Intravesical recombinant BCG for non‑muscle invasive bladder cancer

ResQ133A-NMIBC: Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial of Intravesical Recombinant Mycobacterium (rMBCG) in Participants With NMIBC Eligible to Receive Intravesical Tice BCG

This trial tests a recombinant form of BCG given directly into the bladder to see if it is safe and helps prevent recurrence in adults with BCG‑naïve NMIBC (CIS or Ta/T1).

Quick facts

• Phase: PHASE1; PHASE2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 85 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: ImmunityBio, Inc. (industry)
• Drugs / interventions: prednisone
• Locations: 9 sites (Chandler, Arizona and 8 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT06800963 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is an open‑label, phase 1/2 multicenter trial of intravesical recombinant Mycobacterium BCG in adults with BCG‑naïve non‑muscle invasive bladder cancer, including carcinoma in situ or Ta/T1 papillary tumors. Phase 1 will focus on safety and tolerability and identifying appropriate dosing, while phase 2 will look at anti‑tumor activity such as response and recurrence rates. Eligible participants must have no resectable disease after transurethral resection and an ECOG performance status of 0–2. Treatments are delivered directly into the bladder at participating U.S. clinical sites with scheduled follow‑up visits to monitor outcomes and side effects.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults 18 or older with histologically confirmed BCG‑naïve NMIBC (CIS or primary/recurrent Ta/T1) with no resectable disease after TURBT and ECOG 0–2 are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients with prior BCG treatment, muscle‑invasive bladder cancer, or untreated resectable tumors are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer an effective intravesical immunotherapy option for BCG‑naïve NMIBC that reduces tumor recurrence and progression.

How similar studies have performed: Standard Tice BCG is an established effective intravesical therapy, but recombinant BCG approaches are relatively novel and have limited clinical data so far.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Participants must meet ALL of the following criteria for inclusion in the study:

1. Male or female participants 18 years of age or older.
2. Histologic confirmation of BCG naïve non-muscle invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (mixed histology tumors allowed if urothelial histology is predominant histology) AND either i) histologically confirmed presence of NMIBC CIS (with or without Ta/T1 papillary disease) OR ii) primary or recurrent stage Ta and/or T1 papillary tumors following transurethral resection (TUR).
3. Absence of resectable disease after TURBT procedures (residual CIS acceptable; participants with T1 tumors must undergo repeat resection and biopsy \[inclusive of muscularis propria\] of the T1 tumor site if initial biopsy did not include muscularis propria).
4. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0, 1, or 2.
5. Voluntary written informed consent and agreement to comply with all protocol specified procedures and follow-up evaluations.

Exclusion Criteria:

Participants with ANY of the following criteria are excluded from participation in the study:

1. Life expectancy \<2 years
2. Any of the following clinical laboratory values at the time of enrollment:

   1. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \<800/μL
   2. Platelets \< 50,000/μL
   3. Liver function abnormalities as indicated by ongoing hepatic enzyme elevation (aspartate aminotransferase \[AST\] or alanine aminotransferase \[ALT\]) \> 2 X upper limit of normal (ULN)
   4. Renal insufficiency as indicated by a creatinine level \>3 X ULN
3. History of or evidence of muscle-invasive, locally advanced, metastatic and/or extravesical bladder cancer (inclusive of the prostatic urethra); or any other cancer within the past 5 years that is progressing or requires active treatment. Exceptions are adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer that has undergone potentially curative therapy or in situ cervical cancer; and adequately treated stage I or II cancer or stable prostate cancer from which the participant is currently in complete remission, and is under active surveillance or hormone control.
4. Symptomatic congestive heart failure (CHF), New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III or IV heart failure or other clinical signs of severe cardiac dysfunction.
5. Severe/unstable angina pectoris, or myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to study entry.
6. History or evidence of uncontrollable central nervous system disease.
7. Active systemic infection requiring parenteral antibiotic therapy. All prior infections must have resolved following optimal therapy.
8. Concurrent febrile illness, active urinary tract infection, active tuberculosis, a history of hypotension or anaphylactic reactions.
9. Ongoing chronic systemic steroid therapy required (\>10 mg oral prednisone daily or equivalent).
10. Women who are pregnant or nursing. Female participants of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test and must adhere to using a medically acceptable method of birth control prior to screening and agree to continue its use during the study and for 30 days after the last dose of study drug, or be surgically sterilized (eg, hysterectomy or tubal ligation). Women of childbearing potential are defined as any female who has experienced menarche and who is NOT permanently sterile or postmenopausal. Postmenopausal is defined as 12 consecutive months with no menses without an alternative medical cause. Males must agree to use barrier methods of birth control while on study and for 90 days post last dose of study drug.
11. Participants currently receiving investigational or commercial anticancer agents or anticancer therapies other than rMBCG and supportive care therapies for active disease.
12. Concurrent use of other investigational agents (not including FDA authorized drugs for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19).
13. Other illness or condition, including laboratory abnormalities, which in the opinion of the Investigator would exclude the participant from participating in this study. This includes, but is not limited to, serious medical conditions or psychiatric illness likely to interfere with participation in the study.

Where this trial is running

Chandler, Arizona and 8 other locations

• Arizona Clinical Trials — Chandler, Arizona, United States (NOT_YET_RECRUITING)
• Golden State Urology — Sacramento, California, United States (RECRUITING)
• Emory University — Atlanta, Georgia, United States (RECRUITING)
• Michigan Institute of Urology & Solaris Health — Troy, Michigan, United States (RECRUITING)
• SUNY Upstate Medical University — Syracuse, New York, United States (NOT_YET_RECRUITING)
• MidLantic Urology — Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, United States (RECRUITING)
• Conrad Pearson Clinic — Germantown, Tennessee, United States (NOT_YET_RECRUITING)
• Urology Associates, P.C. — Nashville, Tennessee, United States (RECRUITING)
• Potamac Urology Center — Alexandria, Virginia, United States (NOT_YET_RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Jayson Garmizo

Conditions: NMIBC