A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Effectiveness of ILIxadencel Administered Into Tumors in Combination With Checkpoint Inhibitor (CPI) in Patients With ADvanced Cancer (ILIAD)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03735290 |
Recruitment Status :
Terminated
(Decision made not to move to Phase 2)
First Posted : November 8, 2018
Last Update Posted : March 16, 2022
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Patients in the Phase 1b part of the study will be treated with ilixadencel at an increasing dose and frequency, in combination with standard doses and schedules of checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) pembrolizumab. The Phase 1b study will determine the optimal dose and schedule of ilixadencel. Patients in the Phase 2 part of the study will be randomly assigned to receive either ilixadencel (at the dose determined in Phase 1b) combined with the CPI, or only the CPI.
Note: Recruitment to Phase 1b of the study has been completed.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Carcinoma, Squamous Cell of Head and Neck Gastric Adenocarcinoma Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma Non-small Cell Lung Cancer | Biological: ilixadencel Drug: Pembrolizumab | Phase 1 |
Despite improvements achieved with the use of CPIs, 50-80% of cancer patients do not respond to this therapy. There is growing evidence that combining CPIs with other forms of immunotherapy has the potential to improve the desired effects of both CPIs and immunotherapies. This study looks at the safety and effectiveness of the immunotherapy ilixadencel when used in combination with a CPI. A Dose-escalation Committee (DEC) will monitor the study for any significant safety issues during Phase 1b.
Note: Recruitment to Phase 1b of the study has been completed.
The study did not move forward to Phase 2.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 21 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Sequential Assignment |
Intervention Model Description: | Single arm phase 1b. Randomized phase 2. |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | A Randomized, Open-label, Multi-center, Phase 1b/2 Trial Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Intratumorally-administered Ilixadencel in Combination With Checkpoint Inhibitor (CPI) in Advanced Cancer Subjects Who Are Candidates for CPI Therapy |
Actual Study Start Date : | January 14, 2019 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | December 3, 2021 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | December 3, 2021 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: Phase 1b: Cohort 1, ilixadencel + pembrolizumab
3 x 10⁶ DCs (Dendritic Cells) of ilixadencel, 2x over 4 weeks (w). Pembrolizumab I.V. q3w
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Biological: ilixadencel
Intra-tumoral injection Drug: Pembrolizumab Administered intravenously over 30 minutes, every 3 weeks, at a dose of 200 mg |
Experimental: Phase 1b: Cohort 2, ilixadencel + pembrolizumab
10 x 10⁶ DCs of ilixadencel, 2x over 4 weeks. Pembrolizumab I.V. q3w
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Biological: ilixadencel
Intra-tumoral injection Drug: Pembrolizumab Administered intravenously over 30 minutes, every 3 weeks, at a dose of 200 mg |
Experimental: Phase 1b: Cohort 3, ilixadencel + pembrolizumab
10 x 10⁶ DCs of ilixadencel, 3x over 10 weeks. Pembrolizumab I.V. q3w
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Biological: ilixadencel
Intra-tumoral injection Drug: Pembrolizumab Administered intravenously over 30 minutes, every 3 weeks, at a dose of 200 mg |
Experimental: Phase 1b: Cohort 4, ilixadencel + pembrolizumab
Ilixadencel 3 times over 10 weeks: 1st dose 20 x 10⁶ DCs ilixadencel; 2nd dose 10 x 10⁶ DCs; 3rd dose 10 x 10⁶ DCs. Pembrolizumab I.V. q3w
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Biological: ilixadencel
Intra-tumoral injection Drug: Pembrolizumab Administered intravenously over 30 minutes, every 3 weeks, at a dose of 200 mg |
Experimental: Phase 2 exp. cohorts HNSCC/NSCLC/Gastric/GEJ
Subjects with HNSCC, NSCLC, gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma. ilixadencel administered intra-tumorally up to 3 times over 10 weeks; dose determined after Phase 1b. Pembrolizumab I.V. q3w according to currently approved doses and indications.
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Biological: ilixadencel
Intra-tumoral injection Drug: Pembrolizumab Administered intravenously over 30 minutes, every 3 weeks, at a dose of 200 mg |
Active Comparator: Phase 2 comparator cohorts HNSCC/NSCLC/Gastric/GEJ
Subjects with HNSCC, NSCLC, gastric/GEJ adenocarcinoma receiving active treatment with pembrolizumab I.V. q3w according to currently approved doses and indications.
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Drug: Pembrolizumab
Administered intravenously over 30 minutes, every 3 weeks, at a dose of 200 mg |
- Frequency of adverse events (AEs) (Phase 1b) [ Time Frame: Up to Week 27 ]Number of adverse events
- Severity of adverse events (AEs) (Phase 1b) [ Time Frame: Up to Week 27 ]Grading per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0
- Number of Dose Limiting Toxicities (DLTs) (Phase 1b) [ Time Frame: Up to Week 27 ]Dose Limiting Toxicities measured using CTCAE v5.0 and protocol DLT definition.
