MK-1084 + Pembrolizumab for Lung Cancer

Recruiting at 176 trial locations

Overseen By Toll Free Number

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 3

Sponsor: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Must not be taking: Immunosuppressants, Steroids

Disqualifiers: Small cell lung cancer, Cardiovascular disease, Autoimmune 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: 1

Duration: Up to approximately 56 months

600 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This is a study evaluating the efficacy and safety of MK-1084 with pembrolizumab as first-line treatment in participants with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with identified Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog G12C (KRAS G12C) mutation and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) tumor proportion score (TPS) ≥50%. There are two primary study hypotheses: Hypothesis 1: Combination of MK-1084 and pembrolizumab is superior to placebo plus pembrolizumab with respect to progression free survival (PFS) per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) by blinded independent central review (BICR). Hypothesis 2: Combination of MK-1084 plus pembrolizumab is superior to placebo plus pembrolizumab with respect to overall survival (OS).

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you are on systemic steroid therapy or immunosuppressive therapy, you may need to stop or adjust these medications before starting the trial.

What data supports the effectiveness of the drug pembrolizumab for lung cancer?

Pembrolizumab has been approved by the FDA for treating metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) with high PD-L1 expression, showing significant improvements in survival compared to chemotherapy in clinical trials. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the combination of MK-1084 and Pembrolizumab safe for humans?

Pembrolizumab (also known as Keytruda) has been used in various cancer treatments and is generally considered safe, but it can cause side effects like fatigue, cough, nausea, and more serious immune-related issues such as pneumonitis (lung inflammation), colitis (inflammation of the colon), and thyroid problems. These side effects have been observed in clinical trials for different cancers, indicating that while the drug is effective, it does carry some risks. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

What makes the drug MK-1084 + Pembrolizumab unique for lung cancer treatment?

The combination of MK-1084 and Pembrolizumab is unique because it pairs a new treatment (MK-1084) with Pembrolizumab, an established immune therapy that helps the body's immune system attack cancer cells by blocking a protein called PD-1. This combination aims to enhance the immune response against lung cancer, potentially offering a novel approach compared to standard chemotherapy. ^{1 2 3 4 7}

Research Team

Medical Director

Principal Investigator

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults with a specific mutation in their lung cancer (KRAS G12C) and high levels of a protein called PD-L1. They must have advanced lung cancer that has spread, and they haven't been treated before. People can't join if they've had certain other treatments or health conditions that the study lists.

Inclusion Criteria

Has life expectancy of at least 3 months

I agree to use contraception if I can produce sperm.

My cancer has the KRAS G12C mutation.

Exclusion Criteria

I have had lung inflammation that needed steroids or currently have it.

I do not have uncontrolled heart or brain blood vessel problems.

I have not had radiotherapy in the last 2 weeks.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive pembrolizumab 200 mg via IV infusion on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle for up to 35 cycles and either MK-1084 or placebo by oral tablets once daily

Up to approximately 56 months

1 visit every 3 weeks (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

Up to approximately 56 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• MK-1084
• Pembrolizumab

Trial Overview The study tests MK-1084 combined with Pembrolizumab against a placebo plus Pembrolizumab to see which is better at slowing down cancer growth or improving survival rates in patients with this type of advanced lung cancer.

Participant Groups

Group I: MK-1084 with Pembrolizumab Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants receive pembrolizumab 200 mg via intravenous (IV) infusion on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle (Q3W) for up to 35 cycles and MK-1084 by oral tablets once daily until discontinuation criterion is met.

Group II: Placebo with Pembrolizumab Active Control 2 Interventions

Participants receive pembrolizumab 200 mg via intravenous (IV) infusion on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle (Q3W) for up to 35 cycles and placebo by oral tablets once daily until discontinuation criterion is met.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

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

Findings from Research

In a phase II trial involving 15 patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), neoadjuvant treatment with pembrolizumab showed a major pathologic response in 27% of patients, indicating promising antitumor activity before surgery.

