A Phase 3 interventional study of Sacituzumab tirumotecan and Pembrolizumab in Non Small Cell Lung Cancer, sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC. Recruiting at 271 sites in 31 countries. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-10.
Sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC (part of Merck & Co., Inc) · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment
This study will assess if adding sacituzumab tirumotecan with pembrolizumab after surgery is effective in treating NSCLC for participants not achieving pathological complete response. The primary hypothesis of this study is sacituzumab tirumotecan plus pembrolizumab is superior to pembrolizumab monotherapy with respect to disease free survival (DFS) as assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR).
7,620 studies on the registry are indexed under Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; 1,838 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 780 is above the median of 62 across 6,019 interventional studies indexed under Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung.
Browse Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung studies →Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC is the lead sponsor of 2,166 studies on the registry; 132 are open to participants now.
Of its 501 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 370 (74%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
The key inclusion and exclusion criteria include but are not limited to the following:
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
Has one of the following tumor locations/types:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Neoadjuvant treatment is given before the main treatment (usually surgery), often to shrink a tumour. Adjuvant treatment is given after it, to lower the chance of the cancer coming back.
PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4 are proteins that act as brakes on the immune system. Checkpoint inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab or nivolumab, block them so the immune system can attack a cancer.
PD-L1 can also be measured in a tumour sample. Some scores count stained tumour cells only (TPS); others also count certain immune cells (CPS). The study names the score and the minimum it uses.
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. These are separate tests: HBsAg positive usually means a current infection (a recent vaccination can briefly cause it too); total anti-HBc (HBcAb) positive means an infection now or in the past; HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood.
Some studies accept a past infection if HBV DNA is undetectable, sometimes with antiviral medicine during the study. Check what this study allows.
Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver. An HCV antibody test can stay positive after an infection has cleared (and is occasionally positive without one); an HCV RNA test shows whether the virus is there now.
After treatment, hepatitis C counts as cured when HCV RNA is still undetectable 12 weeks or more after the treatment ended. Studies often accept people cured this way.
A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.
Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.
The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.
Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.
On an ECG, the QT interval is the time the heart’s lower chambers take to activate electrically and recover in each beat. QTc is that time adjusted for heart rate (QTcF by Fridericia’s formula, QTcB by Bazett’s). Some medicines lengthen it, and a long QTc can raise the risk of a dangerous heart rhythm.
The study may name a correction formula and a limit in milliseconds, often around 450–480.
A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.
It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Vaccines made with a weakened form of the germ, such as measles–mumps–rubella (MMR), chickenpox and yellow fever. They can be risky when the immune system is weakened. Flu injections are not live; the nasal flu spray is.
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.
Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.
An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.
The other ingredients in a medicine besides the active drug, such as fillers, colours or preservatives.
Adjuvant and neoadjuvant
Neoadjuvant treatment is given before the main treatment (usually surgery), often to shrink a tumour. Adjuvant treatment is given after it, to lower the chance of the cancer coming back.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
PD-1, PD-L1 and checkpoint inhibitors
PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4 are proteins that act as brakes on the immune system. Checkpoint inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab or nivolumab, block them so the immune system can attack a cancer.
PD-L1 can also be measured in a tumour sample. Some scores count stained tumour cells only (TPS); others also count certain immune cells (CPS). The study names the score and the minimum it uses.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
HIV
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Hepatitis B tests
Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. These are separate tests: HBsAg positive usually means a current infection (a recent vaccination can briefly cause it too); total anti-HBc (HBcAb) positive means an infection now or in the past; HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood.
Some studies accept a past infection if HBV DNA is undetectable, sometimes with antiviral medicine during the study. Check what this study allows.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Hepatitis C tests
Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver. An HCV antibody test can stay positive after an infection has cleared (and is occasionally positive without one); an HCV RNA test shows whether the virus is there now.
After treatment, hepatitis C counts as cured when HCV RNA is still undetectable 12 weeks or more after the treatment ended. Studies often accept people cured this way.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Immunosuppression
A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.
Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
NYHA class (heart failure)
The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.
Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
QT and QTc
On an ECG, the QT interval is the time the heart’s lower chambers take to activate electrically and recover in each beat. QTc is that time adjusted for heart rate (QTcF by Fridericia’s formula, QTcB by Bazett’s). Some medicines lengthen it, and a long QTc can raise the risk of a dangerous heart rhythm.
The study may name a correction formula and a limit in milliseconds, often around 450–480.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Investigational drug or device
A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.
It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Corticosteroids (steroids)
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Live vaccines
Vaccines made with a weakened form of the germ, such as measles–mumps–rubella (MMR), chickenpox and yellow fever. They can be risky when the immune system is weakened. Flu injections are not live; the nasal flu spray is.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer (malignancy)
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Autoimmune disease
A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.
Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Hypersensitivity
An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Excipients
The other ingredients in a medicine besides the active drug, such as fillers, colours or preservatives.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants will receive pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenous (IV) infusion every 3 weeks (Q3W) for up to 12 weeks + double-platinum chemotherapy per neoplasm histology classification at the investigator's discretion as neoadjuvant therapy prior to surgery; followed by sacituzumab tirumotecan 4 mg/kg IV infusion every 2 weeks (Q2W) for up to 12 doses (\~24 weeks) with pembrolizumab monotherapy 200 mg IV infusion every 6 weeks (Q6W) for up to 7 cycles (\~42 weeks).
Biological: Sacituzumab tirumotecan · Biological: Pembrolizumab · Drug: Rescue medication
Participants will receive pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenous (IV) infusion Q3W for up to 12 weeks + double-platinum chemotherapy per neoplasm histology classification at the investigator's discretion as neoadjuvant therapy prior to surgery; followed by pembrolizumab monotherapy 200 mg IV infusion Q6W for up to 7 cycles (\~42 weeks).
Biological: Pembrolizumab · Drug: Cisplatin · Drug: Pemetrexed · Drug: Gemcitabine · Drug: Carboplatin · Drug: Paclitaxel
Sacituzumab tirumotecan to be administered as 4mg/kg IV infusion q2w for up to 24 weeks
Also known as: MK-2870, sac-TMT, SKB264
Pembrolizumab to be administered 400mg by IV infusion q6w for up to 42 weeks
Also known as: MK-3475
Cisplatin is administered as 75 mg/m\^2 IV infusion q3w for up to 12 weeks as background treatment in neoadjuvant phase
Pemetrexed will be administered in the neoadjuvant phase as 500 mg/m\^2 IV infusion q3w for up to 12 weeks as background treatment in participants with nonsquamous NSCLC.
Gemcitabine will be administered in the neoadjuvant phase as 1000 mg/m\^2 or 1250 mg/m\^2 IV infusion on day 1 and day 8 q3w for up to 24 weeks as background treatment in participants with squamous NSCLC.
Carboplatin will be administered in the neoadjuvant phase as AUC 5 mg/mL/min or AUC 6 mg/mL/min IV infusion q3w for up to 12 weeks as background treatment.
Paclitaxel will be administered in the neoadjuvant phase as 175 mg/m\^2 or 200 mg/m\^2 IV infusion q3w for up to 12 weeks as background treatment.
Participants are permitted to take rescue medications to prevent hypersensitivity and/or infusion reactions as a premedication to study treatment. Rescue medications include antihistamine, H2 receptor antagonist, acetaminophen or equivalent, dexamethasone or equivalent, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. A steroid mouthwash (dexamethasone or equivalent) may be given as prophylaxis for stomatitis/oral mucositis.
Disease-free survival (DFS) as assessed by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR)
DFS is defined as the time from randomization to any recurrence (local, locoregional, regional or distant), occurrence of new primary NSCLC, or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first.
Time frame: Up to ~ 93 months
Overall Survival (OS)
OS is defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause.
Time frame: Up to ~ 118 months
Distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) as assessed by investigator
DMFS is defined as the time from randomization to the first documented distant metastasis or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first. Distant metastasis refers to cancer that has spread from the original (primary) tumor to distant organs or distant lymph nodes.
