pairingsPairing
EGFR-directed bispecific + PD-1 blockade
Pairing a new EGFR antibody with immunotherapy tripled the response rate seen with immunotherapy alone in early trials.
Petosemtamab + pembrolizumab ORR ~63% (phase 2) and ficerafusp alfa + pembrolizumab durable responses in HPV-negative disease; both in registrational trials.
Rationale
EGFR blockade with ADCC-competent antibodies induces immunogenic cell death and, for ficerafusp, removes TGF-β-mediated exclusion; PD-1 blockade sustains the resulting T-cell response.
Evidence
Phase 2 single-arm data; phase 3 pending (LiGeR-HN1, FORTIFI-HN01).