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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
A mid-stage trial of Inhibrx's INBRX-106 combined with Merck's Keytruda showed nearly double the tumor response rate compared to Keytruda alone in patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Nearly half of patients on the combo saw tumors shrink or disappear, and they stayed progression-free almost twice as long. The benefit was especially strong in HPV-positive patients.
Inhibrx Biosciences released promising mid-stage trial data for its experimental immunotherapy INBRX-106, tested in combination with Merck's Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in patients with advanced, inoperable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The results showed a meaningful improvement over what Keytruda can achieve on its own.
The combination works by pairing Keytruda's checkpoint inhibition with INBRX-106's activation of OX40 — a protein on T cells that amplifies the immune system's cancer-fighting response. Side effects were generally manageable, with rash, fatigue, and diarrhea being the most common treatment-related events. Inhibrx also plans to explore INBRX-106 in combination with therapeutic cancer vaccines.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Head and neck cancers are notoriously difficult to treat once they've spread. A combination that nearly doubles response rates and extends progression-free survival could represent a significant advance — particularly for HPV-positive patients, who showed the strongest benefit.
