A new “smart jab” has shown remarkable results in shrinking head and neck cancer tumours within just six weeks, offering fresh hope for patients with few treatment options left.
The drug, amivantamab, works through a triple-action mechanism and can be administered as a simple injection rather than lengthy hospital infusions. It was tested in the Orig-AMI 4 trial, involving patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) across 11 countries, including the UK.
Results presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology conference in Berlin showed that 76% of patients who had already undergone chemotherapy and immunotherapy saw their tumours shrink or stop growing. Responses were typically observed within six weeks, and most side effects were mild to moderate. The average progression-free survival was 6.8 months.
Professor Kevin Harrington, from the Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, called the findings “incredibly encouraging.” He said, “This could represent a real shift in how we treat head and neck cancer – not just in effectiveness, but also in how we deliver care.”
Amivantamab targets cancer in three ways: by blocking EGFR and MET – two key growth pathways that help tumours resist treatment – while also activating the immune system to attack cancer cells.
Unlike many cancer therapies that require hours in a hospital chair, amivantamab is delivered as a quick subcutaneous injection, potentially making future treatment accessible in outpatient clinics or even at home.
Trial participant Carl Walsh, 59, from Birmingham, said the treatment had significantly improved his quality of life. “Before starting the trial, I couldn’t talk properly and eating was difficult, but the swelling has gone down a lot. Sometimes I even forget that I have cancer,” he said.
Researchers say larger trials are now needed, but the early results suggest amivantamab could soon become a vital new option for patients with advanced head and neck cancers.
