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Updated June 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 3INTERVENTIONAL

A Study of Ficlatuzumab in Combination With Cetuximab in Participants With Recurrent or Metastatic (R/M) HPV Negative Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

A Multicenter, Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo - Controlled, Phase 3 Study of Ficlatuzumab in Combination With Cetuximab in Participants With Recurrent or Metastatic (R/M) HPV -Negative Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. (FIERCE-HN)

A Study of Ficlatuzumab in Combination With Cetuximab in Participants With Recurrent or Metastatic (R/M) HPV Negative Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (NCT06064877) is a Phase 3 interventional studying Metastatic Head-and-neck Squamous-cell Carcinoma and Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, sponsored by AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc.. 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

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of ficlatuzumab plus cetuximab compared to placebo plus cetuximab in participants with recurrent/metastatic (R/M) HPV-negative Head and Neck Cancer. The primary hypothesis is that ficlatuzumab combined with cetuximab is superior to cetuximab alone in terms of progression-free survival and/or overall survival.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 3 trials confirm efficacy and safety in large patient groups (often 300–3,000+) and form the evidence base for an FDA approval submission. For Metastatic Head-and-neck Squamous-cell Carcinoma, Phase 3 studies typically randomize participants between the investigational treatment and either a placebo or current standard of care. A successful Phase 3 result is the threshold most treatments need to clear before regulatory approval.

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.

A target enrollment of 410 participants makes this a sizable late-stage trial. Studies in this range typically have enough power to detect clinically meaningful differences from a comparator and to characterize less-common side effects.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: - Male or female and ≥ 18 years of age - Histologically and/or cytologically confirmed primary diagnosis of R/M HNSCC - Participants with oropharyngeal cancer will be required to have proof of p16 negative status submitted on the basis of a pathology report - At least 1 measurable lesion by contrast CT or MRI scan according to RECIST v.1.1. Such lesions must not have been previously irradiated; if the measurable lesion(s) has been irradiated, clear progression must be documented - Participants must have failed prior therapy with an anti-PD-1/PD-L1 ICI and with platinum-based chemotherapy administered in combination or sequentially, in either the locally advanced or R/M setting. Failure of prior treatment may be due to progression of disease or intolerance to treatment - Patient's tumor must be considered inoperable and incurable - Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1 with a expected to live at least 12 weeks - For women of childbearing potential (WOCBP), documentation of negative serum pregnancy test within 30 days of randomization - For WOCBP and male participants whose sexual partners are of childbearing potential, agreement to use an effective method of contraception during the study and for at least 5 months after the last dose of study treatment. Birth control methods which may be considered highly effective include methods that achieve a failure rate of less than 1% per year when used consistently and correctly. - Ability to give written willing to sign a consent form and comply with protocol requirements - Patients with feeding tubes are eligible for the study. - Archived tissue sample must be submitted to the Sponsor-designated laboratory within 60 days of randomization for c-Met analysis (if a tissue sample is not available, a fresh biopsy may be required prior to enrollment) Who Should NOT Join This Trial: ...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: * Male or female and ≥ 18 years of age * Histologically and/or cytologically confirmed primary diagnosis of R/M HNSCC * Participants with oropharyngeal cancer will be required to have proof of p16 negative status submitted on the basis of a pathology report * At least 1 measurable lesion by contrast CT or MRI scan according to RECIST v.1.1. Such lesions must not have been previously irradiated; if the measurable lesion(s) has been irradiated, clear progression must be documented * Participants must have failed prior therapy with an anti-PD-1/PD-L1 ICI and with platinum-based chemotherapy administered in combination or sequentially, in either the locally advanced or R/M setting. Failure of prior treatment may be due to progression of disease or intolerance to treatment * Patient's tumor must be considered inoperable and incurable * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1 with a life expectancy of at least 12 weeks * For women of childbearing potential (WOCBP), documentation of negative serum pregnancy test within 30 days of randomization * For WOCBP and male participants whose sexual partners are of childbearing potential, agreement to use an effective method of contraception during the study and for at least 5 months after the last dose of study treatment. Birth control methods which may be considered highly effective include methods that achieve a failure rate of less than 1% per year when used consistently and correctly. * Ability to give written informed consent and comply with protocol requirements * Patients with feeding tubes are eligible for the study. * Archived tissue sample must be submitted to the Sponsor-designated laboratory within 60 days of randomization for c-Met analysis (if a tissue sample is not available, a fresh biopsy may be required prior to enrollment) Exclusion Criteria: * Participants who have received \> 2 prior lines of anticancer therapy or prior treatment with cetuximab/alternative EGFR inhibitors for the treatment of R/M HNSCC * History of severe allergic or anaphylactic reactions or hypersensitivity to recombinant proteins or excipients in the investigational agent or cetuximab * Known or suspected untreated and uncontrolled brain metastases or leptomeningeal carcinomatosis Note: Participants with locally treated brain metastases are eligible provided 2 weeks have elapsed since local therapy. Participants are allowed to continue steroid taper during the start of study treatment. * Prior treatment with any other investigational drug or biologic agent or radiation therapy before a washout has been completed (must be completed prior to randomization): 1. 2 weeks (14 days) or 5 half-lives, whichever is shorter, for chemotherapeutic agents, small molecules, and checkpoint inhibitors 2. 3 weeks (21 days) or 5 half-lives, whichever is shorter, for antibody-drug conjugates 3. 4 weeks (28 days) for cell therapies 4. 2 weeks (14 days) for radiation therapy * Any unresolved and significant toxicity (National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events \[NCI-CTCAE\] version 5.0) Grade 2 or greater from previous anticancer therapy (including radiation therapy), other than alopecia * Significant cardiovascular disease, including: Cardiac failure New York Heart Association class III or IV; Myocardial infarction, severe or unstable angina within 6 months prior to randomization; History of serious ventricular arrhythmia (i.e., ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation) * Any other medical condition or psychiatric condition that, in the opinion of the Investigator, might interfere with the participant's involvement in the study or interfere with the interpretation of study results * History of prior malignancy within 2 years prior to randomization (except for adequately treated non-melanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the breast or cervix, superficial bladder cancer, or early-stage prostate cancer, without evidence of recurrence; participants may or may not be on maintenance therapy) * Participants who are positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) with indication of acute or chronic hepatitis (as defined in protocol) * Radiographic evidence (historical or at screening) of interstitial lung disease or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis * Female participants who are pregnant or breastfeeding A full list of inclusion and exclusion criteria can be found in the protocol.

