial disease is controlled by prior therapies, as evidenced by brain imaging 2 weeks post treatment indicating no new intracranial disease, (3) stable or decreasing dose of steroids is provided patient on ≤ 20mg of prednisone or it's equivalent daily. 10. Any important medical illness or abnormal laboratory finding that would increase the risk of participating in the study (based on the investigator's judgment) 11. Psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements 12. Has a known additional malignancy that is active and/or progressive requiring treatment; non-melanoma skin cancers, non-invasive bladder cancer, and carcinoma in situ of the cervix, prior history of prostate cancer provided the patient is not undergoing active systemic treatment other than hormonal therapy and has documented PSA that is undetectable (\<0.2ng/mL), prostate carcinoma in remission and did not receive systemic treatment, papillary thyroid cancer did not receive adjuvant radioactive iodine, Stage Rai stage 0 Chronic lymphocytic leukemia does not require systemic treatment, lymphoma, hairy-cell leukemia, or myelodysplasia is in complete remission and or other cancer for which the patient has been disease-free for at least two years. Has a known additional malignancy that is active and/or progressive requiring treatment. 13. Impaired GI function or GI disease that may significantly impair absorption (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), malabsorption syndrome, small bowel resection, uncontrolled vomiting or diarrhea) 14. Inability to swallow oral medications 15. Patients with autoimmune diseases that require systemic corticosteroid treatment.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Ulixertinib

Ulixertinib 300mg, orally, twice a day concomitantly with palbociclib

DRUG

Palbociclib

Drug: Palbociclib 125mg, orally, once a day concomitantly with ulixertinib

Locations (1)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT03454035), the sponsor (UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT03454035 clinical trial studying?

This phase I study is designed to establish the safety, maximally tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of the ERK inhibitor ulixertinib (BVD-523) when combined with the CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT03454035?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT03454035?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT03454035. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT03454035. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-06-26 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.