The treatment was found to be feasible and safe, with only 33% of patients experiencing moderate adverse events, and no postoperative mortality, suggesting that pembrolizumab does not compromise surgical outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Neoadjuvant anti-programmed death-1 immunotherapy by pembrolizumab in resectable non-small cell lung cancer: First clinical experience. Eichhorn, F., Klotz, LV., Kriegsmann, M., et al.[2022]

Pembrolizumab, a PD-1 inhibitor, has demonstrated clinical effectiveness in treating various solid tumors, particularly in patients with PD-L1-positive non-small-cell lung cancer and unresectable/metastatic melanoma.

Early-phase trials and ongoing studies are focused on further confirming the clinical benefits of pembrolizumab in thoracic malignancies, highlighting its potential as a significant treatment option in cancer therapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pembrolizumab for the treatment of thoracic malignancies: current landscape and future directions. Karim, S., Leighl, N.[2017]

Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) was approved by the FDA for treating metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) in patients with tumors expressing PD-L1, showing significant improvements in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in two major clinical trials with thousands of participants.

In the KEYNOTE-024 trial, pembrolizumab demonstrated a 40% reduction in the risk of death compared to chemotherapy, while in the KEYNOTE-010 trial, it also showed a significant survival advantage over chemotherapy in patients who had previously progressed on treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

FDA Approval Summary: Pembrolizumab for Treatment of Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: First-Line Therapy and Beyond. Pai-Scherf, L., Blumenthal, GM., Li, H., et al.[2022]

Pembrolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, can cause pneumonitis in 1%-5% of patients, and this case report highlights an atypical presentation of this side effect in a patient with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma.

The patient was successfully treated with steroid therapy after ruling out other potential causes, leading to complete resolution of the pneumonitis, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and managing atypical cases of checkpoint inhibitor-pneumonitis.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Recurrent and atypical immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced pneumonitis. Jeon, WJ., Nguyen, J., Castillo, DR., et al.[2023]

A 68-year-old patient with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma showed an unexpected positive response to paclitaxel after failing treatment with pembrolizumab, an anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.

The patient experienced a response duration of over fourteen months with paclitaxel, suggesting that combining or sequencing chemotherapy with immunotherapy may enhance treatment effectiveness in certain cases.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Prolonged response with paclitaxel after immunotherapy by pembrolizumab in lung cancer]. Zapata, E., Mennecier, B., Leduc, C., et al.[2017]

Pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA) was approved by the FDA for treating advanced melanoma, showing an overall response rate of 24% in a trial of 89 patients, with 86% of responses lasting at least 6 months.

While there are potential immune-mediated side effects, the benefits of prolonged tumor response durations were deemed to outweigh these risks, marking an improvement over existing treatments.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

FDA Approval Summary: Accelerated Approval of Pembrolizumab for Second-Line Treatment of Metastatic Melanoma. Chuk, MK., Chang, JT., Theoret, MR., et al.[2021]

Pembrolizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting PD-1, showed significant efficacy in treating a 79-year-old patient with advanced squamous cell lung cancer, leading to a complete response after just 3 cycles of treatment.

However, the patient developed acute myelomonocytic leukemia after starting pembrolizumab, highlighting a potential safety concern that warrants further investigation into the drug's effects on blood cell production.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acute myelomonocytic leukemia during pembrolizumab treatment for non-small cell lung cancer: A case report. Kim, HB., Park, SG., Hong, R., et al.[2020]

References

1. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Neoadjuvant anti-programmed death-1 immunotherapy by pembrolizumab in resectable non-small cell lung cancer: First clinical experience. [2022]

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

Pembrolizumab for the treatment of thoracic malignancies: current landscape and future directions. [2017]

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

FDA Approval Summary: Pembrolizumab for Treatment of Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: First-Line Therapy and Beyond. [2022]

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

Recurrent and atypical immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced pneumonitis. [2023]

5. France pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Prolonged response with paclitaxel after immunotherapy by pembrolizumab in lung cancer]. [2017]

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

FDA Approval Summary: Accelerated Approval of Pembrolizumab for Second-Line Treatment of Metastatic Melanoma. [2021]

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

Acute myelomonocytic leukemia during pembrolizumab treatment for non-small cell lung cancer: A case report. [2020]