- Number of subjects with clinically significant laboratory test abnormalities (Phase 1b) [ Time Frame: Up to Week 27 ]Grading per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0
- Number of subjects with vital sign abnormalities (Phase 1b) [ Time Frame: Up to Week 27 ]Vital signs grading per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0
- Antitumor Objective Response Rate (ORR) (Phase 2) [ Time Frame: Up to Week 27 ]Antitumor activity of ilixadencel plus CPI (checkpoint inhibitor) in each tumor type, centrally assessed using RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors) v1.1
- Antitumor Objective Response Rate (ORR) RECIST 1.1 (Phase 1b and Phase 2) [ Time Frame: Up to Week 27 ]Antitumor activity of ilixadencel plus CPI (checkpoint inhibitor) in each tumor type, investigator and centrally assessed using RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors) v1.1
- Antitumor Objective Response Rate (ORR) iRECIST (Phase 1b and Phase 2) [ Time Frame: Up to Week 27 ]Antitumor activity of ilixadencel plus CPI (checkpoint inhibitor) in each tumor type, investigator assessed using iRECIST (Immune Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors)
- Clinical Benefit Rate (Phase 1b and Phase 2) [ Time Frame: Up to Week 27 ]Rate of complete and partial response and stable disease by investigator and centrally assessed RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors) v1.1
- Duration of response (Phase 1b and Phase 2) [ Time Frame: Up to 24 months after Cycle 1 Day 1 ]Measured in weeks. Assessed using RECIST v1.1 and iRECIST
- Time to Progression (TTP) (Phase 1b and Phase 2) [ Time Frame: Up to 24 months after Cycle 1 Day 1 ]Measured in weeks. Assessed using RECIST v1.1 and iRECIST
- Progression-free Survival (PFS) (Phase 1b and Phase 2) [ Time Frame: Up to 24 months after Cycle 1 Day 1 ]Measured in weeks. Centrally assessed using RECIST v1.1
- Overall Survival (OS) (Phase 1b and Phase 2) [ Time Frame: Up to 5 years ]Measured in months
- Frequency of adverse events (AEs) (Phase 2) [ Time Frame: Up to Week 27 ]Number of adverse events
- Severity of adverse events (AEs) (Phase 2) [ Time Frame: Up to Week 27 ]Grading per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0
- Number of Dose Limiting Toxicities (DLTs) (Phase 2) [ Time Frame: Up to week 27 ]Dose Limiting Toxicities measured using CTCAE v5.0 and protocol DLT definition.
- Number of subjects with clinically significant laboratory test abnormalities (Phase 2) [ Time Frame: Up to Week 27 ]Grading per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0
- Number of subjects with vital sign abnormalities (Phase 2) [ Time Frame: Up to Week 27 ]Vital signs grading per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Must provide written informed consent.
- Must have histologically confirmed and specific (Human Papilloma Virus) HPV-positive or HPV-negative squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma. Patients with other tumor types who are candidates for pembrolizumab therapy (according to the FDA-approved prescribing information at the time of inclusion) can also be enrolled in Phase 1b. Tumor histology and most recent pathology report must be in subject's medical record. Tumor samples and/or biopsies will not be collected as part of this study.
- Eligible for pembrolizumab treatment per country-specific label and per physician's decision.
- ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) performance status of 0 or 1.
- Adequate organ function.
- Women of childbearing potential must follow contraceptive requirements; must have a negative pregnancy blood test at screening, and a negative blood or urine pregnancy test within 24 hours before each dose of ilixadencel; and must not be breastfeeding.
- Male subjects must agree to use condoms from screening until 90 days after the last dose of ilixadencel, or must have a female partner using a highly effective method of contraception as described above.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Prior history of invasive malignancy, unless complete remission has been achieved for at least 3 years and no additional therapy is required except for hormonal therapy or bisphosphonates.
- Active or previously untreated brain and/or leptomeningeal metastasis.
- Active autoimmune disease, pneumonitis or interstitial lung disease.
- Certain heart conditions including, but not limited to: Congestive heart failure; uncontrolled hypertension; unstable angina pectoris; pericarditis; myocarditis; mycardial infarction 6 months prior to study.
- Systemic immunosuppression except for replacement therapy.
- Life expectancy of less than 3 months.
- Any prior treatment with ilixadencel or prior treatment with anticancer agents (except pembrolizumab or other CPI for subjects in Phase 1b) within 4 weeks of starting study medication.
- Major surgery or significant traumatic injury within 4 weeks before study start.
- Known infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
- Active tuberculosis; active infection requiring anti-infective therapy (hepatitis with a negative viral load on maintenance will not be excluded).
Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria could apply.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT03735290
United States, Florida | |
Site 1010 | |
Coral Gables, Florida, United States, 33124 | |
United States, Iowa | |
Site 1006 | |
Iowa City, Iowa, United States, 52242 | |
United States, Kentucky | |
Site 1011 | |
Louisville, Kentucky, United States, 40202 | |
United States, North Carolina | |
Site 1004 | |
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27514 | |
United States, Ohio | |
Site 1009 | |
Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44106 |
Study Director: | Petra Domeij | Immunicum AB |
Responsible Party: | Immunicum AB |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT03735290 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
IM-202 |
First Posted: | November 8, 2018 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | March 16, 2022 |
Last Verified: | March 2022 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | Yes |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
immunotherapy ilixadencel checkpoint inhibitor allogeneic |
somatic cell therapy dendritic cell intratumoral in situ |
Adenocarcinoma Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck Neoplasms by Site Neoplasms Carcinoma Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial |
Neoplasms by Histologic Type Head and Neck Neoplasms Neoplasms, Squamous Cell Pembrolizumab Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological Antineoplastic Agents |