JAVELIN HEAD AND NECK 100: This phase III trial is evaluating the addition of an immunotherapy drug (Avelumab) to standard chemoradiation as a first line treatment for locally advanced cancers of the head and neckA Randomized Double-blind Phase 3 Study Of Avelumab In Combination With Standard Of Care Chemoradiotherapy (Cisplatin Plus Definitive Radiation Therapy) Versus Standard Of Care Chemoradiotherapy In The Front-line Treatment Of Patients With Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma Of The Head And Neck

Exclusion

• Prior immunotherapy with an anti PD 1, anti PD L1, anti PD L2, anti CD137, or anti CTLA 4 antibody (including ipilimumab), or any other antibody or drug specifically targeting T cell co stimulation or immune checkpoint pathways.
• Major surgery 4 weeks prior to randomization.
• Prior malignancy requiring tumor-directed therapy within the last 2 years prior to enrollment, or concurrent malignancy associated with clinical instability. Exceptions for disease within the 2 years are superficial esophageal cancer (TIS or T1a) fully resected by endoscopy, prostate cancer (Gleason score 6) either curatively treated or deemed to not require treatment, ductal IS carcinoma of the breast that has completed curative treatment, adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer.
• Active autoimmune disease
• Any of the following in the 6 months prior to randomization: myocardial infarction, severe/unstable angina, coronary/peripheral artery bypass graft, symptomatic congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular accident, transient ischemic attack, or symptomatic pulmonary embolism.
• Active infection requiring systemic therapy.
• Use of immunosuppressive medication at time of randomization
• Prior organ transplantation including allogenic stem-cell transplantation.
• Diagnosis of prior immunodeficiency or known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) related illness.
• Hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection
• Vaccination within 4 weeks prior to randomization.
• Current use of or anticipated need for treatment with other anti-cancer drugs.
• Pregnant female patients, breastfeeding female patients, and male patients able to father children and female patients of childbearing potential who are unwilling or unable to use 2 highly effective methods of contraception as outlined in the protocol for the duration of the study and for at least 6 months after the last dose of cisplatin and 60 days after the last dose of avelumab/placebo (whichever is later).