Nykode Therapeutics ASA announced data from the phase 1 dose-escalation part of the VB-C-03 trial (N=13). The data will be further elaborated at an oral presentation by Dr. Caroline Even, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif (Paris) at the 10th International Congress on Innovative Approaches in Head & Neck Oncology (ICHNO) on March 20, 2026. A full abstract is expected to be published by ICHNO before the congress.
The VB-C-03 trials is investigating abi-suva in combination with MSD's (Merck & Co. Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA) anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA®? (pembrolizumab) in 1st line unresectable recurrent or metastatic oropharyngeal head and neck cancer patients (NCT06016920).
Nykode is further advancing abisuva development in 1st line head and neck cancer through the Abili-T phase 2 randomized clinical trial. The phase 1 VB-C-03 data show that anti-tumor activity was observed with a final confirmed objective response rate (ORR) of 38.5%. The data demonstrates that abi-suva elicits rapid, strong and durable HPV16-specific T cell responses.
Robust and durable T cell expansion in the circulation was also confirmed by TCR sequencing. The data also demonstrate that all tested doses of abi-suva in collaboration with pembrolizumab were well tolerated and showed a favorable safety profile.
