FDA Removes Partial Clinical Hold on TuHURA Biosciences’ Phase 3 Accelerated Approval Trial for IFx-2.0 in Advanced or Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma

On June 9, 2025 TuHURA Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:HURA) ("TuHURA" or the "Company"), a Phase 3 immune-oncology company developing novel technologies to overcome resistance to cancer immunotherapy, reported that the FDA has removed the manufacturing-related partial clinical hold on the Company’s Phase 3 accelerated approval trial for IFx-2.0, thereby allowing the trial to proceed as agreed to under the previously announced SPA Agreement with the FDA (Press release, TuHURA Biosciences, JUN 9, 2025, View Source [SID1234653778]).

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"We are grateful for the collaborative interaction with the reviewers at the Office of Therapeutic Products (OTP) and the Oncology Center of Excellence (OCE), including their quick response time and, importantly, their helpful recommendations going forward," stated James Bianco, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of TuHURA Biosciences.

"The removal of the partial clinical hold allows TuHURA to begin the trial’s initiation and activation of clinical sites for the Phase 3 accelerated approval trial of IFx-2.0," continued Dr. Bianco. "We are also pleased that the removal of the partial clinical hold represents the achievement of the second milestone funding condition under our recently announced private placement, thereunder trigging the payment to the Company of an additional $2.23 million under the financing."

The Company’s Phase 3 accelerated approval trial of IFx-2.0, will be conducted under an SPA Agreement with the U.S. FDA, and will evaluate IFx-2.0 as an adjunctive therapy administered weekly for three weeks concurrent with the approved dose and schedule for Keytruda compared to Keytruda plus placebo in the first line treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic MCC. Keytruda is currently approved in MCC under accelerated approval based on Overall Response Rate (ORR). The pivotal trial for IFx-2.0 is expected to enroll 118 across approximately 22 to 25 U.S. sites. Trial participants will be randomized on a 1:1 basis and receive Keytruda in both arms, for up to two years, or until disease progression or Keytruda related toxicities. The primary endpoint for the trial is ORR with a key secondary endpoint of Progression Free Survival (PFS). Other secondary endpoints are safety, duration of response, and overall survival. Accelerated approval is based on the successful achievement of the ORR primary endpoint. PFS, the key secondary endpoint, if successfully achieved, without a detrimental effect on overall survival, could satisfy the requirement for regular approval without the requirement for a post approval confirmatory trial (in contrast to most accelerated approval trials).