Treatments Being Tested

BIOLOGICAL

Ficlatuzumab

Ficlatuzumab (AV-299) is a humanized hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) inhibitory immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody (mAb).

BIOLOGICAL

Cetuximab

Cetuximab is an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antagonist.

OTHER

Placebo

Placebo for this study will be normal saline

Locations (20)

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.

Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center
Gilbert, Arizona, United States
The University of Arizona Cancer Center
Tucson, Arizona, United States
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, United States
Yale School of Medicine - Smilow Cancer Hospital
New Haven, Connecticut, United States
The George Washington University
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States
AdventHealth Medical Group Oncology & Hematology at Orlando
Orlando, Florida, United States
Moffitt Cancer Center
Tampa, Florida, United States
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
University of Illinois Cancer Center
Chicago, Illinois, United States
University of Kansas Cancer Center
Westwood, Kansas, United States
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
MaineHealth Institute for Research
South Portland, Maine, United States
University of Maryland
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Siteman Cancer Center - Washington University
St Louis, Missouri, United States
Northwell Health Cancer Institute
Lake Success, New York, United States
Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital
New York, New York, United States
Montefiore Medical Center
The Bronx, New York, United States
University of Cincinnati - UC Health Barrett Cancer Center
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06064877), the sponsor (AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc.), 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 NCT06064877 clinical trial studying?

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of ficlatuzumab plus cetuximab compared to placebo plus cetuximab in participants with recurrent/metastatic (R/M) HPV-negative Head and Neck Cancer. The primary hypothesis is that ficlatuzumab combined with cetuximab is superior to cetuximab alone in terms of progression-free survival and/or overall survival. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT06064877?

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 NCT06064877?

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 NCT06064877. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06064877. 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.