On February 24, 2026 Nykode Therapeutics ASA (OSE: NYKD), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel immunotherapies, reported data from the phase 1 dose-escalation part of the VB-C-03 trial (N=13). The data will be further elaborated at an oral presentation by Dr. Caroline Even, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif (Paris) at the 10th International Congress on Innovative Approaches in Head & Neck Oncology (ICHNO) on March 20, 2026. A full abstract is expected to be published by ICHNO before the congress.
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The VB-C-03 trial is investigating abi-suva in combination with MSD’s (Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA) anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) in 1st line unresectable recurrent or metastatic oropharyngeal head and neck cancer patients (NCT06016920). Nykode is further advancing abi-suva development in 1st line head and neck cancer through the Abili-T phase 2 randomized clinical trial.
The phase 1 VB-C-03 data show that anti-tumor activity was observed with a final confirmed objective response rate (ORR) of 38.5%. The data demonstrates that abi-suva elicits rapid, strong and durable HPV16-specific T cell responses. Robust and durable T cell expansion in the circulation was also confirmed by TCR sequencing. The data also demonstrate that all tested doses of abi-suva in combination with pembrolizumab were well tolerated and showed a favorable safety profile.
Michael Engsig, Chief Executive Officer of Nykode, commented: "The objective response rate of 38.5% for the combination treatment compared to historical 19% of standard of care gives us confidence in abi-suva heading into the Abili-T trial which is investigating the same regiment in a randomized controlled setting. This is the third trial for abi-suva indicating effect across three different patient groups including both head and neck as well as cervical cancer."
KEYTRUDA is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA. KEYTRUDA has been supplied by MSD for the VB-C-03 trial according to the clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement between Nykode and MSD.
(Press release, Nykode Therapeutics, FEB 24, 2026, View Source [SID1234662929])