Drug Combinations for Kidney Cancer

Recruiting at 276 trial locations

Overseen By Toll Free Number

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 3

Sponsor: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.

Must not be taking: Steroids, Immunosuppressants, others

Disqualifiers: CNS metastases, Cardiac disease, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Pivotal Trial (Near Approval) This treatment is in the last trial phase before FDA approval

Prior Safety Data This treatment has passed at least one previous human trial

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: Up to approximately 2 years

1653 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab plus belzutifan plus lenvatinib or pembrolizumab/quavonlimab plus lenvatinib versus pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib as first-line treatment in participants with advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). The primary hypotheses are (1) pembrolizumab plus belzutifan plus lenvatinib is superior to pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib with respect to progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), in advanced ccRCC participants; and (2) pembrolizumab/quavonlimab plus lenvatinib is superior to pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib with respect to PFS and OS, in advanced ccRCC participants.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial protocol does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, it mentions that participants must not have received prior systemic therapy for advanced kidney cancer and should have controlled blood pressure, with or without medication.

What data supports the effectiveness of the drug combination for kidney cancer?

Research shows that the combination of pembrolizumab and lenvatinib improves survival rates and quality of life in patients with advanced kidney cancer compared to other treatments. Additionally, studies are exploring the potential benefits of adding belzutifan or quavonlimab to this combination, which may further enhance patient outcomes. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

What safety data exists for the combination of lenvatinib and pembrolizumab in humans?

The combination of lenvatinib and pembrolizumab has been studied in various cancers, including kidney cancer, and has shown acceptable safety. Common side effects have been characterized, and management strategies are available to handle these reactions. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

What makes the drug combination of Belzutifan, Lenvatinib, Pembrolizumab, and Quavonlimab unique for kidney cancer?

This drug combination is unique because it includes belzutifan, a hypoxia-inducible factor 2α inhibitor, and quavonlimab, a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 inhibitor, which are being studied for their potential to improve outcomes in advanced kidney cancer when added to the standard pembrolizumab and lenvatinib therapy. ^{1 3 5 9 10}

Research Team

Medical Director

Principal Investigator

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults with advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma who haven't had systemic therapy for it. They must have good organ function, controlled blood pressure, and agree to contraception if applicable. Exclusions include other active cancers within 3 years, recent major surgery or radiotherapy, certain heart diseases, lung conditions like interstitial disease or pneumonitis, uncontrolled infections including HIV or Hepatitis B.

Inclusion Criteria

I started treatment for bone loss at least 2 weeks before joining the study.

My blood pressure is under control, with or without medication.

My organs are functioning well.

Exclusion Criteria

I have had or currently have lung inflammation treated with steroids.

I have a history of Hepatitis B.

I have not had major surgery within the last 4 weeks, except for kidney removal.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive pembrolizumab in combination with belzutifan and lenvatinib, or pembrolizumab/quavonlimab in combination with lenvatinib, or pembrolizumab and lenvatinib alone. Pembrolizumab is administered IV every 6 weeks for up to 18 administrations (~2 years), while belzutifan, quavonlimab, and lenvatinib are administered orally daily until disease progression or discontinuation.

Up to approximately 2 years

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, with assessments for progression-free survival and overall survival.

Up to approximately 66 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Belzutifan
• Lenvatinib
• Pembrolizumab
• Pembrolizumab/Quavonlimab

Trial Overview The study tests the effectiveness of pembrolizumab combined with belzutifan and lenvatinib or a combo of pembrolizumab/quavonlimab with lenvatinib against just pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib in treating kidney cancer. It aims to see which combination leads to longer survival without disease progression.

Participant Groups

Group I: Pembrolizumab/Quavonlimab + Lenvatinib Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants will receive pembrolizumab/quavonlimab (co-formulation of pembrolizumab 400 mg and quavonlimab 25 mg) PLUS lenvatinib 20 mg. Pembrolizumab/quavonlimab will be administered IV Q6W for up to 18 administrations (up to \~2 years). Lenvatinib will be administered orally QD until progressive disease or discontinuation.

Group II: Pembrolizumab + Belzutifan + Lenvatinib Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Participants will receive pembrolizumab 400 mg PLUS belzutifan 120 mg PLUS lenvatinib 20 mg. Pembrolizumab will be administered intravenously (IV) once every 6 weeks (Q6W) for up to 18 administrations (up to \~2 years). Belzutifan and lenvatinib will be administered orally once daily (QD) until progressive disease or discontinuation.

