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NCT Number: NCT06041802

A Study of Pembrolizumab (+) Berahyaluronidase Alfa (MK-3475A) (Pembrolizumab Formulated With Berahyaluronidase Alfa (MK-5180)) in Japanese Participants With Recurrent or Metastatic Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (R/M cSCC) or Locally Advanced (LA) Unresectable cSCC (MK-3475A-E39)

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of subcutaneous (SC) pembrolizumab (+) berahyaluronidase alfa in Japanese participants with recurrent or metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma or locally advanced unresectable cSCC. The primary hypothesis is that pembrolizumab (+) berahyaluronidase alfa will result in greater than 10% objective response rate (ORR) per Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as assessed by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR).

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This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Nagoya University Hospital ( Site 0003), Nagoya, Aichi-ken, Japan

Loading trial locations.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

The key inclusion and exclusion criteria include but are not limited to the following:

Inclusion criteria

  • Has histologically confirmed cSCC by the investigator as the primary site of malignancy
  • R/M cSCC cohort only: Has metastatic disease, defined as disseminated disease distant to the initial/primary site of diagnosis, and/or has locally recurrent disease that has been previously treated (with either surgery or radiotherapy) and is not curable by either surgery or radiotherapy
  • LA unresectable cSCC cohort only: Is ineligible for surgical resection
  • LA unresectable cSCC cohort only: Has received prior radiation therapy (RT) to index site or has been deemed to be not eligible for RT
  • LA unresectable cSCC cohort only: Has received prior systemic therapy for curative intent are eligible regardless of regimen
  • Has a life expectancy of greater than 3 months
  • Must provide archival tumor tissue sample or newly obtained core or excisional biopsy of a tumor lesion not previously irradiated

Exclusion criteria

  • Has cSCC that can be cured with surgical resection, radiotherapy, or with a combination of surgery and radiotherapy.
  • Has any other histologic type of skin cancer other than invasive squamous cell carcinoma as the primary disease under study
  • Has received prior systemic anticancer therapy including investigation agents within 4 weeks before allocation
  • Has not adequately recovered from major surgery or has ongoing surgical complications
  • Received prior radiotherapy within 2 weeks of study intervention, or had radiation-related toxicities, requiring corticosteroids
  • Received a live or live-attenuated vaccine within 30 days before the first dose of study intervention
  • Known additional malignancy that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 2 years
  • Has an ongoing active infection requiring systemic therapy
  • Has a history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
  • Has an active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in past 2 years
  • Has history of allogenic tissue/organ transplant

Treatment and study plan

Pembrolizumab (+) Berahyaluronidase alfa

Biological

Pembrolizumab (+) Berahyaluronidase alfa is a fixed-dose formulation of pembrolizumab and berahyaluronidase alfa for SC administration.

Other names: MK-3475A

Primary outcomes

  1. Objective Response Rate (ORR)

    Time frame: Up to approximately 40 months

    ORR is defined as the percentage of participants with 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) per Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1). The percentage of participants who experience CR or PR as assessed by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR) will be presented.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Duration of Response (DOR)

    Time frame: Up to approximately 40 months

    For participants who demonstrate CR (disappearance of all target lesions) or PR (at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) per RECIST 1.1, DOR is defined as the time from first documented evidence of CR or PR until progressive disease (PD) or death. Per RECIST 1.1, PD is defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of at least 5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions is also considered PD. DOR as assessed by BICR will be presented.

  2. Disease Control Rate (DCR)

    Time frame: Up to approximately 40 months

    DCR is defined, per RECIST 1.1, as the percentage of participants who demonstrate a confirmed CR (disappearance of all target lesions), PR (at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions), or stable disease (SD: neither sufficient shrinkage to qualify for PR nor sufficient increase to qualify for PD [at least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of at least 5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions is also considered PD.]).The DCR as assessed by BICR will be presented.

  3. Overall Survival (OS)

    Time frame: Up to approximately 40 months

    OS is defined as the time from first dose of study treatment to death due to any cause.

  4. Number of Participants who Experience an Adverse Event (AE)

    Time frame: Up to approximately 28 months

    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 at least one AE will be reported.

  5. Number of Participants who Discontinue Due to an AE

    Time frame: Up to approximately 25 months

    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 will be reported.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Industry

Registry information

Official study title

A Phase 2 Clinical Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of MK-3475A in Japanese Participants With Recurrent or Metastatic Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (R/M cSCC) or Locally Advanced (LA) Unresectable cSCC.

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2028
First posted
Sep 18, 2023
Registry last updated
Feb 17, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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