NWRD06 GPC3-targeted DNA vaccine after curative resection for hepatocellular carcinoma

A Phase II Clinical Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of NWRD06 in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Curative Resection.

This study will test whether the GPC3-targeted DNA vaccine NWRD06, given by electroporation, can help prevent recurrence in adults with GPC3-positive hepatocellular carcinoma after curative surgery or ablation.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 65 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Newish Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (Industry-sponsored)
• Drugs / interventions: chemotherapy, immunotherapy, prednisone
• Locations: 6 sites (Beijing, Beijing Municipality and 5 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT07324304 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a single-arm, open-label Phase 2 trial enrolling adults with GPC3-positive primary hepatocellular carcinoma who have had curative resection or local ablation within 12 weeks. Participants receive three 4 mg injections of the NWRD06 DNA plasmid vaccine delivered by electroporation at Weeks 0, 4, and 8. Tumor imaging is scheduled at Weeks 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72 after the first dose and continues until recurrence, start of new antitumor therapy, withdrawal, or Week 72. Safety and recurrence outcomes will be monitored across multiple centers in Beijing.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 18–65 with histologically or cytologically confirmed GPC3-positive HCC (BCLC A/B or CNLC Ib–IIIa) who had curative resection or ablation within the protocol time window and show no residual or extrahepatic disease on recent imaging are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients with GPC3-negative tumors, residual intrahepatic disease, lymph node or extrahepatic metastasis, or those outside the specified age or timing windows are unlikely to benefit from this vaccine approach.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If effective, the vaccine could lower the chance of cancer returning after curative treatment and extend recurrence-free survival.

How similar studies have performed: Early-phase studies of GPC3-targeted immunotherapies and DNA vaccines in HCC have shown immunologic activity and occasional clinical signals, but definitive late-phase proof of clinical benefit is not yet established.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Aged between 18 and 65 years (inclusive), regardless of gender.
2. Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
3. GPC3 positive confirmed by immunohistochemistry (IHC).
4. Barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) stage A/B or Chinese Hepatocellular carcinoma Stage (CNLC) Ib-IIIa.
5. Must have undergone curative treatment (surgical resection or local ablation) for HCC within 12 weeks prior to the first NWRD06 administration; The interval between radical resection and the first NWRD06 administration was less than 12 weeks, and the interval between hepatic artery interventional therapy and the first NWRD06 administration was more than 7 days.
6. No residual intrahepatic lesions, no lymph node metastasis, and no extrahepatic metastasis confirmed by imaging within 4 weeks prior to the first dose.
7. For patients who underwent radical resection, the following intraoperative criteria must be met: 1) No invasion of adjacent organs, no portal lymph node or distant metastasis.

2\) Surgical margin negative. 8. No Vp4 macrovascular invasion, hepatic vein or inferior vena cava macrovascular invasion of any grade after radical resection; Notes: Patients with Vp1, Vp2, or Vp3 macrovascular invasion confirmed by imaging or pathology are eligible.

9\. ECOG Performance Status of 0 or 1 within 1 week prior to the first dose. 10. Child-Pugh score A/B (≤7) within 1 week prior to the first dose. 11. Adequate organ function within 1 week prior to the first dose: 1) Blood routine: Hemoglobin (Hb) ≥90 g/L; Platelet count (PLT) ≥75×109/L; 2) Liver: Total bilirubin (TB) ≤3× upper limit of normal (ULN); Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤5×ULN; Plasma albumin ≥30g/L; 3) Coagulation: International Normalized Ratio (INR) ≤2.3. 4) Renal: Serum Creatinine (Scr) ≤1.5 × ULN, OR Creatinine Clearance ≥40 mL/min (if Scr \>1.5 × ULN).

12\. The expected survival time is more than 6 months; 13. Patients with non-viral primary HCC meet the inclusion criteria. For patients with Hepatitis B virus-related primary HCC(HBV-HCC) or Hepatitis C virus-related primary HCC(HCV-HCC), concurrent antiviral therapy is required.

14\. Female subjects of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 1 week prior to the first dose and must agree to use highly effective contraception from the start of the study treatment until the end of the study. Male subjects must be surgically sterile or must agree to use highly effective contraception during the same period.

15\. Have fully understood the study and voluntarily signed the ICF, have good communication with the investigator, and are able to complete all treatments, examinations, and visits stipulated in the study protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Recurrence or metastasis of HCC prior to the first dose.
2. Has not adequately recovered from toxicities and/or complications of the prior curative procedure.
3. Presence of hepatic encephalopathy.
4. Requires regular renal dialysis.
5. Uncontrolled pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, or clinically significant ascites (defined as ascites not easily controlled by diuretic therapy).
6. History of gastrointestinal bleeding within 28 days prior to screening, or active bleeding, or bleeding tendency.
7. Received any systemic anti-tumor therapy for HCC (including chemotherapy, molecular targeted therapy, bio-immunotherapy) within 28 days prior to screening.
8. Participation in another clinical trial within 28 days prior to screening or still within the observational follow-up period of another trial.
9. Continuous systemic corticosteroid therapy (dose equivalent to \>10 mg/day prednisone) for more than one week within 28 days prior to screening (excluding hormone replacement therapy and inhaled corticosteroids).
10. History of immunodeficiency or active autoimmune diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, etc.).
11. History of allogeneic stem cell, tissue, or solid organ transplantation (including bone marrow transplant).
12. Uncontrolled severe infection (\> Grade 2 according to NCI-CTCAE v5.0).
13. Known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or syphilis.
14. Severe dysfunction of other major organs or cardiopulmonary diseases.
15. Epilepsy requiring medication (such as steroids or antiepileptic drugs).
16. History or presence of other malignancies, except for: adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix, basal cell carcinoma of the skin, superficial bladder tumors, ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast, or any other malignancy cured for more than 5 years prior to study entry.
17. Known history of severe allergy, allergic diseases, or allergic constitution.
18. Severe psychiatric disorder.
19. History of drug abuse or alcohol addiction.
20. Pregnant or lactating women, or women with a positive pregnancy test.
21. Any other condition that, in the investigator's judgment, makes the subject unsuitable for participation in this study.

Where this trial is running

Beijing, Beijing Municipality and 5 other locations

• Beijing You'an Hospital, Capital Medical University — Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China (Not_yet_recruiting)
• The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital — Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China (Not_yet_recruiting)
• Peking Union Medical College Hospital — Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China (Not_yet_recruiting)
• Cancer Institute and Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences — Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China (Recruiting)
• Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital — Harbin, Heilongjiang, China (Not_yet_recruiting)
• Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine — Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China (Not_yet_recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Zhen Huang, M.D.

Conditions Hepatocellular Carcinoma; DNA Vaccine; GPC3