Time frame: Up to ~ 118 months
Disease-Free Survival (DFS) as assessed by investigator
DFS is defined as the time from randomization to any recurrence (local, locoregional, regional or distant), occurrence of new primary NSCLC, or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first.
Time frame: Up to ~ 118 months
Lung Cancer Specific Survival (LCSS)
LCSS is defined as the time from randomization to the date of death due to lung cancer.
Time frame: Up to ~ 118 months
Number of Participants Who Experience an Adverse Event (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. An AE can therefore be any unfavorable and unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding), symptom, or disease (new or exacerbated) temporally associated with the use of a study intervention.
Time frame: Up to ~ 118 months
Number of Participants Who Discontinue Study Intervention Due to 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. An AE can therefore be any unfavorable and unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding), symptom, or disease (new or exacerbated) temporally associated with the use of a study intervention. The percentage of participants who discontinue study treatment due to an AE will be presented.
Time frame: Up to ~ 118 months
Change from Baseline in Global Health Status/Quality of Life (QoL) score (Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ)-C30 Items 29 and 30)
The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) quality of life questionnaire (QLQ) is a psychometrically and clinically validated instrument appropriate for assessing the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of cancer patients in oncology studies. Each scale or item is scored between 0 and 100, for the global health status or QoL a higher value indicates a better level of function.
Time frame: Baseline and up to ~118 months
Change from Baseline in Physical Functioning Score (QLQ-C30 Items 1 to 5)
The EORTC-QLQ is a psychometrically and clinically validated instrument appropriate for assessing the HRQoL of cancer patients in oncology studies. Each scale or item is scored between 0 and 100, for all physical functional scales, a higher value indicates a better level of function.
Time frame: Baseline and up to ~118 months
Change from Baseline in Role Functioning Score (QLQ-C30 Items 6 and 7)
The EORTC-QLQ is a psychometrically and clinically validated instrument appropriate for assessing the HRQoL of cancer patients in oncology studies. Each scale or item is scored between 0 and 100, for all role functional scales, a higher value indicates a better level of function.
Time frame: Baseline and up to ~118 months
Change from Baseline in Dyspnea scores (QLQ-C30 Item 8)
The EORTC-QLQ is a psychometrically and clinically validated instrument appropriate for assessing the HRQoL of cancer patients in oncology studies. Each scale or item is scored between 0 and 100, for symptom scales such as dyspnea, a higher value indicates increased severity of symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline and up to ~118 months
Change from Baseline in Coughing scores (QLQ-LC24 Items 31 and 52)
The lung cancer module of the EORTC, QLQ-LC24 is a revised and updated version of the Lung Cancer Module QLQ-LC13 and is a supplementary lung cancer specific module to be used along with EORTC QLQ C30. The QLQ-LC24 incorporates 4 multi-item scales to assess coughing, shortness of breath, hair problems, and fear of progression, for symptom scales as for cough, a higher value indicates increased severity of symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline and up to ~118 months
Change from Baseline in Chest pain scores (QLQ-LC24 Item 40)
The lung cancer module of the EORTC, QLQ-LC24 is a revised and updated version of the Lung Cancer Module QLQ-LC13 and is a supplementary lung cancer specific module to be used along with EORTC QLQ C30. The QLQ-LC24 incorporates 4 multi-item scales to assess coughing, shortness of breath, hair problems, and fear of progression, for symptom scales as for chest pain, a higher value indicates increased severity of symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline and up to ~118 months
Not enrolling at this site — choose another above.
Not enrolling at this site — choose another above.
Not enrolling at this site — choose another above.
Not enrolling at this site — choose another above.
Not enrolling at this site — choose another above.
Not enrolling at this site — choose another above.
Showing the first 100 of 271 sites across 31 countries. Choose a country and city above to see the rest.
Plan to share: Yes — https://trialstransparency.msdclinicaltrials.com/pdf/ProcedureAccessClinicalTrialData.pdf
Data sharing details ↗ · externaldatasharing-msd.com
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
Contact study teamGet an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
Studies of the drug tested here: Sacituzumab tirumotecan
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung →