KEYMAKER-U01 Substudy 01A: Efficacy and Safety Study of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) With or Without Chemotherapy When Used With Investigational Agents in Treatment-naïve Participants With Stage IV Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) (MK-3475-01A/KEYMAKER-U01A)
Launched by MERCK SHARP & DOHME LLC · Nov 14, 2019
Trial Information
Current as of November 12, 2025
Recruiting
Keywords
ClinConnect Summary
The KEYMAKER-U01 study is looking at how well a medication called pembrolizumab works, both alone and with chemotherapy, in patients who have just been diagnosed with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study also involves other investigational drugs to see if they can help improve treatment outcomes. Researchers want to find out if these combinations are safe and effective for people who have not yet received any cancer treatment.
To be eligible for this trial, participants should have a confirmed diagnosis of Stage IV squamous or nonsquamous NSCLC and should not have received any previous treatment for their cancer. Additionally, they need to provide a sample of their tumor tissue and meet other health criteria. If you choose to participate, you can expect to undergo various screening procedures and receive close monitoring throughout the trial. This study is currently recruiting participants of all genders, aged 65 to 74. It’s important to note that there are specific health conditions that may exclude someone from participating, so discussing eligibility with a healthcare provider is essential.
Gender
ALL
Eligibility criteria
- Inclusion Criteria:
- The main inclusion criteria include but are not limited to the following:
- • Has histologically- or cytologically-confirmed diagnosis of Stage IV squamous or nonsquamous NSCLC
- • Participants with nonsquamous NSCLC who are not eligible for an approved targeted therapy
- • Is able to provide archival tumor tissue sample collected either within 5 years or within the interval from completion of last treatment but before entering the screening period or newly obtained core or excisional biopsy of a tumor lesion not previously irradiated obtained within 90 days of treatment initiation
- • Has not received prior systemic treatment for their metastatic NSCLC
- • Is able to complete all screening procedures within the 35-day screening window for Part A and 28-day screening window for Part B
- Exclusion Criteria:
- The main exclusion criteria include but are not limited to the following:
- • Has a diagnosis of small cell lung cancer
- • Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy (in dosing exceeding 10 mg daily of prednisone equivalent) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days before the first dose of study treatment
- • Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 2 years
- • Has known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis
- • Has an active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years
- • Has a history of (noninfectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or has current pneumonitis
- • Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy
- • Has clinically significant cardiac disease, including unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction within 6 months from Day 1 of study treatment administration, or New York Heart Association Class III or IV congestive heart failure
- • Has a known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Well-controlled HIV with anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is not excluded
- • Has a known history of Hepatitis B (HPV) or known active Hepatitis C virus infection. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive is eligible if on HBV antiviral therapy for at least 4 weeks and HBV viral load is undetectable prior to randomization
- • Has had major surgery \<3 weeks before the first dose of study treatment
- • Is expected to require any other form of antineoplastic therapy while on study
- • Has a history or current evidence of a gastrointestinal (GI) condition (e.g. inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis) or impaired liver function or diseases that in the opinion of the investigator may significantly alter the absorption or metabolism of oral medications
- • Is getting chemotherapy and has clinically active diverticulitis, intra-abdominal abscess, GI obstruction, or peritoneal carcinomatosis
- • Has preexisting neuropathy that is moderate in intensity
- • Has received prior systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy or other targeted or biological antineoplastic therapy for metastatic disease
- • Is unable or unwilling to take folic acid or vitamin B12 supplementation, for participants who will receive pemetrexed
- • Has a known sensitivity to any component of carboplatin, paclitaxel, pemetrexed or any of their excipients
- • Has received prior radiation therapy to the lung that is \>30 Gray (Gy) within 6 months of the first dose of study treatment
- • Has received a live vaccine within 30 days before the first dose of study treatment. Any licensed COVID-19 vaccine (including for Emergency Use) in a particular country is allowed as long as they are messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines, adenoviral vaccines, or inactivated vaccines. Investigational vaccines (ie, those not licensed or approved for Emergency Use) are not allowed
- • Has received any prior immunotherapy and was discontinued from that treatment due to a severe or worse immune-related adverse event (irAE)
- • Has had chemotherapy or biological cancer therapy within 4 weeks before the first dose of study treatment or has not recovered to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) Grade 1 or better from the AEs due to cancer therapeutics administered more than 4 weeks before the first dose of study treatment (including participants who had previous immunomodulatory therapy with residual irAEs)
- • Is currently participating in or has participated in a study of an investigational agent or has used an investigational device within 4 weeks before the first dose of study treatment
- • Previously had a severe hypersensitivity reaction to treatment with monoclonal antibodies (including pembrolizumab) and/or any of their excipients
- • Has had an allogenic tissue/solid organ transplant
About Merck Sharp & Dohme Llc
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., is a leading global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing, and delivering innovative medicines and vaccines that address unmet medical needs. With a strong focus on research and development, Merck Sharp & Dohme leverages advanced science and technology to enhance patient outcomes across various therapeutic areas, including oncology, infectious diseases, and cardiovascular health. Committed to ethical practices and regulatory compliance, the company actively engages in clinical trials to advance medical knowledge and improve health care for patients worldwide.
Contacts
Jennifer Cobb
Immunology at National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Locations
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Gilbert, Arizona, United States
Duarte, California, United States
San Francisco, California, United States
Washington, District Of Columbia, United States
Lexington, Kentucky, United States
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Lebanon, New Hampshire, United States
Hackensack, New Jersey, United States
New York, New York, United States
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Columbus, Ohio, United States
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Houston, Texas, United States
Gyor, Gyor Moson Sopron, Hungary
Szolnok, Jasz Nagykun Szolnok, Hungary
Budapest, Hungary
Beer Sheva, Israel
Haifa, Israel
Jerusalem, Israel
Kfar Saba, Israel
Petah Tikva, Israel
Ramat Gan, Israel
Tel Aviv, Israel
Florence, Firenze, Italy
Roma, Lazio, Italy
Milano, Italy
Seongnam Si, Kyonggi Do, Korea, Republic Of
Seoul, Korea, Republic Of
Seoul, Korea, Republic Of
Warszawa, Mazowieckie, Poland
Koszalin, Zachodniopomorskie, Poland
Hospitalet De Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Pozuelo De Alarcon, Madrid, Spain
Columbus, Ohio, United States
Gdańsk, Pomorskie, Poland
Tel Aviv, Israel
Szolnok, Jasz Nagykun Szolnok, Hungary
Kfar Saba, Israel
Fargo, North Dakota, United States
Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Gdansk, Pomorskie, Poland
Madrid, Spain
Szolnok, Jasz Nagykun Szolnok, Hungary
Roma, Italy
Columbus, Ohio, United States
Warszawa, Mazowieckie, Poland
Washington D.C., District Of Columbia, United States
Győr, Hungary
Szolnok, Hungary
Beersheba, Israel
Kfar Saba, Israel
Milan, Italy
Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland
Gdansk, Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland
Koszalin, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland
Seongnam Si, Kyonggi Do, South Korea
Seoul, South Korea
Seoul, South Korea
L'hospitalet De Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Patients applied
Trial Officials
Medical Director
Study Director
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
Timeline
First submit
Trial launched
Trial updated
Estimated completion
Not reported
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