A Multicenter, Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo - Controlled, Phase 3 Study of Ficlatuzumab in Combination With Cetuximab in Participants With Recurrent or Metastatic (R/M) HPV -Negative Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. (FIERCE-HN)

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Investigational drug late phase More information Active drug More information Moderate burden on patient More information

Trial Details

Sponsor: AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (industry)

Phase: 3

Start date: Jan. 11, 2024

Planned enrollment: 410

Trial ID: NCT06064877
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More trial details at ClinicalTrials.gov More info

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chevron Show for: Ficlatuzumab (AV-299)

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Goal: Evaluate whether adding ficlatuzumab to cetuximab improves outcomes versus cetuximab alone (placebo-controlled) in recurrent/metastatic HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma after prior platinum and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor therapy, with superiority assessed by overall survival and progression-free survival.

Patients: Adults (≥18) with histologically/cytologically confirmed recurrent or metastatic HPV-negative HNSCC (p16-negative if oropharyngeal), inoperable/incurable, ECOG 0–1, at least one measurable non-previously irradiated lesion (or documented progression if previously irradiated), and prior exposure and failure/intolerance to both platinum-based chemotherapy and an anti–PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor given sequentially or in combination in the locally advanced or R/M setting. Key exclusions include >2 prior systemic lines in the R/M setting or prior EGFR inhibitor for R/M HNSCC, uncontrolled/untreated brain metastases, significant cardiovascular disease, unresolved >Grade 2 toxicities, active hepatitis B/C with evidence of hepatitis, ILD/pulmonary fibrosis, and pregnancy/breastfeeding. Archived tumor tissue (or fresh biopsy if unavailable) is required for c-MET analysis.

Design: Multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial with three arms comparing two ficlatuzumab dose levels plus cetuximab versus placebo plus cetuximab. Approximately 410 participants will be randomized. Stratification and blinding apply to investigational product; assessments follow RECIST v1.1 with scheduled imaging intervals.

Treatments: Arm 1: Ficlatuzumab dose A IV on Days 1 and 15 of each 28-day cycle plus cetuximab IV on Days 1 and 15. Arm 2: Ficlatuzumab dose B IV on the same schedule plus cetuximab. Arm 3: Placebo IV on Days 1 and 15 plus cetuximab on the same schedule. Ficlatuzumab is a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody that binds and neutralizes hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), blocking HGF–MET signaling implicated in tumor growth, invasion, and resistance; the commonly used dose in prior studies is 20 mg/kg IV every 2 weeks. In a randomized phase 2 study in pan-refractory R/M HNSCC, ficlatuzumab plus cetuximab achieved a median PFS of approximately 3.7–4.1 months and ORR up to 38% in HPV-negative disease, while ficlatuzumab monotherapy showed minimal activity; safety was characterized by edema, hypoalbuminemia, and dermatologic toxicity, with rare pneumonitis. Cetuximab is an EGFR-directed monoclonal antibody with established activity in R/M HNSCC, commonly producing acneiform rash and infusion reactions.

Outcomes: Primary: Overall survival from randomization to death from any cause. Key secondary: Progression-free survival per RECIST v1.1; objective response rate; disease control rate; duration of response; safety and tolerability (AEs, labs); pharmacokinetics of ficlatuzumab; immunogenicity via anti-drug and neutralizing antibodies; and health-related quality of life, including time to clinically meaningful deterioration. Imaging is performed every 8 weeks in year 1, every 12 weeks in years 2–3, then every 6 months.

Burden on patient: Moderate. Patients receive IV infusions twice per 28-day cycle for both cetuximab and ficlatuzumab/placebo, requiring regular clinic visits. Imaging every 8 weeks in the first year, then less frequently, aligns with standard metastatic surveillance but adds visit frequency. Blood draws for safety labs are routine; additional PK and immunogenicity sampling for ficlatuzumab increase phlebotomy beyond usual care. An archived tumor block is required, with a fresh biopsy only if archived tissue is unavailable, which may add procedural burden for some. Overall, while procedures are typical for antibody-based phase 3 trials, the biweekly infusion schedule plus PK/ADA sampling and potential biopsy contribute to a moderate visit and testing load.

