Clinical trial Recruiting at 2 sites Phase 1 Interventional Ages 18 to 74

EMB-01 plus chemotherapy for unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer

Official title: A Phase Ib, Open-Label Study of EMB-01 in Combination With Chemotherapy in Patients With Unresectable or Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Run by Shanghai EpimAb Biotherapeutics Co., Ltd. · NCT07649655 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This early-phase trial tests EMB-01 in combination with chemotherapy to see if it is safe and helps treat people with unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer.

More Metastatic Colorectal Cancer trials

Quick facts

PhasePhase 1
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 74 Years
SexAll
Enrollment120 (estimated)
SponsorShanghai EpimAb Biotherapeutics Co., Ltd.
Industry-sponsored
Drugs / interventionsfruquintinib, chemotherapy, prednisone
Locations2 sites (Beijing, Beijing Municipality and 1 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedSeptember 30, 2026
Main results expectedMarch 31, 2028
Study endsDecember 31, 2028
Registry record updatedOctober 16, 2026
Trial IDNCT07649655 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Adults aged 18 to below 75 with histologically confirmed unresectable or metastatic left-sided colorectal cancer and measurable disease, good performance status, and suitable tumor tissue available for analysis.

Probably not a fit

Patients who do not respond to EMB-01 or who experience dose-limiting toxicities may not derive benefit.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This is an open-label, multicenter Phase Ib study designed to assess safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of EMB-01 in combination with standard chemotherapy for unresectable or metastatic left-sided colorectal cancer. The trial uses a dose-escalation segment to identify a recommended Phase II dose, followed by a dose-expansion segment. About 30 patients per combination group are planned for each phase, up to roughly 120 participants total. Key interventions include EMB-01 with irinotecan, TAS-102, mFOLFOX6, or FOLFIRI. Eligible patients are adults under 75 with measurable left-sided disease, adequate organ function, and available tumor tissue for analysis.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, participants may experience improved disease control and paving the way for further development of EMB-01 in combination therapy.

How similar studies have gone: Early-phase trials of antibody-based or targeted combinations in colorectal cancer have shown safety signals and potential activity, but this specific EMB-01 combination is novel or exploratory.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* 1\. Male or female patients aged ≥ 18 and \< 75 years. 2. Histologically or cytologically confirmed unresectable or metastatic left-sided colorectal cancer (primary tumor located from the splenic flexure to the rectum), with measurable disease per RECIST v1.1.

  3\. ECOG performance status ≤ 1. 4. Agrees to provide archival tumor tissue (formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded, collected within 18 months) or newly obtained biopsy tissue. If no eligible archival tissue is available and the patient's clinical condition is not suitable for biopsy, the patient may be screened after confirmation and agreement between the investigator and sponsor.

  5\. Adequate organ function within 14 days prior to the first dose of study treatment 6. Prior anti-tumor therapy:
  1. Patients who received any approved or investigational anti-cancer therapy must have discontinued such therapy at least 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study treatment or 5 half-lives of the agent, whichever is shorter.
  2. Patients who received local radiotherapy, bone metastasis radiotherapy, or oral fluoropyrimidines must have discontinued such therapy at least 2 weeks prior to the first dose of study treatment. No therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals within 8 weeks prior to the first dose of EMB-01.

     Prior anti-tumor therapy requirements by combination regimen\*:
* Arm A (irinotecan) and Arm B (TAS-102): Prior fluoropyrimidine-, oxaliplatin-, and irinotecan-based chemotherapy, plus prior anti-VEGF therapy (with or without anti-EGFR therapy), with disease progression or intolerance; no prior TAS-102/fruquintinib/regorafenib. If prior anti-EGFR therapy was received, the patient must have achieved CR, PR, or SD, with the last anti-EGFR dose administered at least 4 months prior to the first study drug dose.
* Arm C (mFOLFOX6): No prior oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy and no prior anti-EGFR therapy.
* Arm D (FOLFIRI): No prior irinotecan-based chemotherapy and no prior anti-EGFR therapy.

  7\. Female patients of childbearing potential or male patients with partners of childbearing potential must use one or more contraceptive methods from the screening period, continue such methods during study treatment, and until 3 months after the last dose of EMB-01 (for Arm B: 6 months after last TAS-102 dose for both sexes; for Arm C: 9 months after last oxaliplatin dose for females, 6 months for males; for Arm A/D: 6 months after last chemotherapy dose for females, 3 months for males).

  8\. Able to swallow and retain oral medications, and has adequate venous access.

Exclusion Criteria:

* 1\. Expected survival \< 3 months. 2. Presence of KRAS/NRAS (exons 2, 3, 4), BRAF V600, HER2 positivity (IHC3+ and/or amplification), RET/NTRK fusion, or other molecular alterations that may affect anti-EGFR or cMET therapy efficacy, as detected by central laboratory testing at screening or documented in prior treatment history. (Discussion between investigator and sponsor in writing is recommended if applicable.) 3. Persistent adverse events (AEs) from prior anti-tumor therapy \> Grade 2 per CTCAE v5.0, except alopecia, Grade 2 fatigue, or Grade 2 peripheral neuropathy.

  4\. Primary central nervous system (CNS) malignancy or symptomatic CNS/leptomeningeal metastases. Asymptomatic CNS metastases are allowed if no local radiotherapy is required, or if radiotherapy was completed ≥ 4 weeks prior to first study dose.

  5\. Prior treatment with anti-EGFR × cMET bispecific antibody or bispecific ADC. 6. Discontinuation of EGFR inhibitors due to skin toxicity. 7. History of life-threatening hypersensitivity, or known allergy to recombinant proteins/excipients in EMB-01 or any study treatment contraindication.

  8\. Systemic corticosteroids (\> 10 mg prednisone equivalent/day) or other immunosuppressants required within 14 days prior to first dose, regardless of autoimmune disease. Inhaled/topical/ocular/nasal/joint steroids are permitted; adrenal replacement steroids are allowed at \>10 mg/day if no active autoimmune disease.

  9\. Severe/uncontrolled cardiac disease requiring treatment 10. Use or planned use of QT-prolonging or rhabdomyolysis-inducing drugs during screening through study end (only Arm C); or known CYP3A4/UGT1A1 strong inhibitors/CYP3A4 inducers/anticholinesterase neuromuscular blockers (only Arms A/D).

  10\. Rare hereditary galactose intolerance, Lapp lactase deficiency, or glucose-galactose malabsorption (only Arm B).

  11\. Other serious uncontrolled medical, psychiatric, or familial/endemic conditions that may interfere with study assessments, adherence, or safety (investigator's assessment).

  12\. Any condition that, in the investigator's opinion, makes study participation not in the patient's best interest or confounds study evaluations.

Where it's running

  • Beijing Cancer Hospital
    Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China
    Recruiting
  • The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University
    Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
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.