A Phase 1 interventional study of BCA101 and Pembrolizumab in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Anal Canal and Colorectal Cancer, sponsored by Bicara Therapeutics. Recruiting at 21 sites in 3 countries. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-06.
Sponsored by Bicara Therapeutics · Phase 1, Interventional, and Treatment
The investigational drug to be studied in this protocol, BCA101, is a first-in-class compound that targets both EGFR with TGFβ. Based on preclinical data, this bifunctional antibody may exert synergistic activity in patients with EGFR-driven tumors.
This is a Phase 1/1b, open-label study, which consists of dose escalation parts (Part A) followed by expansion cohorts (Part B) for both single agent BCA101 and combination BCA101 plus pembrolizumab.
The study population in dose escalation (Part A) of single agent BCA101 consists of subjects with EGFR-driven advanced solid tumors refractory to standard of care or for whom no standard of care is available. Dose escalation (Part A) of combination BCA101 and pembrolizumab consists of subjects with either Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (HNSCC) or Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Anal Canal (SCCAC) whose tumors are refractory to standard of care or for whom no standard of care is available.
Once the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) / recommended dose (RD) of single agent BCA101 is determined, the study will continue with expansion cohorts (Part B) with select tumor types. Expansion cohorts for single agent BCA101 will include cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Planned expansion cohorts for the combination of BCA101 and pembrolizumab include: 1) HNSCC and 2) SCCAC.
1,680 studies on the registry are indexed under Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; 539 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 473 is above the median of 49 across 1,432 interventional studies indexed under Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck.
Browse Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck studies →Bicara Therapeutics is the lead sponsor of 3 studies on the registry; 3 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
PART B (Cohort expansion):
Single agent BCA101 - patients with the following tumor type will be eligible:
ii. No prior history of treatment with anti-EGFR antibodies in the unresectable/metastatic setting (prior treatment with radiotherapy in the adjuvant setting is allowed).
Combination BCA101 and pembrolizumab - patients with the following tumor types will be eligible:
i. Patients must have no prior systemic therapy administered in the recurrent or metastatic setting (with the exception of systemic therapy completed >6 months prior if given as part of multimodal treatment for locally advanced disease) or prior history of immune checkpoint inhibitors with the exception of neoadjuvant therapy (>6 months prior to study drug initiation). No prior history of anti-EGFR antibodies (with the exception of radiosensitizing agents and multimodal treatment for locally advanced disease).
ii. Patients must provide tissue for PD-L1 biomarker analysis from a core or excisional biopsy (fine needle aspirate is not sufficient): A newly obtained biopsy (within 90 days prior to start of study treatment) is preferred but an archival sample is acceptable.
iii. Patients must have results from testing of human papillomavirus (HPV) status for oropharyngeal cancer
Expansion Cohort 3: Squamous Carcinoma of the Anal Canal (SCAC), locally advanced/unresectable or metastatic.
i. Patients must have received (or been intolerant to or ineligible for) at least 1 prior line of chemotherapy and received no more than 2 prior lines of systemic treatments for treatment of unresectable and/or metastatic disease. No prior history of immune checkpoint inhibitors.
ii. Patients must have progressed on one prior systemic therapy in the metastatic setting.
iii. No prior history of treatment with anti-EGFR antibodies in the metastatic setting.
Exclusion Criteria:
Route: IV Infusion Frequency: QW Current Dose: 1500mg
Drug: BCA101
Route: IV Infusion Frequency: Q3W Dose: 200mg
Drug: BCA101 · Drug: Pembrolizumab
EGFR/TGFβ fusion monoclonal antibody
Also known as: Ficerafusp alfa
anti-PD-1
Safety of BCA101 alone and BCA101 in combination with pembrolizumab: Incidence and severity of AEs and SAEs
Incidence and severity of AEs and SAEs
Time frame: 24 months
Tolerability of BCA101 alone and BCA101 in combination with pembrolizumab: Incidence and severity of AEs and SAEs
Incidence and severity of AEs and SAEs
Time frame: 24 months
Incidence of Dose Limiting Toxicities (DLTs)
Incidence of DLTs during the first cycle of treatment with BCA101 monotherapy or the combination of BCA101 and pembrolizumab.
Time frame: 21 days
Objective Response Rate
Determine objective response rate in each part of the study, per RECIST v1.1 and iRECIST
Time frame: 24 months
Clinical Benefit Rate
Determine clinical benefit rate in each part of the study, per RECIST v1.1 and iRECIST
Time frame: 24 months
Progression free survival
Determine PFS in each part of the study, per RECIST v1.1 and iRECIST
Time frame: 24 months
Duration of Response
Determine duration of response in each part of the study, per RECIST v1.1 and iRECIST
Time frame: 24 months
Overall Survival
Determine survival rates in each part of the study.
Time frame: 24 months
AUC of BCA101 and pembrolizumab
AUC
Time frame: 24 months
Cmax of BCA101 and pembrolizumab
Cmax
Time frame: 24 months
Tmax of BCA101 and pembrolizumab
Tmax
Time frame: 24 months
Concentration vs time profile of BCA101 and pembrolizumab
Ctrough
Time frame: 24 months
Half-life of BCA101 and pembrolizumab
Half-life
Time frame: 24 months
Immunogenicity of BCA101 and pembrolizumab
Incidence and titer of anti-drug-antibodies
Time frame: 24 months
Plan to share: No
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
Contact study teamGet an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck→
Bicara Therapeutics