A Phase 3 interventional study of Pembrolizumab and Cisplatin in Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung, sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC. Recruiting at 246 sites in 31 countries. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-09.
Sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC (part of Merck & Co., Inc) · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment
The goal of this study is to learn if people who receive intismeran autogene and pembrolizumab after surgery are cancer-free longer than people who receive placebo and pembrolizumab. Researchers want to know if giving intismeran autogene and pembrolizumab after surgery can help prevent the cancer from coming back in people with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors did not respond completely to treatment before surgery (neoadjuvant treatment).
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 680 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 main inclusion criteria include but are not limited to the following:
Exclusion Criteria:
The main exclusion criteria include but are not limited to the following:
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.
The diagnosis was confirmed by looking at a sample under a microscope: tissue from a biopsy or surgery (histology), or cells from a fluid or needle sample (cytology).
Your pathology report is the document that shows this.
A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.
Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Histologically or cytologically confirmed
The diagnosis was confirmed by looking at a sample under a microscope: tissue from a biopsy or surgery (histology), or cells from a fluid or needle sample (cytology).
Your pathology report is the document that shows this.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
ECOG performance status
A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.
Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
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.
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.
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.
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.
For neoadjuvant treatment, participants will receive pembrolizumab 200 mg via intravenous (IV) infusion every 3-week cycle for up to 4 cycles PLUS background chemotherapy via IV infusion (cisplatin 75 mg/m\^2 or carboplatin area under the curve \[AUC\] 5 or 6 mg/mL/min, pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2, gemcitabine 1000 mg/m\^2, paclitaxel 175 mg/m\^2 or 200 mg/m\^2 given at a dose and combination per investigator's choice) every 3-week cycle for up to 4 cycles (total neoadjuvant treatment duration of up to \~12 weeks). After surgical resection, for adjuvant treatment, participants will receive pembrolizumab 400 mg via IV infusion every 6-week cycle for up to 7 cycles PLUS intismeran autogene 1 mg via intramuscular (IM) injection every 3 weeks for up to 9 doses (total adjuvant treatment duration of up to \~42 weeks).
Biological: Pembrolizumab · Drug: Cisplatin · Drug: Carboplatin · Drug: Pemetrexed · Drug: Gemcitabine · Drug: Paclitaxel · Biological: Intismeran autogene
For neoadjuvant treatment, participants will receive pembrolizumab 200 mg via IV infusion every 3-week cycle for up to 4 cycles PLUS background chemotherapy via IV infusion (cisplatin 75 mg/m\^2 or carboplatin AUC 5 or 6 mg/mL/min, pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2, gemcitabine 1000 mg/m\^2, paclitaxel 175 mg/m\^2 or 200 mg/m\^2 given at a dose and combination per investigator's choice) every 3-week cycle for up to 4 cycles (total neoadjuvant treatment duration of up to \~12 weeks). After surgical resection, for adjuvant treatment, participants will receive pembrolizumab 400 mg via IV infusion every 6-week cycle for up to 7 cycles PLUS matching placebo via IM injection every 3 weeks for up to 9 doses (total adjuvant treatment duration of up to \~42 weeks).
Biological: Pembrolizumab · Drug: Cisplatin · Drug: Carboplatin · Drug: Pemetrexed · Drug: Gemcitabine · Drug: Paclitaxel · Other: Placebo
IV Infusion
Also known as: MK-3475, KEYTRUDA®
IV infusion
Also known as: Platinol®, Platinol®-AQ
IV infusion
Also known as: Paraplatin®
IV infusion
Also known as: Alimta®
IV infusion
Also known as: Gemzar
IV infusion
Also known as: Taxol®, Onxol®
IM injection
Also known as: mRNA-4157, V940
IM injection
Disease-Free Survival (DFS)
DFS is defined as the time from randomization to any recurrence (local, locoregional, regional or distant), occurrence of new primary NSCLC, as assessed by the investigator, or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first.
Time frame: Up to ~97 months
Overall Survival (OS)
OS is defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause.
Time frame: Up to ~129 months
Distant Metastasis-Free Survival (DMFS)
DMFS is defined as the time from randomization to the first diagnosis of a distant metastasis as assessed by the investigator, or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first. Distant metastasis refers to cancer that has spread from the original (primary) tumor and beyond local tissues and lymph nodes to distant organs or distant lymph nodes.
Time frame: Up to ~129 months
Disease-Free Survival 2 (DFS2)
DFS2 is defined as the time from randomization to subsequent recurrence or disease progression after initiation of next-line anticancer therapy as assessed by the investigator, or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first.
Time frame: Up to ~129 months
Lung Cancer Specific Survival (LCSS)
LCSS is defined as the time from randomization to death due to lung cancer specifically as assessed by the investigator.
Time frame: Up to ~129 months
Change from Baseline in the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)-Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30) Global Health Status/Quality of Life (Items 29 and 30)
The EORTC QLQ-C30 is a 30-item questionnaire to assess the overall quality of life of cancer patients. Participant responses to the questions "How would you rate your overall health during the past week?" and "How would you rate your overall quality of life during the past week?" will be scored on a 7-point scale (1= Very poor to 7=Excellent). Using linear transformation, raw scores will be standardized, so that scores range from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate a better overall health status. The change from baseline in global health status/quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30 Items 29 and 30) combined score will be presented.
Time frame: Baseline and up to ~129 months
Change from Baseline in the EORTC QLQ-C30 Physical Functioning (Items 1-5)
The EORTC QLQ-C30 is a 30-item questionnaire to assess the overall quality of life of cancer patients. Participant responses to 5 questions about their physical functioning will be scored on a 4-point scale (1=Not at All to 4=Very Much). Using linear transformation, raw scores will be standardized, so that scores range from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate a worse level of physical functioning. The change from baseline in physical functioning (EORTC QLQ-C30 Items 1-5) combined score will be presented.
Time frame: Baseline and up to ~129 months
Change from Baseline in the EORTC QLQ-C30 Role Functioning (Items 6 and 7)
The EORTC QLQ-C30 is a 30-item questionnaire to assess the overall quality of life of cancer patients. Participant responses to the questions "Were you limited in doing either your work or other daily activities during the past week?" and " Were you limited in pursuing your hobbies or other leisure time activities during the past week?" will be scored on a 4-point scale (1=Not at All to 4=Very Much). Higher scores indicate a worse level of role functioning. Change from baseline in the role functioning (EORTC QLQ-C30 Items 6 and 7) combined score will be presented.
Time frame: Baseline and up to ~129 months
Number of participants with ≥1 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.
Time frame: Up to ~129 months
Number of participants discontinuing from study therapy due to AE(s)
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.
Time frame: Up to ~129 months
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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 ↗
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Studies of the drug tested here: Intismeran autogene
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung →