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Ulevostinag

Phase 2

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) | Small molecule | Oncology |Merck & Company, Inc.|Last Updated: Oct 29, 2025

Success Probability

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Market & Valuation

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Trial Design

RandomizedACTIVE_CONTROLLED
Total Trials1
Total Enrollment18

FDA Designations

No designations recorded

Clinical trial landscape

Ulevostinag · 2 trials · 3 indications

Phase 2 1Phase 1 1
NCT04220866Study of Intratumoral (IT) Ulevostinag (MK-1454) in Combination With Intravenous (IV) Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) Compared to IV Pembrolizumab Alone as the First Line Treatment of Metastatic or Unresectable, Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) (MK-1454-002)Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)
COMPLETED18 Analytics
PHASE2COMPLETED
Study of Intratumoral (IT) Ulevostinag (MK-1454) in Combination With Intravenous (IV) Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) Compared to IV Pembrolizumab Alone as the First Line Treatment of Metastatic or Unresectable, Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) (MK-1454-002)
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)Unlock trial analytics

Study Endpoints

Primary Endpoints

Objective Response Rate (ORR) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1)
Up to 913.0 days

ORR was defined as the percentage of participants in the analysis population who have a Complete Response (CR: Disappearance of all target lesions) or a Partial Response (PR: At least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) per RECIST 1.1. ORR was assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR), and the 95% confidence interval (CI) was based on the exact method for binomial data.

Part 1: Percentage of Participants Who Experienced a Dose-limiting Toxicity (DLT) Per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, Version 4.0 (CTCAE 4.0)
Cycle 1 (21-day cycle)

DLTs were assessed during the first cycle (21 days) \& are defined as: Grade (Gr) 4 nonhematologic toxicity; Gr 4 hematologic toxicity lasting ≥7 days, except thrombocytopenia, Gr 4 thrombocytopenia, Gr 3 thrombocytopenia (if associated with clinically significant bleeding); nonhematologic adverse event (AE) ≥ Gr 3 (with exceptions); Gr 3 or 4 nonhematologic lab abnormality (if medical intervention is required, leads to hospitalization, or persists for \>1 week); Gr 3 or 4 febrile neutropenia; drug-related toxicity that causes treatment discontinuation or dose delay \>7 days between consecutive doses during Cycle 1; drug-related toxicity that causes a \>2 week delay in Cycle 2 initiation; elevated aspartate aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase lab value that is ≥3× upper limit of normal (ULN) \& an elevated total bilirubin value ≥2× ULN \& an alkaline phosphatase value \<2× ULN, in which no alternative reasons can be found; ≥Gr 2 immune-mediated uveitis; or Gr 5 toxicity.

Parts 1 and 2: Number of Participants Who Experienced One or More Adverse Events (AEs)
Up to approximately 2 years

AEs are defined as any unfavourable and unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding, for example), symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of study treatment or protocol-specified procedure, whether or not considered related to the study treatment or protocol-specified procedure. Any worsening (i.e., any clinically significant adverse change in frequency and/or intensity) of a pre-existing condition that is temporally associated with the use of the study treatment, is also an AE.

Parts 1 and 2: Number of Participants Who Discontinued Study Drug Due to an AE
Up to approximately 2 years

AEs are defined as any unfavourable and unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding, for example), symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of study treatment or protocol-specified procedure, whether or not considered related to the study treatment or protocol-specified procedure. Any worsening (i.e., any clinically significant adverse change in frequency and/or intensity) of a pre-existing condition that is temporally associated with the use of the study treatment, is also an AE.

Secondary Endpoints

Progression-free Survival (PFS) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1)
Up to 913.0 days
Duration of Response (DOR) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1)
Up to 913.0 days
Overall Survival (OS)
Up to 913.0 days
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Study Design & Arms

