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Pembrolizumab/Quavonlimab

Phase 2

Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma | Monoclonal antibody | Oncology |Merck & Company, Inc.|Last Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Target and mechanism

Molecular targetPDCD1
Target classInhibitor
ModalityMonoclonal antibody

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

UNCONTROLLED
Total Trials1
Total Enrollment116

FDA Designations

PRIORITY_REVIEW

Clinical trial landscape

Pembrolizumab/Quavonlimab · 1 trial · 1 indication

Phase 2 1
NCT04740307Safety and Efficacy of Coformulated Pembrolizumab/Quavonlimab (MK-1308A) in Combination With Lenvatinib (E7080/MK-7902) in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (MK-1308A-004)Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma
COMPLETED116 Analytics
PHASE2COMPLETED
Safety and Efficacy of Coformulated Pembrolizumab/Quavonlimab (MK-1308A) in Combination With Lenvatinib (E7080/MK-7902) in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (MK-1308A-004)
Advanced Hepatocellular CarcinomaUnlock trial analytics

Study Endpoints

Primary Endpoints

Number of Participants With a Dose-Limiting Toxicity (DLT) in the Safety Lead-in Phase
3 weeks

DLTs were defined as follows unless determined to be unrelated to study intervention: any Grade 4 nonhematologic toxicity (not laboratory); any Grade 4 hematologic toxicity lasting \>7 days (Grade 4 lymphopenia lasting ≥21 days); Grade 3 platelet count decreased if associated with clinically significant hemorrhage; any Grade 3 nonhematologic toxicity (not laboratory) lasting \>3 days despite optimal supportive care; any clinically significant Grade 3 or Grade 4 nonhematologic laboratory abnormality if: medical intervention is required to treat participant, or abnormality leads to hospitalization, or abnormality persists for \>1 week (or bilirubin if persists \>4 weeks); aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/ alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \>10.0 times upper limit of normal (ULN) or \>10.0 times baseline if baseline \>ULN; any febrile neutropenia Grade 3 or Grade 4; a treatment-related adverse event (AE) causing discontinuation of study intervention during the DLT window; any Grade 5 toxicity.

Number of Participants With ≥1 Adverse Event (AE)
Up to approximately 44 months

An AE was any untoward medical occurrence in a participant, temporally associated with the use of study treatment, whether or not considered related to the study treatment. The number of participants with an AE was reported.

Number of Participants With ≥1 Serious Adverse Event (SAE)
Up to approximately 44 months

An AE was any untoward medical occurrence in a participant, temporally associated with the use of study treatment, whether or not considered related to the study treatment. An SAE was defined as any untoward medical occurrence that, at any dose: resulted in death, was life-threatening, required inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization, resulted in persistent or significant disability/incapacity, was a congenital anomaly/birth defect, or was another important medical event. The number of participants with an SAE was reported.

Number of Participants With ≥1 Immune-related AE (irAE)
Up to approximately 44 months

An AE was any untoward medical occurrence in a participant, temporally associated with the use of study treatment, whether or not considered related to the study treatment. AEs associated with pembrolizumab/quavonlimab exposure may represent an immune-related response. A list of irAEs was pre-specified for the compound of pembrolizumab/quavonlimab. The number of participants with an irAE was reported.

Number of Participants With ≥1 Hepatic AE
Up to approximately 44 months

An AE was any untoward medical occurrence in a participant, temporally associated with the use of study treatment, whether or not considered related to the study treatment. Hepatic events of clinical interest (ECIs) included any of the following events if the event is considered not due to disease progression as judged by the investigator: among participants with Baseline ALT \<2 × ULN: ALT ≥5 × ULN; among participants with Baseline ALT ≥2 × ULN: ALT \>3 × the Baseline level; ALT \>500 U/L regardless of baseline level; total bilirubin \>3.0 mg/dL; hepatic decompensation diagnosed clinically (regardless of laboratory values) including new onset clinically detectable ascites requiring intervention for \>3 days, hepatic encephalopathy, or gastrointestinal bleeding suggestive of portal hypertension. The number of participants with a hepatic AE was reported.

Number of Participants Discontinuing Study Treatment Due to an AE
Up to approximately 40 months

An AE was any untoward medical occurrence in a participant, temporally associated with the use of study treatment, whether or not considered related to the study treatment. The number of participants that discontinued study treatment due to an AE was reported.

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)
Up to approximately 51 months

ORR was defined as the percentage of participants who achieve a confirmed Complete Response (CR: disappearance of all target lesions) or a Partial Response (PR: at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters \[SOD\] of target lesions) per RECIST 1.1 adjusted for this study to allow a maximum of 10 target lesions in total and 5 per organ, and assessed by BICR. The percentage of participants who experienced CR or PR per RECIST 1.1 as assessed BICR was presented.

Secondary Endpoints

Duration of Response (DOR) Per RECIST 1.1 as Assessed by BICR
Up to approximately 51 months
Disease Control Rate (DCR) Per RECIST 1.1 as Assessed by BICR
Up to approximately 51 months
Progression Free Survival (PFS) Per RECIST 1.1 as Assessed by BICR
Up to approximately 51 months
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Study Design & Arms

AllocationNA
MaskingNONE
ModelSINGLE_GROUP
PurposeTREATMENT

Treatment Arms

ArmTypeDescription
Pembrolizumab/Quavonlimab + LenvatinibEXPERIMENTALParticipants receive pembrolizumab/quavonlimab via intravenous (IV) infusion every 6 weeks (Q6W) for up to 2 years, plus lenvatinib orally (based on actual body weight at screening) until progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity for up to 5 years. In the event of discontinuation of pembrolizumab/quavonlimab due to intolerable toxicity, re-initiation of treatment with pembrolizumab may be considered.

Interventions

NameTypeDescription
Pembrolizumab/QuavonlimabBIOLOGICALPembrolizumab/Quavonlimab (400 mg/25 mg) administered via IV infusion Q6W.
LenvatinibDRUGLenvatinib 12 mg (body weight \[BW\] ≥60 kg) or 8 mg (BW \<60 kg) administered orally every day (QD).
PembrolizumabBIOLOGICALPembrolizumab (400 mg) administered via IV infusion Q6W, in the event of intolerable toxicity to pembrolizumab/quavonlimab.
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Eligibility Criteria

Age Range18 Years to N/A
SexALL
Healthy VolunteersNo
Study Sites40

Inclusion Criteria: * Has an HCC diagnosis confirmed by radiology, histology, or cytology (fibrolamellar and mixed hepatocellular/cholangiocarcinoma subtypes are not eligible) * Has Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) Stage C disease, or BCLC Stage B disease not amenable to locoregional therapy or...

Countries:United StatesChinaItalyJapanPolandSouth KoreaSpainSwitzerlandTaiwan
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Recent Changes (Last 90 Days)

MEDIUMJul 31, 2026NCT04740307TRIAL_REMOVED: changed
MEDIUMJul 31, 2026NCT04740307TRIAL_REMOVED: changed
MEDIUMJul 31, 2026NCT04740307TRIAL_REMOVED: changed
LOWJun 30, 2026NCT04740307lastUpdatePostDate: changed
LOWJun 30, 2026NCT04740307lastUpdatePostDate: changed
LOWJun 30, 2026NCT04740307lastUpdatePostDate: changed

Frequently asked questions about Pembrolizumab/Quavonlimab

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.