pembrolizumab + finotonlimab + chemotherapy

This combination regimen refers to a treatment backbone consisting of a programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitor—either pembrolizumab or finotonlimab—administered alongside chemotherapy, typically comprising nab-paclitaxel and a platinum agent (cisplatin or carboplatin). This specific combination is being studied in a Phase III clinical trial (NCT06333301) led by Ji Dongmei at Fudan University for the first-line treatment of recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC). In this trial, the regimen serves as the control arm against which the addition of cetuximab is evaluated. Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and finotonlimab (SCT-I10A) are both monoclonal antibodies that target the PD-1 receptor to overcome immune evasion by tumor cells. The chemotherapy components provide complementary cytotoxic activity through microtubule stabilization (nab-paclitaxel) and DNA cross-linking (cisplatin/carboplatin). Note that in the trial design, pembrolizumab and finotonlimab are used as alternative PD-1 inhibitors rather than being administered simultaneously.

Other names

pembrolizumab + finotonlimab + nab-paclitaxel + cisplatinpembrolizumab + finotonlimab + nab-paclitaxel + carboplatin