MK2870-023 A Phase 3 Study of Pembrolizumab in combination with Carboplatin/Taxane (Paclitaxel or Nab-paclitaxel) followed by Pembrolizumab with or without maintenance MK 2870 in the First-line Treatment of Metastatic Squamous Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
Recipient organisationNIHR Nottingham Clinical Research Facility
NIHR supportRecorded as supported by this research centre
PeriodMar 2025 — Feb 2027
In plain English
AI plain-English summary
A new trial is testing whether adding a targeted drug called MK-2870 to the immunotherapy pembrolizumab can help people with metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer live longer. This matters because current first-line treatment—chemotherapy plus pembrolizumab—does not work for everyone, and the cancer often becomes resistant. MK-2870 works differently: it attaches to specific targets on cancer cells and delivers a treatment that destroys them directly. The trial asks whether combining this targeted attack with immunotherapy can improve outcomes beyond what pembrolizumab alone can achieve. If the combination proves effective, it could offer a new standard maintenance therapy for a common and aggressive form of lung cancer. People whose disease does not worsen after initial chemotherapy and immunotherapy would then have a second, more targeted option to keep the cancer in check for longer. This would directly affect the daily lives of patients by potentially extending survival and delaying the need for further, more toxic treatments.
View original technical description
Researchers are looking for new ways to treat people with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Current treatments for metastatic NSCLC are chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Pembrolizumab and MK-2870 are the trial medicines. MK-2870 attaches to specific targets on cancer cells and delivers treatment to destroy those cells.Researchers want to learn if adding MK-2870 to pembrolizumab can treat metastatic NSCLC. The goal of this trial is to learn if people who receive pembrolizumab with MK-2870 live longer overall compared to pembrolizumab alone.About 851 people, aged at least 18 years old, will be in this trial and:• Have metastatic squamous NSCLC• Have not received treatments for metastatic NSCLC• Do not have another type of lung cancerThis trial has 2 parts:Part 1 (Induction therapy): Everyone will receive pembrolizumab and chemotherapy for about 3 months as their first treatment.Part 2 (Maintenance therapy): People who don’t have the cancer get worse after completing induction therapy will receive more treatment. In Part 2, people will have an equal chance to receive:• Pembrolizumab with MK-2870 OR• Pembrolizumab alonePeople will receive 2 or all of these treatments through a needle into a vein (intravenous infusion):• Pembrolizumab, given every 3 weeks during Part 1 and every 6 weeks during Part 2• MK-2870, given every 2 weeks during Part 2• Chemotherapy, given every 1 or 3 weeks during Part 1People will receive pembrolizumab for up to about 2 years. People will receive MK-2870 until the cancer gets worse or they don’t tolerate it.Both the people in the trial and the researcher will know which trial treatment a person is getting. During the trial, people will give urine, blood, and tumour samples, have imaging tests and physical examinations, and answer questions.A person may be in this trial for about 5 years.
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