Inhibrx Biosciences reported that its experimental drug, INBRX-106, combined with Merck’s Keytruda outperformed Keytruda alone in a Phase 2 trial. The combination therapy achieved a 48.3% confirmed objective response rate (cORR) for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Patients receiving only Keytruda saw a 26.5% response rate. Four patients on the combination therapy achieved a complete response, while the monotherapy group saw none.
The combination therapy showed an 80% response rate in HPV-positive patients compared to 33.3% for Keytruda alone. Inhibrx plans to add approximately 50 HPV-positive patients to the study to support a potential accelerated approval pathway for INBRX-106.
The combination was generally manageable for patients. Common side effects included low-grade rash, fatigue, and diarrhea.