Genetic testing firm Natera and cancer drug developer Aveta Biomics announced Monday that they are joining forces on a large, late-stage clinical trial of an experimental treatment for head and neck cancer, with the goal of better tracking how patients respond to therapy.
At the center of the study is Aveta’s APG-157, an experimental oral medication intended to help the body’s immune system fight tumors. The trial will focus on patients diagnosed with locally advanced head and neck cancer.
As part of the partnership, Natera’s Signatera test will be used throughout the study to measure molecular residual disease and evaluate how patients are responding to treatment. The test is set to serve as a secondary endpoint in the trial and will be administered before, during, and after treatment.
Aveta Biomics said the study aims to enroll approximately 826 patients from sites across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Australia. The companies said they expect to begin enrolling participants in the second half of 2026.
The companies noted that the trial builds on results from an earlier mid-stage study, which showed the therapy helped keep tumors under control and produced encouraging data on patient survival.
