A Phase 1/2 interventional study of UCB4594 in Advanced Solid Tumours, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck and Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung, sponsored by Cancer Research UK. Recruiting at 4 sites in United Kingdom. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-08.
Sponsored by Cancer Research UK · Phase 1/2, Interventional, and Treatment
This clinical trial is looking at UCB4594. This is the first time the drug is being tested in humans. UCB4594 is a type of drug called a monoclonal antibody. It has been designed to work by targeting a protein called human leucocyte antigen G (HLA-G) that is found in high levels on some cancer cells. By attaching itself to this protein it may help the immune system to attack and kill the cancer cells.
The four main aims of the clinical trial are to find out:
What does the study involve?
This clinical trial is split into two phases.
Phase I (Module A) is the 'dose escalation' phase. This is where small groups of participants receive UCB4594 at a certain dose level starting with a low dose level. After reviewing the results obtained at each dose level, it will be decided whether or how much to increase the dose for the next group of participants. This part of the study aims to find the best dose to give that does not cause too many side effects.
Phase II is the 'dose expansion' phase. This starts when the dose escalation phase has worked out the best dose of UCB4594 to give. In this part of the trial UCB4594 will be given alone (Module B) or in combination with other anti-cancer drugs (Module C). This will allow us to find out more about how the drug is working and whether UCB4594 affects cancer. Details for Module C of the dose expansion phase will be added when the types of cancer and anti-cancer drugs are defined.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
UCB4594 is a new drug that has never been given to humans before. Possible risks and benefits are based on laboratory tests and experience with similar drugs but there is not yet any information about the effects of UCB4594 in humans. Participants in the trial will be monitored closely to find out the effects of UCB4594.
Exclusion Criteria:
Women of childbearing potential. However, those not already pregnant or breastfeeding (or who discontinue breastfeeding) and meet the following are eligible:
5.1. Have a negative serum pregnancy test within 7 days before enrolment and either:
5.2.1. Agree to a form of highly effective contraception plus a barrier method, or
5.2.2. Agree to sexual abstinence
Effective from the negative pregnancy test, throughout the trial and for 10 months after the last dose of UCB4594
Male patients with partners of childbearing potential. However, patients who meet the following are eligible:
6.1. Agree to a barrier method of contraception or sexual abstinence
6.2. Males with pregnant or breastfeeding partners must use barrier method contraception to prevent exposure of the foetus or neonate
6.3. Non-vasectomised males must also ensure any partner of childbearing potential uses highly effective contraception or agrees to sexual abstinence
Effective from the date of the first dose of UCB4594, throughout the trial and for 5 months after the last dose of UCB4594 N.B. Males must refrain from donating sperm for the same period
Significant active pulmonary disease or condition at screening, including:
18.1. Lymphangitis carcinomatosa
18.2. History of interstitial lung disease or pulmonary fibrosis
18.3. History of pulmonary inflammatory disease
Participants with advanced solid tumours from tumour types with known high levels of HLA-G expression (as reported in the literature) will be recruited.
Drug: UCB4594
Participants with a specific tumour type where HLA-G expression is more prevalent may be recruited to receive UCB4594 monotherapy.
Drug: UCB4594
Participants will receive UCB4594 as an intravenous infusion once every 3 weeks for up to 18 cycles, with each cycle lasting 21 days (\~1 year).
Recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) of UCB4594
The RP2D will be the dose(s) of UCB4594 (in units of mg) selected for further evaluation and will be determined based on the maximum tolerated dose or maximum administered dose (MTD/MAD) and all available safety, efficacy, pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic data (all modules - dose escalation \[module A\], monotherapy dose expansion \[module B\] and any combination modules \[module C\]).
Time frame: From Day 1 (date of first dose of UCB4594) up to Day 21.
Frequency of adverse events (AEs) considered at least possibly related to UCB4594 (up to 18 cycles).
AE data will be collected for UCB4594 (all modules) and/or other anti-cancer treatments (Module C), and the number of Grade 3, 4 and 5 AEs at least possibly related to UCB4594 (all modules) and/or other anti-cancer treatments (Module C) for up to 18 cycles (\~12 months) of dosing determined. AEs, including relatedness, seriousness and severity according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) Version 5.0, will be assessed by the Investigator.
Time frame: From time of informed consent up to 12 months
Number of patients achieving a complete response (CR)/immune CR (iCR) or partial response (PR)/immune PR (iPR) to UCB4594 (all modules).
Number of patients achieving a CR/iCR or PR/iPR to UCB4594 (all modules) according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) v1.1 and immune RECIST (iRECIST).
Time frame: From baseline radiological disease assessment up to 13 months.
Maximum concentration of UCB4594 (monotherapy modules; Modules A and B).
UCB4594 concentrations will be measured in serum.
Time frame: From Day 1 (date of first dose of UCB4594) up to 13 months.
Minimum concentration of UCB4594 (monotherapy modules; Modules A and B).
UCB4594 concentrations will be measured in serum.
Time frame: From Day 1 (date of first dose of UCB4594) up to 13 months.
Area under the curve of UCB4594 (monotherapy modules; Modules A and B).
UCB4594 concentrations will be measured in serum.
Time frame: From Day 1 (date of first dose of UCB4594) up to 13 months.
Steady state volume of distribution of UCB4594 (monotherapy modules; Modules A and B).
UCB4594 concentrations will be measured in serum.
Time frame: From Day 1 (date of first dose of UCB4594) up to 13 months.
Clearance of UCB4594 (monotherapy modules; Modules A and B).
UCB4594 concentrations will be measured in serum.
Time frame: From Day 1 (date of first dose of UCB4594) up to 13 months.
Terminal elimination half-life of UCB4594 (Monotherapy modules; Modules A and B)
UCB4594 concentrations will be measured in serum.
Time frame: From Day 1 (date of first dose of UCB4594) up to 13 months.
Frequency of AEs considered at least possibly related to UCB4594 (up to end of AE reporting period).
The frequency of AEs will be assessed for UCB4594 (all modules) and/or other anti-cancer treatments (Module C), and the number of Grade 3, 4 and 5 AEs at least possibly related to UCB4594 (all modules) and/or other anti-cancer treatments (Module C) determined. AEs, including relatedness, seriousness and severity according to NCI CTCAE Version 5.0, will be assessed by the Investigator.
Time frame: AEs are collected from the date of informed consent until 6 months after the last dose of UCB4594.
Plan to share: Yes — Data from this trial and the final clinical study protocol will be submitted to a public registry and will be available immediately following publication, with no end date. Individual deidentified participant data that underlie the results reported will be shared with researchers whose proposed use of the data is approved by a review committee of the Sponsor. All requests made within 5 years from the end of trial will be considered; requests made subsequently will be considered where possible. Requests should be submitted to drugdev@cancer.org.uk.
Supporting information: Study protocol
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