Study summary
Petosemtamab halved the risk of death in head and neck cancer
50% lowerrisk of death vs pembrolizumab alone
What was tested
Petosemtamab, an antibody aimed at EGFR and LGR5, added to pembrolizumab as first treatment for PD-L1 positive head and neck squamous cancer. This was not an esophageal cancer trial.
What they found
- Risk of death was halved (hazard ratio 0.50) at the first planned look at the data.
- More tumors shrank with the combination. In the earlier phase 2, 27 of 43 did (63%).
- The benefit held whether or not the cancer was linked to HPV.
What it means
Head and neck squamous cancer is a close biological relative. Esophageal cancer is included in the drug's multi-cancer trial, with no results yet.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team.
Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice.
Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.