Last updated: Oct 2025

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St George Hospital

Kogarah, New South Wales, 2217, Australia

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St. Vincent's Hospital

Sydney, New South Wales, 2010, Australia

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Princess Alexandra Hospital

Brisbane, Queensland, 4102, Australia

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St. John of God Murdoch Hospital

Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia

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CHU Liège

Liège, 4000, Belgium

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CHU Universite Catholique de Louvain

Namur, B5000, Belgium

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Vitaz-Sint-Niklaas Moerland

Sint-Niklaas, 9100, Belgium

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University Hospital

Panagyurishte, 4500, Bulgaria

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Cross Cancer Institute

Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 1Z2, Canada

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Tom Baker Cancer Centre (Alberta Health Services)

Calgary, Alberta, T3N 4N1, Canada

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Princess Margaret Cancer Center - University Health Network

Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada

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The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre

Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 8L6, Canada

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McGill University Health Centre (MUHC)

Montreal, Quebec, H4A3J1, Canada

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Fakultni Nemocnice Kralovske Vinohrady

Prague, 13400, Czechia

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Fakultni Nemocnice Olomouc

Olomouc, 77900, Czechia

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Fakultni nemocnice Brno

Brno, 60200, Czechia

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Fakultni nemocnice Bulovka

Prague, Czechia

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Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute

Brno, 65653, Czechia

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Assistance Publique Hopitaux de Marseille (APHM)-Hôpital La Timone

Marseille, 13005, France

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Centre Léon Bérard

Lyon, 69008, France

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Clinique Pasteur - Lanroze- Centre Finistérien de Radiothérapie et d'Oncologie

Brest, 29200, France

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Hôpital Privé des Côtes d'Armor

Plérin, 22190, France

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Institut Curie

Paris, 75248, France

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Institut Gustave Roussy

Villejuif, 94805, France

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Pôle Santé Léonard de Vinci

Chambray-lès-Tours, 37170, France

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Charite-Universitaetsmedizin Berlin - Campus Virchow-Klinikum (CVK) - Medizinische Klinik mit Schwerpunkt Haematologie, Onkologie und Tumorimmunologie

Berlin, 12200, Germany

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Ludwig-Maximilians University

Munich, 81377, Germany

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UNIVERSITÄTSKLINIKUM FREIBURG, Klinik für Innere Medizin I, Schwerpunkt Hämatologie, Onkologie und Stammzelltransplantation

Freiburg im Breisgau, 79106, Germany

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Josa Andras Oktatokorhaz

Nyíregyháza, 4400, Hungary

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University of Pecs - Oncology

Pécs, 7624, Hungary

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AOU Careggi

Florence, 51134, Italy

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Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Maggiore Della Carita Novara

Novara, 28100, Italy

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Fondazione IRCCS - Istituto Nazionale Tumori - Oncologia

Milan, 20133, Italy

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IRCCS - ICS Maugeri

Pavia, 27100, Italy

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IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas - Cancer center

Milan, 20089, Italy

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IRCCS Istituto Scienze Neurologiche

Bologna, 40139, Italy

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IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele Milano

Milan, 20132, Italy

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Istituto Oncologico Veneto

Padua, 35128, Italy

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Universita degli Studi di Pavia - Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo

Pavia, 27100, Italy

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Antoni van Leeuwenhoek

Amsterdam, 1066, Netherlands

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Radboud University Medical Center

Nijmegen, 6525, Netherlands

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Centrum Onkologii im. prof. F. Lukaszczyka w Bydgoszczy

Bydgoszcz, 85-796, Poland

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National Research Institute of Oncology

Gliwice, 44-100, Poland

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Centrul radioterapie Amethyst Cluj-Napoca

Floreşti, 407280, Romania

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Medisprof Cancer Center

Cluj-Napoca, 400641, Romania

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Institute for Oncology Vojvodina

Kamenitz, Serbia

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Ajou University Hospital

Suwon, 16499, South Korea

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Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital

Daegu, 42601, South Korea

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Korea University Anam Hospital

Seoul, 02841, South Korea

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Samsung Medical Center

Seoul, 06351, South Korea

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Seoul National University Hospital

Seoul, 03080, South Korea

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Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System

Seoul, 03722, South Korea

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The Catholic University of Korea, Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital

Seoul, 03312, South Korea

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Grupo Hospital de Madrid (HM) - Hospital Universitario Madrid Sanchinarro - Centro Integral Oncologico Clara Campal (CIOCC)

