Core Insights - Bicara Therapeutics Inc. presented preliminary data from a Phase 1b expansion cohort evaluating 750 mg of ficerafusp alfa in combination with pembrolizumab for treating HPV-negative recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) [2][3] - The data showed a 57% confirmed overall response rate with 10% of patients achieving a complete response and 29% of responders demonstrating deep responses of at least 80% tumor shrinkage [3][4] - The company plans to declare the optimal biologic dose for the pivotal FORTIFI-HN01 study in the first quarter of 2026 [5] Company Overview - Bicara Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing bifunctional therapies for solid tumors, with ficerafusp alfa being its lead program [12] - Ficerafusp alfa is a first-in-class bifunctional antibody designed to enhance tumor penetration and drive durable responses by targeting both EGFR and TGF-β [10][12] - The FDA has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to ficerafusp alfa in combination with pembrolizumab for first-line treatment of R/M HNSCC [10] Clinical Data - The Phase 1b expansion cohort data indicated that 750 mg of ficerafusp alfa combined with pembrolizumab was well-tolerated, maintaining a safety profile consistent with previous studies [3][4] - Higher doses of ficerafusp alfa (1500 mg) showed greater TGF-β inhibition and immune activation, leading to deeper clinical responses, with a median depth of response of 82% compared to 63% at the 750 mg dose [4][5] - The totality of data suggests that increased TGF-β inhibition correlates with more durable outcomes for patients [5] Industry Context - HNSCC is one of the most common cancers globally, with an anticipated rise to one million new cases annually by 2030 [8] - Approximately 80% of patients with recurrent/metastatic HNSCC are HPV-negative, highlighting a significant unmet need for effective therapies [9]