Group III: Pembrolizumab + Lenvatinib Active Control 2 Interventions

Participants will receive pembrolizumab 400 mg PLUS lenvatinib 20 mg. Pembrolizumab will be administered IV Q6W for up to 18 administrations (up to \~2 years). Lenvatinib will be administered orally QD until progressive disease or discontinuation.

Belzutifan is already approved in United States for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Welireg for:

• Advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) following a PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor and a VEGF TKI
• Von Hippel-Lindau disease-associated RCC, central nervous system hemangioblastomas, or pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,287

Recruited

4,582,000+

Chirfi Guindo

Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.

Chief Medical Officer

Engineering degree from Ecole Centrale de Paris, MBA from New York University Stern School of Business

Robert M. Davis

Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.

Chief Executive Officer since 2021

J.D. from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Bachelor's in Finance from Miami University

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Lead Sponsor

Trials

4,096

Recruited

5,232,000+

Chirfi Guindo

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Chief Marketing Officer since 2022

Degree in Engineering from Ecole Centrale de Paris, MBA from New York University Stern School of Business

Robert M. Davis

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Chief Executive Officer since 2021

JD from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Bachelor's in Finance from Miami University

Eisai Inc.

Industry Sponsor

Trials

524

Recruited

161,000+

Founded

Eisai Inc. was established in 1995 as the U.S. subsidiary of Eisai Co., Ltd.

Headquarters

Woodcliff Lake, NJ, USA

Known For

Neurology and Oncology

Top Products

Aricept (donepezil), Lenvima (lenvatinib), Leqembi (lecanemab), Halaven (eribulin)

Lynn Kramer

Eisai Inc.

Chief Medical Officer since 2019

MD

Tatsuyuki Yasuno

Eisai Inc.

Chief Executive Officer since 2023

MBA from Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University; Bachelor of Political Science from Waseda University

Findings from Research

In the KEYNOTE-B61 trial involving 158 patients with advanced non-clear-cell renal cell carcinoma, the combination of pembrolizumab and lenvatinib demonstrated a 49% objective response rate, indicating significant antitumor activity as a first-line treatment.

The safety profile was consistent with previous studies, with 51% of patients experiencing grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse events, primarily hypertension, but no deaths were attributed to the treatment itself.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib as first-line therapy for advanced non-clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (KEYNOTE-B61): a single-arm, multicentre, phase 2 trial. Albiges, L., Gurney, H., Atduev, V., et al.[2023]

In a phase 3 study involving 1069 patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma, the combination of lenvatinib and pembrolizumab showed similar or better health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes compared to sunitinib, particularly in terms of time to definitive deterioration.

Patients receiving lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab experienced longer median times to deterioration in quality of life measures, indicating that this combination therapy not only improves survival but also maintains a better quality of life for patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Health-related quality-of-life outcomes in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma treated with lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab or everolimus versus sunitinib (CLEAR): a randomised, phase 3 study. Motzer, R., Porta, C., Alekseev, B., et al.[2023]

The LITESPARK-012 study is a phase III clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combining pembrolizumab and lenvatinib with either belzutifan or quavonlimab for treating advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).

This research aims to determine if these novel triplet therapies can improve patient outcomes and potentially establish a new standard of care for advanced ccRCC, building on existing combination treatments.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

LITESPARK-012: pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib with or without belzutifan or quavonlimab for advanced renal cell carcinoma. Choueiri, TK., Powles, T., Voss, MH., et al.[2023]

The combination of lenvatinib and pembrolizumab demonstrated promising antitumor activity in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC), with an objective response rate of 72.7% in treatment-naive patients and 55.8% in those previously treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors, based on a study of 143 patients.

While the treatment showed efficacy, it also had a manageable safety profile, with 57% of patients experiencing grade 3 treatment-related adverse events, primarily hypertension, and 7% experiencing grade 4 events, indicating that careful monitoring is necessary during treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab in patients with either treatment-naive or previously treated metastatic renal cell carcinoma (Study 111/KEYNOTE-146): a phase 1b/2 study. Lee, CH., Shah, AY., Rasco, D., et al.[2022]

A 49-year-old man with advanced metastatic renal cell carcinoma was successfully treated with a combination of lenvatinib and pembrolizumab, leading to the disappearance of lung metastases and significant shrinkage of the primary tumor.

