Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov
A Study of PTX-9908 Injection for Non-resectable HCC with TACE
Phase I/II Study of PTX-9908 Injection As an Inhibitor of Cancer Progression in Patients with Non-resectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma Following Transarterial Chemoembolization Treatment
A Study of PTX-9908 Injection for Non-resectable HCC with TACE (NCT03812874) is a Phase 1 / Phase 2 interventional studying Carcinoma, Hepatocellular, sponsored by TCM Biotech International Corp.. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.
About This Trial
This is a multicenter, Phase I/II study in patients with non-resectable hepatocellular carcinoma following TACE treatment. Phase I (Open-label dose escalation) This study will be an open-label study with an Accelerated Phase and a Standard Phase. For the Accelerated Phase of the study, one patient per dose level (1 mg/kg, and 2 mg/kg) is planned. For the dose levels in the standard phase (4 mg/kg, 8 mg/kg and 16 mg/kg), it will follow the Fibonacci's rule of 3 + 3 design. All eligible patients who have received TACE treatment and recovered well, will be administrated PTX-9908 Injection intravenously one dose per day for 5 days on Week 1 (excludes weekends and public holidays), and one dose per week (on Day 8, Day 15, and Day 22) for 3 consecutive weeks. The 4-week treatment period, will be followed by a 2-week follow-up period. Phase II (Randomized placebo controlled dose expansion) The objective of phase II is to further evaluate the safety, tolerability and antitumor activity of PTX-9908 Injection for patients with non-resectable hepatocellular carcinoma following TACE treatment. Approximately 24 eligible patients who have received TACE treatment and recovered, will be randomized to PTX-9908 Injection using the predetermined dose in phase I or the vehicle placebo in a 2:1 ratio. PTX-9908 Injection or placebo will be administered intravenously one dose per day for 5 days in Week 1 (excludes weekends and public holidays), and one dose per week till Week 12 (Day 78). The 12-week treatment period, will be followed by a 2-week follow-up period.
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 Carcinoma, Hepatocellular, 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.
Target enrollment of 50 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Carcinoma, Hepatocellular subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.
Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)
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
Treatments Being Tested
PTX-9908 Injection
Proposed dose cohorts:1 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg, 4 mg/kg, 8 mg/kg, and 16 mg/kg. Frequency: Phase I: one dose per day for 4 consecutive weeks (20 doses). Phase II (A)Daily Dose Regimen one dose per day for 12 consecutive weeks (60 doses). (B) Daily for first week, followed by weekly treatment Regimen One dose per day for 5 consecutive days in Week 1 (5 doses), and one dose per week till for 11 weeks (11 doses). Duration: 4 weeks (Phase I) and 12 weeks (Phase II).
Placebo
water for injection Phase II (A)Daily Dose Regimen one dose per day for 12 consecutive weeks (60 doses). (B) Daily for first week, followed by weekly treatment Regimen One dose per day for 5 consecutive days in Week 1 (5 doses), and one dose per week till for 11 weeks (11 doses). Duration: 12 weeks (Phase II)
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.
How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial
Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT03812874), the sponsor (TCM Biotech International Corp.), 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 NCT03812874 clinical trial studying?
This is a multicenter, Phase I/II study in patients with non-resectable hepatocellular carcinoma following TACE treatment. Phase I (Open-label dose escalation) This study will be an open-label study with an Accelerated Phase and a Standard Phase. For the Accelerated Phase of the study, one patient per dose level (1 mg/kg, and 2 mg/kg) is planned. For the dose levels in the standard phase (4 mg/kg, 8 mg/kg and 16 mg/kg), it will follow the Fibonacci's rule of 3 + 3 design. All eligible patients who have received TACE treatment and recovered well, will be administrated PTX-9908 Injection intra… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.
Who can participate in NCT03812874?
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 NCT03812874?
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 NCT03812874. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT03812874. 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 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.