Madrid, 28051, Spain

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Hospital Clinico Universitario de Valencia (CHUV)

Valencia, Spain

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Hospital Quironsalud Malaga

Málaga, 29004, Spain

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Hospital Universitario La Paz

Madrid, 28046, Spain

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Hospital Universitario Vinalopo

Alicante, 03293, Spain

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Hospital Universitario de Torrejón

Madrid, Spain

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Hospital universitario Jerez

Cadiz, 11407, Spain

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Institut Catala d'Oncologia (ICO) - Hospitalet

Barcelona, 08908, Spain

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Institut Catala d'Oncologia - Hospital Duran i Reynals

Badalona, 08907, Spain

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UOMI Cancer Center-Clinica Tres Torres

Barcelona, 08017, Spain

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Vall d'Hebron Institut d'Oncologia (VHIO)

Barcelona, Spain

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Chang Gung Memorial Hospital - Kaohsiung

Kaohsiung City, 833401, Taiwan

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Chang Gung Memorial Hospital - Linkou

Taoyuan District, 33305, Taiwan

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Changhua Christian Hospital

Changhua, 500, Taiwan

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China Medical University Hospital (CMUH)

Taichung, 40447, Taiwan

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National Cheng-Kung University Hospital

Tainan City, 704017, Taiwan

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National Taiwan University Hospital

Taipei, 100, Taiwan

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Taipei Veterans General Hospital

Taipei, 112201, Taiwan

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City Hospital Nottingham

Nottingham, NG5 1PB, United Kingdom

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NHS Grampian - Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

Aberdeen, AB25 2ZN, United Kingdom

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Sarah Cannon Research Institute

London, W1G 6AD, United Kingdom

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The Royal Marden Hospital, Surrey

Sutton, SM2 5PT, United Kingdom

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The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust

London, SW3 6JJ, United Kingdom

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Torbay Hospital

Torquay, TQ2 7AA, United Kingdom

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Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center

Gilbert, Arizona, 85212, United States

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The University of Arizona Cancer Center

Tucson, Arizona, 85719, United States

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University of California Los Angeles

Westwood, Los Angeles, California, 90024, United States

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Yale School of Medicine - Smilow Cancer Hospital

New Haven, Connecticut, 06511, United States

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The George Washington University

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20052-0042, United States

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AdventHealth Medical Group Oncology & Hematology at Orlando

Orlando, Florida, 32804, United States

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Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia, 30308, United States

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University of Illinois Cancer Center

Chicago, Illinois, 60612, United States

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University of Kansas Cancer Center

Westwood, Kansas, 66205, United States

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Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70809, United States

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MaineHealth Institute for Research

South Portland, Maine, 04106, United States

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University of Maryland

Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States

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Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States

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Siteman Cancer Center - Washington University

St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States

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Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital

New York, New York, 10065, United States

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Montefiore Medical Center

The Bronx, New York, 10461, United States

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Northwell Health Cancer Institute

Lake Success, New York, 10042, United States

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Ohio State University, James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute

Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States

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University of Cincinnati - UC Health Barrett Cancer Center

Cincinnati, Ohio, 45219, United States

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Fox Chase Cancer Center

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19111, United States

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University of Pittsburgh Medical Center - Hillman Cancer Center

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15232, United States

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Status: Recruiting

Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)

Charleston, South Carolina, 29425, United States

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MD Anderson Cancer Center

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

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Oncology Consultants

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

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VCU Massey Cancer Center

Richmond, Virginia, 23298, United States

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Status: Recruiting

Medical College of Wisconsin - Froedtert Hospital Cancer Center

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53202, United States

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Status: Recruiting

Orszagos Onkologiai Intezet

Budapest, 1122, Hungary

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Status: Not yet recruiting

Szent Lázár Megyei Kórház

Salgótarján, 3100, Hungary

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Status: Not yet recruiting

Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia

Belgrade, Serbia

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University Clinical Center Kragujevac

Kragujevac, Serbia

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Hospital Universitario Marques de Valdecilla

Santander, Spain

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Petz Aladar Country Teaching Hospital

Győr, 9024, Hungary

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Status: Withdrawn

Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS

Roma, 00168, Italy

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Status: Withdrawn

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