Following this combination therapy, a robot-assisted radical nephrectomy was performed, resulting in complete surgical remission, highlighting the effectiveness of this treatment strategy for metastatic renal cell carcinomas.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A case of metastatic renal cell carcinoma successfully treated with deferred cytoreductive nephrectomy following lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab combination therapy. Sato, H., Sazuka, T., Fujimoto, A., et al.[2023]

In the CLEAR study involving 352 patients, the combination of lenvatinib and pembrolizumab showed a manageable safety profile, with common adverse reactions including fatigue (63.1%), diarrhea (61.9%), and hypertension (56.3%).

Most adverse reactions occurred within approximately 5 months of starting treatment, and effective management strategies such as monitoring and dose modifications were identified to ensure patient safety and support ongoing treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Characterization and Management of Adverse Reactions From the CLEAR Study in Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma Treated With Lenvatinib Plus Pembrolizumab. Motzer, R., George, S., Merchan, JR., et al.[2023]

In a phase 3 study involving 487 patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma, the combination of pembrolizumab and lenvatinib did not show improved progression-free survival (4.5 months) or overall survival (11.8 months) compared to pembrolizumab with placebo.

The combination treatment resulted in a higher rate of severe adverse events (51%) compared to the placebo group (27%), leading to the conclusion that the benefit-to-risk ratio was not favorable for using lenvatinib with pembrolizumab as first-line therapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pembrolizumab with or Without Lenvatinib as First-line Therapy for Patients with Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma (LEAP-011): A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind Trial. Matsubara, N., de Wit, R., Balar, AV., et al.[2023]

In a study of 43 patients with recurrent endometrial cancer treated with lenvatinib and pembrolizumab, 84% experienced significant adverse events (AEs), with hypertension and weight loss being the most common.

Patients starting on a reduced dose of lenvatinib (10 mg or 14 mg) had significantly longer progression-free survival compared to those on the standard dose (20 mg), suggesting that dose optimization may improve treatment outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse events and oncologic outcomes with combination lenvatinib and pembrolizumab for the treatment of recurrent endometrial cancer. Zammarrelli, WA., Ma, W., Espino, K., et al.[2023]

In a phase 1b study involving 6 Japanese patients with metastatic solid tumors, the combination of lenvatinib and pembrolizumab was well-tolerated, with no dose-limiting toxicities reported.

The treatment showed promising antitumor activity, with an objective response rate of 33.3%, particularly in patients with urothelial cancer, indicating potential efficacy for this combination therapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A feasibility study of lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab in Japanese patients with advanced solid tumors. Kitano, S., Fujiwara, Y., Shimizu, T., et al.[2022]

The combination of belzutifan and cabozantinib shows promising antitumor activity in patients with advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma who have already undergone previous treatments.

This study highlights the potential of this drug combination as a new therapeutic option for patients with this challenging form of kidney cancer.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Belzutifan Plus Cabozantinib Is Effective in Immunotherapy-Treated Renal Cell Carcinoma. [2023]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib as first-line therapy for advanced non-clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (KEYNOTE-B61): a single-arm, multicentre, phase 2 trial. [2023]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Health-related quality-of-life outcomes in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma treated with lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab or everolimus versus sunitinib (CLEAR): a randomised, phase 3 study. [2023]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

LITESPARK-012: pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib with or without belzutifan or quavonlimab for advanced renal cell carcinoma. [2023]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab in patients with either treatment-naive or previously treated metastatic renal cell carcinoma (Study 111/KEYNOTE-146): a phase 1b/2 study. [2022]

5. Australia pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A case of metastatic renal cell carcinoma successfully treated with deferred cytoreductive nephrectomy following lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab combination therapy. [2023]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Characterization and Management of Adverse Reactions From the CLEAR Study in Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma Treated With Lenvatinib Plus Pembrolizumab. [2023]

7. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pembrolizumab with or Without Lenvatinib as First-line Therapy for Patients with Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma (LEAP-011): A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind Trial. [2023]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse events and oncologic outcomes with combination lenvatinib and pembrolizumab for the treatment of recurrent endometrial cancer. [2023]

9. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A feasibility study of lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab in Japanese patients with advanced solid tumors. [2022]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Belzutifan Plus Cabozantinib Is Effective in Immunotherapy-Treated Renal Cell Carcinoma. [2023]