Safety and Efficacy Study of Pemetrexed + Platinum Chemotherapy + Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) With or Without Lenvatinib (MK-7902/E7080) as First-line Intervention in Adults With Metastatic Nonsquamous Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (MK-7902-006/E7080-G000-315/LEAP-006)

Completed · Phase 3 · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Nonsquamous Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

In brief

The purpose of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of pemetrexed + platinum chemotherapy + pembrolizumab (MK-3475) with or without lenvatinib (MK-7902/E7080) as first-line intervention in adults with metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer. The primary study hypotheses state that: 1) the combination of lenvatinib + platinum doublet chemotherapy + pembrolizumab prolongs Progression-free Survival (PFS) as assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR) per modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (RESIST 1.1) compared to matching placebo + platinum doublet chemotherapy + pembrolizumab, and 2) the combination of lenvatinib + platinum doublet chemotherapy + pembrolizumab prolongs Overall Survival (OS) compared to matching placebo + platinum doublet chemotherapy + pembrolizumab.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT03829319
Run by: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
People needed: 761
Starts: 2019-03-25
Expected to finish: 2024-08-30
Last updated by the study team: 2026-02-05

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of Stage IV (American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC], version 8 or current version), nonsquamous NSCLC.
Confirmation that Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), ALK Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (ALK), or ROS1 Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (ROS1)-directed therapy is not indicated as primary treatment (documentation of absence of tumor-activating EGFR mutations AND absence of ALK and ROS1 gene rearrangements OR presence of a Kirsten Rat Sarcoma (KRAS) gene mutation).
Have measurable disease based on RECIST 1.1. Note: Lesions that appear measurable, but are situated in a previously irradiated area, can be considered measurable (eligible for selection as target lesions) if they have shown documented growth since the completion of radiation.
Provided an archival tumor tissue sample or newly obtained core or excisional biopsy of a tumor lesion (not previously irradiated).
Life expectancy of at least 3 months.
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1 within 7 days prior to the first dose of study intervention but before randomization.
Contraceptive use by men should be consistent with local regulations regarding the methods of contraception for those participating in clinical studies. If the contraception requirements in the local label for any of the study interventions is more stringent than the requirements above, the local label requirements are to be followed.
Male participants must agree for at least 7 days after the last dose of lenvatinib/matching placebo and up to 180 days after the last dose of chemotherapeutic agents to:
Refrain from donating sperm PLUS either:
Be abstinence from heterosexual intercourse as their preferred and usual lifestyle (abstinent on a long term and persistent basis) and agree to remain abstinent OR
Must agree to use contraception unless confirmed to be azoopsermic (vasectomized or secondary to medical cause) as detailed below:
Agree to use a male condom plus partner use of an additional contraceptive method when having penile-vaginal intercourse with a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP) who is not currently pregnant Note: Men with a pregnant or breastfeeding partner must agree to remain abstinent from penile-vaginal intercourse or use a male condom during each episode of penile-vaginal penetration.
Note: 7 days after lenvatinib/matching placebo is stopped, if the participant is on pembrolizumab only and is greater than 180 days post chemotherapy, no male contraception measures are needed.
Contraceptive use by women should be consistent with local regulations regarding the methods of contraception for those participating in clinical studies.
Female participant is eligible to participate if she is not pregnant or breastfeeding, and at least one of the following conditions applies:
Is not a WOCBP OR
Is a WOCBP and using a contraceptive method that is highly effective (with a failure rate of <1% per year), with low user dependency, or be abstinent from heterosexual intercourse as their preferred and usual lifestyle (abstinent on a long term and persistent basis), during the intervention period and for at least 120 days post pembrolizumab and/or 30 days post-lenvatinib/matching placebo, and up to 180 days post last dose of chemotherapeutic agents, whichever occurs last.
Adequate organ function.
Adequately controlled blood pressure (BP) with or without antihypertensive medications, defined as BP ≤150/90 mm Hg and no change in antihypertensive medications within 1 week prior to randomization. Note: Participants must not have a history of uncontrolled or poorly-controlled hypertension, defined as >150/90 mm Hg for >4 weeks despite standard medical management.

You may not qualify if…

Known untreated central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis. Participants with previously treated brain metastases may participate provided they are radiologically stable, clinically stable, and have not required steroids for at least 14 days prior to the first dose of study intervention.
History of (noninfectious) pneumonitis that required systemic steroids or current pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease.
Radiographic evidence of intratumoral caviations, encasement, or invasion of a major blood vessel. Additionally, the degree of proximity to major blood vessels should be considered for exclusion because of the potential risk of severe hemorrhage associated with tumor shrinkage/necrosis after lenvatinib-therapy. (In the chest, major blood vessels include the main pulmonary artery, the left and right pulmonary arteries, the 4 major pulmonary veins, the superior or inferior vena cava, and the aorta).
Known history of an additional malignancy, except if the participant has undergone potentially curative therapy with no evidence of that disease recurrence for at least 3 years since initiation of that therapy. Note: The time requirement also does not apply to participants who underwent successful definitive resection of basal cell carcinoma of the skin, superficial bladder cancer, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, in situ cervical cancer, or other in situ cancers.
Active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years (i.e., with use of disease-modifying agents, corticosteroids, or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (e.g., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is allowed.
Diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy (doses exceeding 10 mg daily of prednisone equivalent) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior the first dose of study intervention.
Has had allogeneic tissue/solid organ transplant.
Known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. HIV testing is not required unless mandated by the local health authority.
Known history of Hepatitis B or active Hepatitis C. No testing for Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C is required unless mandated by the local health authority.
History of a gastrointestinal condition or procedure that in the opinion of the investigator may affect oral drug absorption.
Active hemoptysis (at least 0.5 teaspoon of bright red blood) within 2 weeks prior to the first dose of study intervention.
Significant cardiovascular impairment within 12 months prior to the first dose of study intervention, including history of congestive heart failure greater than New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II, unstable angina, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident (CVA)/stroke, or cardiac arrhythmia associated with hemodynamic instability.
Known history of active tuberculosis.
Active infection requiring systemic therapy.
Has not recovered adequately from any toxicity and/or complication from major surgery prior to the first dose of study intervention.
Previously had a severe hypersensitivity reaction to treatment with a monoclonal antibody or has a known sensitivity to any component of lenvatinib or pembrolizumab, or as applicable, carboplatin, cisplatin, or pemetrexed.
A WOCBP who has a positive urine pregnancy test within 24 hours prior to randomization or treatment allocation. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required.
Has preexisting ≥Grade 3 gastrointestinal or non-gastrointestinal fistula.
Received prior systemic chemotherapy or other targeted or biological antineoplastic therapy for their metastatic NSCLC. Note: Prior treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiation as part of neoadjuvant/adjuvant therapy is allowed as long as therapy was completed at least 6 months prior to the diagnosis of metastatic NSCLC.
Received prior treatment with pembrolizumab or any other anti-programmed cell death (PD)-1, anti-PD-L1, anti-PD-L2 agent, with lenvatinib or any other receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (RTKi), or with an agent directed to another stimulatory or co-inhibitory T cell receptor.
Received radiotherapy within 14 days prior to the first dose of study intervention or received lung radiation therapy of >30 Gy within 6 months prior to the first dose of study intervention. Note: Participants must have recovered from all radiation-related toxicities to Grade ≤1, not required corticosteroids, and not have had radiation pneumonitis. A 1-week washout is permitted for palliative radiation (≤2 weeks of radiotherapy) to non-CNS disease.
Received systemic steroid therapy (in doses exceeding 10 mg daily of prednisone equivalent) within 7 days prior to the first dose of study intervention.
Received a live or live attenuated vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of study intervention. Note: killed vaccines are allowed.
Currently participating and receiving study therapy or has participated in a study of an investigational agent and received study therapy or used an investigational device within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study intervention.
Has a prolongation of QTc interval (calculated using Fridericia's formula) of >480 msecl.

Where it is running

Yale University ( Site 0519) — New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Holy Cross Hospital ( Site 0512) — Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
Mercy Health-Paducah Medical Oncology and Hematology ( Site 0570) — Paducah, Kentucky, United States
Henry Ford Health System ( Site 0563) — Detroit, Michigan, United States
Saint Lukes Cancer Institute ( Site 0541) — Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Broome Oncology, LLC ( Site 0562) — Johnson City, New York, United States
Sanford Health Roger Maris Cancer Center ( Site 0533) — Fargo, North Dakota, United States
Stephenson Cancer Center ( Site 0504) — Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
Good Samaritan Hospital Corvallis ( Site 0521) — Corvallis, Oregon, United States
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital ( Site 0548) — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Abington Hospital - Asplundh Cancer Center ( Site 0575) — Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, United States
West Cancer Center - East Campus ( Site 0544) — Germantown, Tennessee, United States
Parkland Health & Hospital System ( Site 0576) — Dallas, Texas, United States
UT Southwestern Medical Center ( Site 0558) — Dallas, Texas, United States
Utah Cancer Specialists ( Site 0523) — Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
West Virginia University ( Site 0526) — Morgantown, West Virginia, United States
Centro de Oncologia e Investigacion Buenos Aires COIBA ( Site 0367) — Berazategui, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Instituto de Investigaciones Clinicas Mar del Plata ( Site 0371) — Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
CEMIC ( Site 0370) — Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires F.D., Argentina
Sanatorio Parque ( Site 0365) — Rosario, Santa Fe Province, Argentina
Hospital Aleman ( Site 0368) — Buenos Aires, Argentina
Instituto Medico Especializado Alexander Fleming ( Site 0369) — Buenos Aires, Argentina
CEMAIC ( Site 0374) — Córdoba, Argentina
CER San Juan Centro Polivalente de Asistencia e Investigacion Clinica ( Site 0372) — San Juan, Argentina
El Camino Hospital Cancer Center ( Site 0529) — Mountain View, California, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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