Experimental tumor injection aims to supercharge immunotherapy in rare skin cancer

NCT ID NCT06947928

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether adding an experimental drug called IFx-Hu2.0 (injected directly into a tumor) to the standard immunotherapy pembrolizumab can improve outcomes for people with advanced or metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma. About 118 adults who have not received checkpoint inhibitors before will be randomly assigned to get either IFx-Hu2.0 or a placebo injection, followed by pembrolizumab. The main goal is to see if the combination leads to more tumor shrinkage or disappearance.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

IFx-Hu2.0 (an experimental immune-boosting drug injected into tumors) combined with pembrolizumab (an immunotherapy given intravenously)

What this could lead to

If it works, this combination could shrink or eliminate tumors in more people with advanced Merkel cell carcinoma than pembrolizumab alone.

What could go wrong

This is an early-to-mid stage trial with only 118 participants. The added benefit of IFx-Hu2.0 is unproven, and side effects from the combination may be greater than with standard treatment.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • Atlantic Health System

    RECRUITING

    Morristown, New Jersey, 07960, United States

    Contact

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

    RECRUITING

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact

  • East Carolina University

    RECRUITING

    Greenville, North Carolina, 27834, United States

    Contact

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

    RECRUITING

    Seattle, Washington, 98109, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact

  • Hackensack University Medical Center

    RECRUITING

    Hackensack, New Jersey, 07601, United States

    Contact

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Inova Schar Cancer

    RECRUITING

    Fairfax, Virginia, 22031, United States

    Contact

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center

    RECRUITING

    Jacksonville, Florida, 32224, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-••••

    Contact

  • Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center

    RECRUITING

    Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact

  • Moffitt Cancer Center

    RECRUITING

    Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States

    Contact

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Stanford Health Care - Skin Cancer Program

    RECRUITING

    Stanford, California, 94304, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact

  • Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

    RECRUITING

    Miami, Florida, 33136, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact

  • The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

    RECRUITING

    Houston, Texas, 77384, United States

    Contact

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • UPMC Hillman Cancer Center

    RECRUITING

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15232, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact

  • USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center

    RECRUITING

    Los Angeles, California, 90033, United States

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact

  • University of California San Francisco - Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center

    RECRUITING

    San Francisco, California, 94143, United States

    Contact

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • University of Colorado Hospital - Anschutz Cancer Pavilion

    RECRUITING

    Aurora, Colorado, 80045, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact

  • Virginia Commonwealth University

    RECRUITING

    Richmond, Virginia, 23298, United States

    Contact

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • West Virginia University

    RECRUITING

    Morgantown, West Virginia, 26506, United States

    Contact

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

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