AllocationRANDOMIZED
MaskingNONE
ModelPARALLEL
PurposeTREATMENT

Treatment Arms

ArmTypeDescription
Ulevostinag+PembrolizumabEXPERIMENTALParticipants receive ulevostinag 540 ug via intratumoral (IT) injection on Day 1 of every week for two 3-week cycles (Cycles 1-2), then on Day 1 of each 3-week cycle for up 33 cycles (Cycles 3-35), for a total of 35 cycles PLUS pembrolizumab 200 mg via intravenous (IV) infusion on Day 1 of each 3-week cycle for up to 35 cycles. The total duration of treatment is up to approximately 2 years.
PembrolizumabACTIVE_COMPARATORParticipants receive pembrolizumab 200 mg via IV infusion on Day 1 of each 3-week cycle for up to 35 cycles. The total duration of treatment is up to approximately 2 years.
Part 1 Arm 1: Ulevostinag (Cut/Subcut Lesions)EXPERIMENTALParticipants with cutaneous (cut) or subcutaneous (subcut) lesions will receive escalating doses of ulevostinag monotherapy via IT injection on Days 1, 8, and 15 of each 21-day cycle for Cycles 1, 2, and 3 and then on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle for Cycles 4 and beyond for up to 35 cycles (up to approximately 2 years).
Part 1 Arm 2: Ulevostinag +Pembro (Cut/Subcut Lesions)EXPERIMENTALParticipants with cut or subcut lesions will receive escalating doses of ulevostinag via IT injection on Days 1, 8, and 15 of each 21-day cycle for Cycles 1, 2, and 3 and then on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle for Cycles 4 and beyond PLUS pembrolizumab (pembro) via IV infusion on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle for up to 35 cycles (up to approximately 2 years).
Part 1 Arm 3: Ulevostinag+Pembro (Visceral Lesions)EXPERIMENTALParticipants with visceral lesions will receive escalating dose frequencies of ulevostinag via IT injection at escalating dose frequencies (Day 1 of each 21-day cycle for up to 35 cycles, then Days 1 and 8 of each 21-day cycle for two cycles, then Day 1 of each 21 day cycle up to 35 cycles, then Days 1, 8, and 15 of each 21-day cycle for two cycles followed by Day 1 of each 21-day cycle up to 35 cycles, PLUS pembrolizumab IV infusion on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle for up to 35 cycles (approximately 2 years).
Part 2 Cohort A: HNSCC Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 RefractoryEXPERIMENTALParticipants with HNSCC who are anti-programmed cell death-1 or anti-programmed cell death-ligand 1 refractory will receive ulevostinag at the preliminary Recommended Phase 2 Dose (RP2D) determined by dose escalation in Part 1 Arm 1 and 2 via IT injection on Days 1, 8, and 15 of Cycles 1 and 2 and on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle from Cycle 3 onward (up to a total of 35 cycles) PLUS pembrolizumab via IV infusion on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle for up to 35 cycles (up to approximately 2 years).
Part 2 Cohort B: Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 TrT-Naïve or Refractory TNBCEXPERIMENTALParticipants with TNBC who are anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment-naïve or who have refractory unresectable locally advanced or metastatic TNBC will receive ulevostinag at the preliminary RP2D determined by dose escalation in Part 1 via IT injection on Days 1, 8, and 15 of Cycles 1 and 2 and on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle from Cycle 3 onward (up to a total of 35 cycles) PLUS pembrolizumab via IV infusion on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle for up to 35 cycles (up to approximately 2 years).
Part 2 Cohort C: Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 TrT-Naïve Solid Tumors-LiverEXPERIMENTALParticipants with solid tumors with liver metastases/lesions who are anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment-naïve will receive ulevostinag at the preliminary RP2D based on Part 1: ulevostinag + pembro (visceral lesions) treatment arm via IT injection in a to-be-determined dose and frequency, based on data from Arm 3, PLUS pembrolizumab via IV infusion on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle for up to 35 cycles (up to approximately 2 years).

Interventions

NameTypeDescription
UlevostinagDRUGIT injection
PembrolizumabBIOLOGICALIV infusion
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Eligibility Criteria

Age Range18 Years to N/A
SexALL
Healthy VolunteersNo
Study Sites34

Inclusion Criteria: * Has histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of metastatic or unresectable, recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) that is considered incurable by local therapies * Has not had prior systemic therapy administered in the recurrent or metastatic setti...

Countries:United StatesAustraliaAustriaBrazilFranceIsraelNorwaySouth KoreaSpainUnited Kingdom
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Frequently asked questions about Ulevostinag

What is Ulevostinag used for?

Ulevostinag is an investigational small molecule being studied for the treatment of solid tumors and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). It has been evaluated in clinical trials for advanced or metastatic solid tumors and lymphomas, as well as for metastatic or unresectable, recurrent HNSCC.

Who makes Ulevostinag?

Ulevostinag is being developed by Merck & Company, Inc., which trades under the ticker symbol MRK. The company has sponsored clinical trials of the drug in oncology indications.

What phase is Ulevostinag in?

Ulevostinag is in Phase 2 clinical development. A Phase 2 trial of the drug in combination with pembrolizumab for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma has been completed. The drug remains investigational and has not been approved by regulatory authorities.

What clinical trials is Ulevostinag in?

Ulevostinag has been studied in two completed trials. NCT03010176 was a Phase 1 study of the drug alone or with pembrolizumab in advanced solid tumors or lymphomas. NCT04220866 was a Phase 2 study of intratumoral Ulevostinag plus intravenous pembrolizumab versus pembrolizumab alone in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Is Ulevostinag the same as MK-1454?

Yes, Ulevostinag is also known as MK-1454. Clinical trial records refer to the drug by both names, with MK-1454 appearing in the official trial titles and Ulevostinag used as the nonproprietary name.