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Pembrolizumab, Cetuximab

Phase 2

HNSCC | Small molecule | Oncology |Merck & Company, Inc.|Last Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Target and mechanism

Molecular targetPDCD1
Target classInhibitor
ModalitySmall molecule

Also known as Pembrolizumab, MK-3475, pembrolizumab, KEYTRUDA®, KEYTRUDA, Pembrolizumab Injection [Keytruda], Pembrolizumab (Keytruda), Pembrolizumab (MK-3475)

Success Probability

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Market & Valuation

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Trial Design

CONTROLLEDDMCBiomarker
Total Trials1
Total Enrollment78

FDA Designations

PRIORITY_REVIEW

Clinical trial landscape

Pembrolizumab, Cetuximab · 1 trial · 12 indications

Phase 2 1
NCT03082534Pembrolizumab Combined With Cetuximab for Treatment of Recurrent/Metastatic Head & Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaHNSCC
COMPLETED78 Analytics
PHASE2COMPLETED
Pembrolizumab Combined With Cetuximab for Treatment of Recurrent/Metastatic Head & Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
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Study Endpoints

Primary Endpoints

Overall Response Rate
6 months from the time of study enrollment

Proportion of patients with partial or complete response in tumor burden as defined by RECIST

Secondary Endpoints

Progression Free Survival Probability
12 months from the time of study enrollment
Overall Survival
From the time of study enrollment until the date of death from any cause or completion of study, whichever came first, assessed up to 36 months
Duration of Response
Every 9 weeks from first on-treatment scan until disease progression or patient withdrawal from study or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 36 months
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Study Design & Arms

AllocationNON_RANDOMIZED
MaskingNONE
ModelPARALLEL
PurposeTREATMENT

Treatment Arms

ArmTypeDescription
Cohort 1EXPERIMENTALPD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-naïve, cetuximab-naïve Pembrolizumab (Keytruda®): Pembrolizumab is administered on an outpatient basis. 200 mg pembrolizumab will be administered as a 30 minute (-5 min/+10 min) intravenous (IV) infusion every 3 weeks. Cetuximab (Erbitux®): The initial cetuximab dose of 400mg/m2 is administered on Cycle 1, Day 1 as a 120-minute IV infusion (maximum infusion rate 10mg/min).1 Subsequent weekly cetuximab doses of 250mg/m2 are administered as 60-minute IV infusions (maximum infusion rate 10mg/min).
Cohort 2EXPERIMENTALPD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-refractory, cetuximab-naïve Pembrolizumab (Keytruda®): Pembrolizumab is administered on an outpatient basis. 200 mg pembrolizumab will be administered as a 30 minute (-5 min/+10 min) intravenous (IV) infusion every 3 weeks. Cetuximab (Erbitux®): The initial cetuximab dose of 400mg/m2 is administered on Cycle 1, Day 1 as a 120-minute IV infusion (maximum infusion rate 10mg/min).1 Subsequent weekly cetuximab doses of 250mg/m2 are administered as 60-minute IV infusions (maximum infusion rate 10mg/min).
Cohort 3EXPERIMENTALPD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-refractory, cetuximab-refractory Pembrolizumab (Keytruda®): Pembrolizumab is administered on an outpatient basis. 200 mg pembrolizumab will be administered as a 30 minute (-5 min/+10 min) intravenous (IV) infusion every 3 weeks. Cetuximab (Erbitux®): The initial cetuximab dose of 400mg/m2 is administered on Cycle 1, Day 1 as a 120-minute IV infusion (maximum infusion rate 10mg/min).1 Subsequent weekly cetuximab doses of 250mg/m2 are administered as 60-minute IV infusions (maximum infusion rate 10mg/min).
Cohort 4EXPERIMENTALcutaneous HNSCC Pembrolizumab (Keytruda®): Pembrolizumab is administered on an outpatient basis. 200 mg pembrolizumab will be administered as a 30 minute (-5 min/+10 min) intravenous (IV) infusion every 3 weeks. Cetuximab (Erbitux®): The initial cetuximab dose of 400mg/m2 is administered on Cycle 1, Day 1 as a 120-minute IV infusion (maximum infusion rate 10mg/min).1 Subsequent weekly cetuximab doses of 250mg/m2 are administered as 60-minute IV infusions (maximum infusion rate 10mg/min).

Interventions

NameTypeDescription
Pembrolizumab, CetuximabDRUGPembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®; MK-3475) is a potent and highly selective humanized monoclonal antibody (mAb) of the immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)/kappa isotype designed to directly block the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and programmed cell death ligand 2 (PD-L2). This blockade enhances functional activity of the target lymphocytes to facilitate tumor regression and ultimately immune rejection. Cetuximab (Erbitux®) binds specifically to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on both normal and tumor cells, and competitively inhibits the binding of EGF and other ligands, such as transforming growth factor-alpha. Cetuximab can mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), with in vitro assays and in vivo animal studies demonstrating that cetuximab inhibits the growth and survival of tumor cells expressing EGFR.
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Eligibility Criteria

Age Range18 Years to N/A
SexALL
Healthy VolunteersNo
Study Sites4

Inclusion Criteria: Patients must meet all of the inclusion criteria to participate in this study. 1. Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent. 2. Histologically or cytologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (lip, oral cavity, oropharynx, ...

Countries:United States
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Frequently asked questions about Pembrolizumab, Cetuximab

What is MK-3475 used for?

MK-3475, also known as pembrolizumab and marketed as KEYTRUDA, is an investigational antibody being studied for several oncology indications, including Primary Mediastinal Large B-cell Lymphoma (PMBCL), prostate cancer, anal cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, non-small-cell lung cancer, B-cell lymphoma, and oligometastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

What does MK-3475 target?

MK-3475 is a monoclonal antibody (target class -mab) that targets the PD-1 receptor. By binding to PD-1, it is designed to block the interaction with its ligands, potentially enhancing the immune system's ability to fight cancer cells.

Who makes MK-3475?

MK-3475 is developed by Merck & Company, Inc., which trades under the ticker MRK. Merck is conducting clinical trials to evaluate the drug's safety and efficacy across multiple cancer types.

What phase is MK-3475 in?

MK-3475 is in Phase 1 clinical development. It has received a Priority Review designation from the FDA. The drug is investigational and not yet approved, with ongoing trials assessing its use in various cancers.

What clinical trials is MK-3475 in?

MK-3475 is being studied in 17 clinical trials, with 5 active and 12 completed, enrolling over 8,000 participants. Notable trials include NCT02635360 for cervical cancer, NCT04875195 for Hodgkin's lymphoma and PMBCL, NCT04976634 for solid tumors, and NCT05815927 for head and neck cancer.

Is MK-3475 the same as pembrolizumab?

Yes, MK-3475 is the same as pembrolizumab, which is also known by the brand name KEYTRUDA. The drug is referred to by multiple names including Pembrolizumab 200 mg, Pembrolizumab Injection, and Pembrolizumab (MK-3475), among others.