Becotatug Vedotin (MRG003) in Previously Treated Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

NCT07536789 | Recruiting Phase 2

• 1 other identifier: B2026-005R
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of Becotatug vedotin, MRG003, in previously treated advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Conditions

Hepato Cellular Carcinoma (HCC)

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Objective Response Rate (ORR) in Cohort 1.

  ORR is defined as the percentage of participants who have a confirmed complete response (CR: disappearance of all target lesions) or partial response (PR: at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the baseline sum of diameters). Responses are according to RECIST 1.1 as assessed by investigator.

  max 24 months

Secondary Outcomes (8)

• Objective Response Rate (ORR) in Cohort 2.

  max 24 months

• Disease control rate (DCR) evaluated by the investigator per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1

  max 24 months

• Duration of Response (DOR) evaluated by the investigator per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1

  max 24 months

• Time to Response (TTR) evaluated by the investigator per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1

  max 24 months

• Progression Free Survival (PFS) evaluated by the investigator per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1

  max 24 months

Study Arms (1)

MRG003

EXPERIMENTAL

Drug: MRG003

Interventions

MRG003 DRUG

MRG003 will be administered by IV, 2.3 mg/kg on day 1 of each 21 day cycle until documented disease progression, development of unacceptable toxicity, participant request, or withdrawal of consent.

MRG003

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Written informed consent obtained.
• Age ≥ 18 years at time of study entry.
• Locally advanced or metastatic and/or unresectable HCC with diagnosis confirmed by histology/ cytology or clinically by American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) criteria in cirrhotic patients.
• Disease progression after ≥1 line of PD-1/L1 inhibitors-based regimens.
• Archival or fresh biopsied tumor tissue samples obtained for immunohistochemistry (IHC) testing to determine EGFR protein.
• At least one measurable (per RECIST v1.1) target lesion that has not been previously treated with local therapy or, if the target lesion is within the field of previous local therapy, has subsequently progressed in accordance with RECIST v1.1.
• Child-Pugh scores 5-7, performance status (PS) ≤ 2 (ECOG scale).
• Subjects with chronic HBV infection must have HBV DNA viral load \< 100 IU/mL at screening. In addition, they must be on antiviral therapy per regional standard of care guidelines prior to initiation of study therapy.
• Life expectancy of at least 12 weeks.
• Adequate blood count, liver-enzymes, and renal function: absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/L, platelets ≥60 x103/L; Total bilirubin ≤ 3x upper normal limit; Aspartate Aminotransferase (SGOT), Alanine aminotransferase (SGPT) ≤ 5 x upper normal limit (ULN); International normalized ratio (INR) ≤1.25; Albumin ≥ 31 g/dL; Serum Creatinine ≤ 1.5 x institutional ULN or creatinine clearance (CrCl) ≥ 30 mL/min (if using the Cockcroft-Gault formula)
• Female patients with reproductive potential must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test within 7 days prior to start of trial.
• Subject is willing and able to comply with the protocol for the duration of the study including undergoing treatment, adherence to contraceptive measures, scheduled visits and examinations including follow up.

You may not qualify if:

• Known fibrolamellar HCC, sarcomatoid HCC, or mixed cholangiocarcinoma and HCC.
• Patients on a liver transplantation list or with advanced liver disease.
• History of cardiac disease, including clinically significant gastrointestinal bleeding within 4 weeks prior to start of study treatment
• Thrombotic or embolic events such as cerebrovascular accident (including transient ischemic attacks), deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism within the 6 months Prior to the first dose of study drug with the exception of thrombosis of a segmental portal vein.
• Patients with second primary cancer, except adequately treated basal skin cancer or carcinoma in-situ of the cervix.
• Immunocompromised patients, e.g. patients who are known to be serologically positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
• Any condition or comorbidity that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with evaluation of study Treatment or interpretation of patient safety or study results, including but not limited to: a) history of interstitial lung disease b) Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) coinfection (i.e double infection) c) known acute or chronic pancreatitis d) active tuberculosis e) any other active infection (viral, fungal or bacterial) requiring systemic therapy f) history of allogeneic tissue/solid organ transplant g) diagnosis of immunodeficiency or patient is receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of treatment. h) Has an active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment within the past 3 months or a documented history of clinically severe autoimmune disease, or a syndrome that requires systemic steroids or immunosuppressive agents. Exceptions: Subjects with vitiligo, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus type I or resolved childhood asthma/atopy are an exception to this rule. Subjects that require intermittent use of bronchodilators or local steroid injections would not be excluded from the study. Subjects with Hashimoto thyroiditis, hypothyroidism stable on hormone replacement or psoriasis not requiring treatment are not excluded from the study. i) Live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of treatment or during study treatment. j) History or clinical evidence of Central Nervous System (CNS) metastases Exceptions are: Subjects who have completed local therapy and who meet both of the following criteria: I. are asymptomatic and II. have no requirement for steroids 6 weeks prior to start of treatment. Screening with CNS imaging (CT or MRI) is required only if clinically indicated or if the subject has a history of CNS.
• Medication that is known to interfere with any of the agents applied in the trial.
• Any other efficacious cancer treatment except protocol specified treatment at study start.
• Patient has received any other investigational product within 28 days of study entry.
• Female subjects who are pregnant, breast-feeding or male/female patients of reproductive potential who are not employing an effective method of birth control (failure rate of less than 1% per year). \[Acceptable methods of contraception are: implants, injectable contraceptives, combined oral contraceptives, intrauterine pessars (only hormonal devices), sexual abstinence or vasectomy of the partner\]. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test (serum β-HCG) at screening.
• Patient with any significant history of non-compliance to medical regimens or with inability to grant reliable informed consent.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Fudan University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 200032, China

RECRUITING

Central Study Contacts

Peng Wang, MD

CONTACT

8621-64041990; peng_wang@fudan.edu.cn

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 2
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 11, 2026
• First Posted: April 17, 2026
• Study Start: April 17, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): April 15, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 14, 2029
• Last Updated: April 21, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CN (1)