Intravesical FL115 alone or with BCG for non‑muscle invasive bladder cancer

A Phase I/II, Open-Label, Multicenter Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Anti-Tumor Activity of Intravesical FL115 Alone or in Combination With BCG in Subjects With Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer, Including Dose Escalation and Cohort Expansion

This trial will try intravesical FL115, alone or combined with BCG, in adults with high‑grade, BCG‑unresponsive non‑muscle invasive bladder cancer to find safe dosing and see if it reduces recurrence.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase1; Phase2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 80 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Suzhou Forlong Biotechnology Co., Ltd (Industry-sponsored)
• Drugs / interventions: chemotherapy, immunotherapy, prednisone
• Locations: 12 sites (Beijing, Beijing Municipality and 11 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT07122414 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a Phase 1/2 interventional trial testing intravesical FL115 as monotherapy and in combination with intravesical BCG in patients with high‑grade, BCG‑unresponsive non‑muscle invasive bladder cancer. The study has three parts: FL115 dose escalation alone (Phase Ia), FL115 plus BCG dose escalation (Phase Ib), and a cohort expansion of the combination at the recommended Phase 2 dose (Phase II). Treatments are given through intravesical administration across induction, enhanced induction/maintenance 1, and maintenance 2 periods. Primary goals include establishing safety, tolerability, and the recommended Phase 2 dose, with secondary aims to collect preliminary signals of anti‑tumor activity.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 18 or older with histologically confirmed high‑grade, BCG‑unresponsive non‑muscle invasive (Ta, T1, or CIS) transitional cell bladder cancer who are unfit for or refuse radical cystectomy and meet post‑TURBT resection requirements are eligible.

Not a fit: Patients with muscle‑invasive bladder cancer, resectable disease not meeting the study resection criteria, or those who are appropriate candidates for immediate cystectomy are unlikely to benefit from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, FL115 (alone or with BCG) could provide a new bladder‑preserving treatment option that lowers recurrence for patients with BCG‑unresponsive NMIBC.

How similar studies have performed: Combining new intravesical agents with BCG is an area of active research with mixed but occasionally promising results, while FL115 itself represents a novel investigational agent in this setting.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male or female subjects aged 18 years or older.
2. Histologic confirmation of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer of the transitional cell carcinoma high-grade subtype (mixed histology tumors allowed if transitional cell histology is predominant histology).
3. Histologically confirmed presence of BCG-unresponsive CIS (with or without Ta or T1 disease) or histologically confirmed presence of BCG-unresponsive high-grade Ta or T1 disease.
4. Absence of resectable disease after transurethral resection (TURBT) procedures (residual carcinoma in situ (CIS) acceptable; patients with T1 tumors must undergo repeat resection and biopsy \[inclusive of muscularis propria\] if initial biopsy did not include muscularis propria). Patients with high-grade Ta and/or T1 disease should have complete resection before study treatment.
5. Subjects refuse or are judged by the investigator not suitable for radical cystectomy.
6. ECOG score 0-2.
7. Expected survival ≥ 2 years (judged by the investigator).
8. Adequate organ function.
9. Voluntary written informed consent and agree to comply with all protocol-specified procedures and follow-up evaluations.

Exclusion Criteria:

1.Prior Anti-Cancer Treatment History:

1. Have previously received IL-2 or IL-15 agonist therapy, including but not limited to rhIL-15 (NCI), ALT-803 (FL-115), and NKTR-214 (Nektar).
2. Have previously undergone any of the following NMIBC-related treatments:

   1. Received extensive pelvic radiotherapy (involving \>30% of bone marrow) within 2 years prior to the first dose.
   2. Received systemic therapy aimed at treating NMIBC (e.g., radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunosuppressive therapy) within 4 weeks prior to the first dose.
   3. Received intravesical instillation aimed at treating NMIBC within 4 weeks prior to the first dose, including intravesical local treatment delivered transurethrally.
   4. Underwent TURBT or other surgical procedures targeting bladder lesions within 2 weeks prior to the first dose.

   2\. Prior therapies and recovery from related toxicities：

a) Known or suspected allergy to FL115, its excipients, interleukin-based therapies, or fusion proteins (Grade 3-4), or to BCG/excipients (for Phase Ib/II).

b) Systemic immunosuppressive therapy within 4 weeks before first dose, except: ≤10 mg/day prednisone equivalent, local/inhaled/intranasal steroids, adrenal replacement ≤7.5 mg/day prednisone, or single-dose prophylaxis for contrast allergy.

c) Prior allogeneic organ or PBSC/bone marrow transplantation. d) Live virus vaccination within 4 weeks prior to first dose. e) Prior ≥ Grade 3 or treatment-discontinuation irAE due to immunotherapy, except controlled hypothyroidism, type 1 diabetes, or limited skin irAEs.

f) Unresolved AEs from prior anti-tumor therapy that have not returned to baseline or ≤ Grade 1 (per CTCAE v5.0) prior to first dose, except alopecia, ≤ Grade 2 neuropathy, or controlled hypothyroidism. Other ≤ Grade 2 AEs require PI and sponsor medical review.

3.Medical and Surgical History:

1. History or current diagnosis of muscle-invasive (T2-T4), locally advanced (T3/T4, any N), or metastatic bladder cancer.
2. History or evidence of upper urinary tract (kidney, renal pelvis, ureter) or prostatic urethral tumors.
3. Known vesicoureteral reflux or evidence of bladder perforation.
4. Active urinary tract infection.
5. Discontinuation of prior BCG therapy due to severe adverse events such as sepsis, systemic infection requiring treatment, or urinary incontinence (Phase Ib and II applicable).
6. Post-TURBT complications that preclude intravesical instillation, per investigator judgment.
7. Clinically significant polyuria (e.g., 24-hour urine volume \>4000 mL).
8. History of other malignancies within 2 years prior to screening that have shown progression or required active treatment.
9. Active or prior autoimmune disease requiring systemic immunosuppressants or corticosteroids.
10. History of severe pulmonary toxicity.
11. History or imaging evidence of active pulmonary TB within 1 year prior to enrollment, or prior TB infection not adequately treated.
12. Uncontrolled pleural, pericardial, or peritoneal effusion deemed clinically significant by the investigator (e.g., requiring repeated drainage \>once/month).
13. History of significant cardiovascular disease.
14. Major surgery within 4 weeks prior to signing informed consent.

    4.Infectious Disease History

a) Severe infections within 4 weeks before first dose. b) Any history of confirmed active HBV, HCV, HIV, or active tuberculosis infection.

5.Other Conditions

1. Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
2. Known, documented, or suspected substance abuse. Exceptions: Prescribed opioids for pain control or other investigator-approved, medically justified cases (pending sponsor medical lead agreement).
3. Any other conditions deemed by the investigator to render the subject unsuitable for participation.

Where this trial is running

Beijing, Beijing Municipality and 11 other locations

• Beijing Cancer Hospital — Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China (Recruiting)
• Peking University Third Hospital — Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China (Recruiting)
• The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University — Fuzhou, Fujian, China (Recruiting)
• The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University — Wenzhou, Fujian, China (Recruiting)
• Hunan Cancer Hospital — Changsha, Hunan, China (Recruiting)
• Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital — Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (Recruiting)
• The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University — Suzhou, Jiangsu, China (Recruiting)
• The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University — Qingdao, Shandong, China (Recruiting)
• The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University — Qingdao, Shandong, China (Recruiting)
• Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences · Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital — Chengdu, Sichuan, China (Recruiting)
• The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University — Tianjin, Tianjin Municipality, China (Recruiting)
• Fudan University Cancer Hospital — Shanghai, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Xuxiajun Medical Director

Conditions Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer