AzTrials
AzTrials

Carcinoma, Renal CellPhase 1/2NCT04626518

Substudy 03B: A Study of Immune and Targeted Combination Therapies in Participants With Second Line Plus (2L+) Renal Cell Carcinoma (MK-3475-03B/KEYMAKER-U03)

A Phase 1/2 study testing Pembrolizumab, MK-4830 and Belzutifan in people with Carcinoma, Renal Cell, run by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC at 51 sites in 13 countries.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

Substudy 03B is part of a larger research study that is testing experimental treatments for renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The larger study is the umbrella study (U03). The goal of substudy 03B is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of experimental combinations of investigational agents in participants with advanced… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Carcinoma, Renal Cell
What is being tested?
Pembrolizumab, MK-4830 and Belzutifan
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
263 participants
Where
51 sitesin 13 countries
Study dates
17 Dec 2020to 23 Jul 2026
Phase
Phase 1/2
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Has a histologically confirmed diagnosis of locally advanced/metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC)
  • Has experienced disease progression on or after having received systemic treatment for locally advanced or metastatic RCC with a programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-(L)1) checkpoint inhibitor (in sequence or in combination with a vascular endothelial growth factor. - tyrosine kinase inhibitor [VEGF-TKI]) where PD-(L)1 checkpoint inhibitor treatment progression is defined by meeting ALL of the following criteria: (a) has received ≥2 doses of an anti-PD-(L)1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) (b) has shown radiographic disease progression during or after an anti-PD-(L)1 mAb as defined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) by investigator (c) disease progression has been documented within 12 weeks from the last dose of an anti-PD-(L)1 mAb
  • Has experienced disease progression on or after having received systemic treatment for locally advanced or metastatic RCC with a VEGF-TKI (in sequence or in combination with a PD-[L]1 checkpoint inhibitor) where VEGF-TKI treatment progression is defined by meeting the following criterion: has shown radiographic disease progression during or after a treatment with a VEGF-TKI as defined by RECIST 1.1 by investigator.
  • Is able to swallow oral medication
  • Has adequate organ function
  • Participants receiving bone resorptive therapy must have therapy initiated at least 2 weeks before randomization/allocation
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  • Has resolution of toxic effects of prior therapy to ≤Grade 1
  • Has adequately controlled blood pressure (BP ≤150/90 mm Hg) with no change in hypertensive medications within 1 week before randomization/allocation
  • Male participants are abstinent from heterosexual intercourse or agree to use contraception during treatment with and for at least 7 days after the last dose of lenvatinib and /or belzutifan; 7 days after lenvatinib and/or belzutifan is stopped, if the participant is only receiving pembrolizumab, pembrolizumab/quavonlimab, favezelimab/pembrolizumab, MK-4830 or a combination of the aforementioned drugs, no contraception is needed
  • Female participant is not pregnant or breastfeeding and is not a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP) or is a WOCBP abstinent from heterosexual intercourse or using contraception during the intervention period and for at least 120 days after the last dose of pembrolizumab, pembrolizumab/quavonlimab, favezelimab/pembrolizumab, MK-4830 or 30 days after the last dose of lenvatinib or belzutifan, whichever occurs last and must abstain from breastfeeding during the study intervention period and for at least 120 days after study intervention

Who cannot join

  • Has urine protein ≥1 g/24 hours and has any of the following: (a) a pulse oximeter reading <92% at rest, or (b) requires intermittent supplemental oxygen, or (c) requires chronic supplemental oxygen (d) active hemoptysis within 3 weeks prior to the first dose of study intervention
  • Has clinically significant cardiovascular disease within 12 months from the first dose of study intervention administration
  • Has had major surgery within 3 weeks before first dose of study interventions
  • Has a history of lung disease
  • Has a history of inflammatory bowel disease
  • Has preexisting gastrointestinal (GI) or non-GI fistula
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  • Has malabsorption due to prior GI surgery or disease
  • Has previously received treatment with a combination of pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib
  • Has received prior treatment with belzutifan
  • Has received prior radiotherapy within 2 weeks of start of study intervention
  • Has received a live or live attenuated vaccine within 30 days before the first dose of study intervention; killed vaccines are allowed
  • Has received more than 4 previous systemic anticancer treatment regimens
  • Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving any form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of study intervention
  • Has known additional malignancy that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 3 years
  • Has known central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis
  • Has an active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years; replacement therapy is not considered a form of systemic treatment and is allowed
  • Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy
  • Has a known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
  • Has a known history of Hepatitis B
  • Has had an allogenic tissue/solid organ transplant

Trial locations and contacts

51 sites in 13 countries.

51 sites in 13 countries

United States11 sites
  • University of Chicago ( Site 3013)

    Chicago, Illinois, 60637

  • UTSW Medical Center ( Site 3003)

    Dallas, Texas, 75390

  • Henry Ford Health System ( Site 3014)

    Detroit, Michigan, 48202

  • Duke Cancer Institute ( Site 3015)

    Durham, North Carolina, 27710

  • University of Iowa ( Site 3012)

    Iowa City, Iowa, 52242

  • Vanderbilt University Medical Center ( Site 3004)

    Nashville, Tennessee, 37232

  • Yale-New Haven Hospital-Yale Cancer Center ( Site 3011)

    New Haven, Connecticut, 06510

  • Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center ( Site 3016)

    New York, New York, 10016

  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center ( Site 3002)

    New York, New York, 10065

  • UPMC Cancer Center/Hillman Cancer Center ( Site 3017)

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15232

  • University of California at San Francisco ( Site 3008)

    San Francisco, California, 94158

Other trials in United States

United Kingdom8 sites
  • Velindre Cancer Centre Hospital ( Site 3407)

    Cardiff, Wales, CF14 2TL

  • Western General Hospital ( Site 3402)

    Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH4 2XU

  • The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre ( Site 3405)

    Glasgow, Glasgow City, G12 0YN

  • Leicester Royal Infirmary ( Site 3408)

    Leicester, Leicestershire, LE1 5WW

  • Barts Health NHS Trust ( Site 3401)

    London, London, City of, EC1A 7BE

  • The Christie NHS Foundation Trust ( Site 3400)

    Manchester, M20 4BX

  • Royal Preston Hospital ( Site 3406)

    Preston, Lancashire, PR2 9HT

  • Southampton General Hospital ( Site 3403)

    Southampton, England, SO16 6YD

Other trials in United Kingdom

Chile5 sites
  • FALP-UIDO ( Site 4100)

    Santiago, Region M. de Santiago, 7500921

  • Bradfordhill-Clinical Area ( Site 4101)

    Santiago, Region M. de Santiago, 8420383

  • James Lind Centro de Investigacion del Cancer ( Site 4108)

    Temuco, Araucania, 4800827

  • CIDO SpA-Oncology ( Site 4106)

    Temuco, Araucania, 4810148

  • ONCOCENTRO APYS-ACEREY ( Site 4103)

    Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, 2520598

Other trials in Chile

Israel5 sites
  • Rambam Health Care Campus-Oncology Division ( Site 3500)

    Haifa, 3109601

  • Hadassah Medical Center-Oncology ( Site 3504)

    Jerusalem, 9112001

  • Rabin Medical Center ( Site 3502)

    Petah Tikva, 4941492

  • Sheba Medical Center - Oncology Division ( Site 3501)

    Ramat Gan, 52621

  • Sourasky Medical Center ( Site 3503)

    Tel Aviv, 6423906

Other trials in Israel

Australia4 sites
  • Blacktown Hospital ( Site 3601)

    Blacktown, New South Wales, 2148

  • Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital ( Site 3603)

    Herston, Queensland, 4029

  • St George Hospital ( Site 3602)

    Kogarah, New South Wales, 2217

  • Austin Health ( Site 3600)

    Melbourne, Victoria, 3084

Other trials in Australia

France4 sites
  • Institut de cancérologie Strasbourg Europe (ICANS) ( Site 3203)

    Strasbourg, Alsace, 67200

  • Institut Claudius Regaud ( Site 3200)

    Toulouse, Haute-Garonne, 31059

  • Institut De Cancerologie De Lorraine ( Site 3204)

    Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, Ain, 54519

  • Gustave Roussy ( Site 3202)

    Villejuif, Île-de-France Region, 94800

Other trials in France

Poland3 sites
  • Centrum Onkologii im. Prof. Franciszka Lukaszczyka-Ambulatorium Chemioterapii ( Site 4201)

    Bydgoszcz, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, 85-796

  • Uniwersyteckie Centrum Kliniczne-Early Clinical Trials Unit ( Site 4202)

    Gdansk, Pomeranian Voivodeship, 80-952

  • Narodowy Instytut Onkologii im. Marii Sklodowskiej-Curie - P-Oddzial Badan Wczesnych Faz ( Site 4200)

    Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, 02-781

Other trials in Poland

South Korea3 sites
  • Severance Hospital ( Site 3802)

    Seoul, 03722

  • Samsung Medical Center ( Site 3801)

    Seoul, 06351

  • Asan Medical Center ( Site 3800)

    Songpagu, Seoul, 05505

Other trials in South Korea

Canada2 sites
  • Jewish General Hospital ( Site 3100)

    Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1E2

  • Princess Margaret Cancer Centre ( Site 3101)

    Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1Z5

Other trials in Canada

Netherlands2 sites
  • Nederlands Kanker Instituut - Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (NKI-AVL)-medical oncology ( Site 4402)

    Amsterdam, North Holland, 1066 CX

  • Erasmus Medisch Centrum ( Site 4401)

    Rotterdam, South Holland, 3015 GD

Other trials in Netherlands

Spain2 sites
  • Hospital Universitari Vall d Hebron ( Site 3300)

    Barcelona, Catalonia, 08035

  • Hospital Universitario Ramon y Cajal ( Site 3301)

    Madrid, 28034

Other trials in Spain

Hungary1 site
  • Országos Onkológiai Intézet-Urogenitális Tumorok és Klinikai Farmakológiai Osztály ( Site 4301)

    Budapest, Pest County, 1122

Other trials in Hungary

New Zealand1 site
  • Auckland City Hospital ( Site 3700)

    Auckland, 1023

Other trials in New Zealand

About this study

Official title: A Phase 1b/2 Study of Immune and Targeted Combination Therapies in Participants With RCC (KEYMAKER-U03): Substudy 03B in Second-Line Metastatic Participants

Substudy 03B is part of a larger research study that is testing experimental treatments for renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The larger study is the umbrella study (U03).

The goal of substudy 03B is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of experimental combinations of investigational agents in participants with advanced second line plus (2L+) clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).

This substudy will have two phases: a safety lead-in phase and an efficacy phase. The safety lead-in phase will be used to demonstrate a tolerable safety profile for the combination of investigational agents. There will be no hypothesis testing in this study.

Being tested
Pembrolizumab, MK-4830, Belzutifan, Lenvatinib, Pembrolizumab/Quavonlimab
Keywords
receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, programmed cell death 1 (PD-1, PD1), programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1, PDL1)
Medical subject headings
Carcinoma, Renal Cell, Parkinson Disease 4, Autosomal Dominant Lewy Body

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • PembrolizumabBiological

    Also called MK-3475, KEYTRUDA®

    Administered via IV infusion at a dose of 200 mg Q3W or 400 mg Q6W

  • MK-4830Biological

    Administered via IV infusion at a dose of 800 mg Q3W

  • BelzutifanDrug

    Also called MK-6482, WELIREG™

    Administered via oral tablet at a dose of 120 mg QD

  • LenvatinibDrug

    Also called MK-7902, E7080, LENVIMA®

    Administered via oral capsule at a dose of 20 mg QD

  • Pembrolizumab/QuavonlimabBiological

    Also called MK-1308A

    Administered via IV infusion at a dose of 400 mg/25 mg Q6W

  • Favezelimab/PembrolizumabBiological

    Also called MK-4280A

    Administered via IV infusion at a dose of 800 mg/200 mg Q3W

Study groups in NCT04626518
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Coformulation Pembrolizumab/QuavonlimabExperimentalParticipants will receive pembrolizumab/quavonlimab (coformulation of pembrolizumab 400 mg and quavonlimab 25 mg). Pembrolizumab/quavonlimab will be administered intravenously (IV) once every 6 weeks (Q6W) for up to 17 administrations (up to ~2 years).
Receives: Biological: Pembrolizumab/Quavonlimab
Coformulation Favezelimab/PembrolizumabExperimentalParticipants will receive favezelimab/pembrolizumab (coformulation of favezelimab 800 mg and pembrolizumab 200 mg). Favezelimab/Pembrolizumab will be administered IV once every 3 weeks (Q3W) for up to 35 administrations (up to ~2 years).
Receives: Biological: Favezelimab/Pembrolizumab
Pembrolizumab + MK-4830ExperimentalParticipants will receive pembrolizumab 200 mg PLUS MK-4830 800 mg. Both pembrolizumab and MK-4830 will be administered IV Q3W for up to 35 administrations (up to ~2 years).
Receives: Biological: Pembrolizumab; Biological: MK-4830
Pembrolizumab + BelzutifanExperimentalParticipants will receive pembrolizumab 400 mg PLUS belzutifan 120 mg. Pembrolizumab will be administered IV Q6W for up to 17 administrations (up to ~ 2 years). Belzutifan will be administered orally once-daily (QD) until progressive disease or discontinuation.
Receives: Biological: Pembrolizumab; Drug: Belzutifan
Belzutifan + LenvatinibExperimentalParticipants will receive Belzutifan 120 mg PLUS lenvatinib 20 mg. Both belzutifan and lenvatinib will be administered orally QD until progressive disease or discontinuation.
Receives: Drug: Belzutifan; Drug: Lenvatinib
Pembrolizumab + LenvatinibExperimentalParticipants will receive pembrolizumab 400 mg PLUS lenvatinib 20 mg. Pembrolizumab will be administered IV Q6W for up to 17 administrations (up to ~2 years). Lenvatinib will be administered orally QD until progressive disease or discontinuation.
Receives: Biological: Pembrolizumab; Drug: Lenvatinib

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Safety Lead-in Phase: Number of participants who experience one or more dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs)

    DLTs are defined as one or more of the following toxicities: (1) grade (gr) 4 nonhematologic toxicity (2) gr 4 hematologic toxicity lasting >7 days OR gr 4 platelet count decreased of any duration OR gr 3 platelet count decreased if associated with bleeding (3) gr 3 nonhematologic toxicity except gr 3 fatigue (lasting ≤3 days), diarrhea, nausea, vomiting or rash without standard of care (4) gr 3 or 4 nonhematologic abnormality if medical intervention is required or if it leads to hospitalization or persists for >1 week (5) gr 3 or 4 febrile neutropenia (6) gr 3 or 4 alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and/or bilirubin laboratory value (7) treatment related adverse event (AE) causing study intervention discontinuation during the first 21 days (8) treatment related AE causing intervention administration delay for >14 days during the first 21 days (9) gr 5 toxicity. The number of participants who experience one or more DLTs in the safety lead-in phase will be presented.

    Measured: Up to ~21 days

  2. Safety Lead-in Phase: Number of participants who experience one or more adverse events (AEs)

    An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant, temporally associated with the use of study intervention, whether or not considered related to the study intervention. The number of participants who experience one or more AEs in the safety lead-in phase will be presented.

    Measured: Up to ~21 days

  3. Safety Lead-in Phase: Number of participants who discontinue study treatment due to an AE

    An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant, temporally associated with the use of study intervention, whether or not considered related to the study intervention. The number of participants who discontinue study treatment due to an AE in the safety lead-in phase will be presented.

    Measured: Up to ~21 days

  4. Efficacy Phase: Number of participants who experienced DLTs

    DLTs are defined as one or more of the following toxicities: (1) grade (gr) 4 nonhematologic toxicity (2) gr 4 hematologic toxicity lasting >7 days OR gr 4 platelet count decreased of any duration OR gr 3 platelet count decreased if associated with bleeding (3) gr 3 nonhematologic toxicity except gr 3 fatigue (lasting ≤3 days), diarrhea, nausea, vomiting or rash without standard of care (4) gr 3 or 4 nonhematologic abnormality if medical intervention is required or if it leads to hospitalization or persists for >1 week (5) gr 3 or 4 febrile neutropenia (6) gr 3 or 4 alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and/or bilirubin laboratory value (7) treatment related adverse event (AE) causing study intervention discontinuation during the first 21 days (8) treatment related AE causing intervention administration delay for >14 days during the first 21 days (9) gr 5 toxicity. The number of participants who experience one or more DLTs in the efficacy phase will be presented.

    Measured: Up to ~21 days

  5. Efficacy Phase: Number of participants who experience one or more AEs

    An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant, temporally associated with the use of study intervention, whether or not considered related to the study intervention. The number of participants who experience one or more AEs in the efficacy phase will be presented.

    Measured: Up to ~56 months

  6. Efficacy Phase: Number of participants who discontinue study treatment due to an AE

    An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant, temporally associated with the use of study intervention, whether or not considered related to the study intervention. The number of participants who discontinue study treatment due to an AE in the efficacy phase will be presented.

    Measured: Up to ~56 months

  7. Efficacy Phase: Objective response rate (ORR)

    ORR is defined as the percentage of participants in the analysis population who have a complete response (CR: disappearance of all target lesions) or partial response (PR: at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the baseline sum of diameters). Responses are according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) by blinded independent central review (BICR).

    Measured: Up to ~56 months

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Efficacy Phase: Duration of response (DOR)

    For participants in the analysis population who demonstrate a confirmed CR (disappearance of all target lesions) or confirmed PR (at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the baseline sum of diameters), DOR is defined as the time from first documented evidence of CR or PR until progressive disease or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first. Responses are according to RECIST 1.1.

    Measured: Up to ~56 months

  2. Efficacy Phase: Progression-free survival (PFS)

    PFS is defined as the time from randomization to the first documented progressive disease or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first. Responses are according to RECIST 1.1 by BICR.

    Measured: Up to ~56 months

  3. Efficacy Phase: Overall survival (OS)

    OS is defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause.

    Measured: Up to ~56 months

  4. Efficacy Phase: Clinical benefit rate (CBR)

    CBR is defined as the percentage of participants who have achieved CR (disappearance of all target lesions) or PR (at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the baseline sum of diameters) or stable disease (SD: neither sufficient shrinkage to qualify for PR nor sufficient increase to qualify for progressive disease) of ≥6 months. Responses are according to RECIST 1.1 by BICR.

    Measured: Up to ~56 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted12 Nov 2020
  2. Study start17 Dec 2020
  3. Primary completion23 Jul 2026
  4. Study completion23 Jul 2026

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 1/2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
263 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04626518
Sponsor's protocol ID
3475-03B
Other IDs
MK-3475-03B, KEYMAKER-U03, 2023-506839-15-00, U1111-1294-4557, 2019-003610-13, 2019, 2023
Status last verified
Aug 2026
First submitted
10 Nov 2020
Last updated
25 Sep 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: https://trialstransparency.msdclinicaltrials.com/pdf/ProcedureAccessClinicalTrialData.pdf

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1/2 study testing Pembrolizumab, MK-4830 and Belzutifan in people with Carcinoma, Renal Cell, run by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC at 51 sites in 13 countries.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 10 inclusion and 20 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 25 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 51 sites in United States, United Kingdom, Chile, Israel, Australia and 8 more countries. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this combined phase mean?

Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Safety Lead-in Phase: Number of participants who experience one or more dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) (time frame: Up to ~21 days). The study lists 7 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 25 Sep 2026.

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