ABY-029 to highlight gliomas during surgery

Phase 1 Trial of ABY-029 Fluorescence in Patients With High-Grade Glioma

PHASE1 · Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center · NCT07063693

This will test whether tiny doses of ABY-029 help surgeons see glioma tumors better during open brain surgery in adults.

Quick facts

PhasePHASE1
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment33 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorDartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (other)
Locations1 site (Lebanon, New Hampshire)
Trial IDNCT07063693 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a Phase 1 interventional trial testing the safety and optimal dosing of ABY-029, an EGFR-targeted fluorescent Affibody, in adults with presumed high-grade intracranial tumors undergoing open craniotomy. Participants are assigned to one of two very low dose groups and receive ABY-029 prior to surgery. Surgeons use a specialized molecular fluorescence-guided imaging system during tumor resection to record drug uptake in the tumor and surrounding brain tissue. The primary focus is on safety and determining the dose that provides useful intraoperative visualization of tumor versus normal tissue.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (age ≥18) with a clinical diagnosis of presumed high-grade glioma who are planned for open cranial resection and can give informed consent are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding, prisoners, those currently on experimental or approved anti-EGFR therapies, or those with significantly abnormal liver or kidney tests may not receive benefit or are excluded.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, ABY-029 could help surgeons see tumor tissue more clearly during surgery, potentially improving the extent of tumor removal.

How similar studies have performed: Related fluorescence-guided surgery approaches and EGFR-targeted imaging agents have shown promise in early work, but ABY-029 is a novel Affibody approach that is still in early clinical testing.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Clinical diagnosis of presumed high-grade glioma, based on image data.
2. Tumor judged to be suitable and planned for open cranial resection.
3. Valid informed consent by participant.
4. Age ≥ 18 years old.
5. Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Prisoners
2. Individuals who are pregnant or breast feeding.
3. Participants on any experimental or approved anti-EGFR targeted therapies
4. Elevated kidney or liver function tests (levels greater than 2.5 times the normal limit) from laboratory tests conducted as part of standard-of-care screening of prospective surgical participants no earlier than 30 days prior to surgery.
5. Any condition which, in the opinion of the clinical investigator, contraindicates research participation.

Where this trial is running

Lebanon, New Hampshire

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Intracranial Tumor, ABY-029, Affibody, Molecular Fluorescence-Guided Surgery, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.