New drug cocktail shows promise for advanced kidney cancer

NCT ID NCT05899049

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This Phase 3 trial tests whether adding belzutifan or quavonlimab to a standard immunotherapy (pembrolizumab) and targeted therapy (lenvatinib) works better for advanced clear cell kidney cancer. About 249 Chinese patients who haven't had prior treatment will be randomly assigned to one of three drug combinations. The study measures how long patients live without their cancer worsening and overall survival.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: pembrolizumab, belzutifan, lenvatinib, and quavonlimab
What this could lead to: If successful, this could offer a more effective first-line treatment option for advanced kidney cancer, potentially extending life and delaying disease progression.
What could go wrong: This is an early-stage Phase 3 trial with a small sample size (249 participants) and focuses only on Chinese patients, so results may not apply to other populations. Drug combinations also carry risks of serious side effects.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

autosomal dominant Parkinson disease 4 clear cell renal carcinoma renal cell adenocarcinoma renal cell carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

CARCINOMA, RENAL CELL

Contacts and locations

Locations

Beijing Cancer hospital-Renal carcinoma and melanoma ( Site 6000)

Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100142, China
Chongqing University Cancer Hospital ( Site 6009)

Chongqing, Chongqing Municipality, 400030, China
Guangzhou First People's Hospital ( Site 6007)

Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510180, China
Henan Cancer Hospital-Urology ( Site 6006)

Zhengzhou, Henan, 450008, China
Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School-Urology ( S

Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210000, China
Ningbo First Hospital-Urology ( Site 6028)

Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315010, China
SUN YAT-SEN UNIVERSITY CANCER CENTRE ( Site 6003)

Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, China
The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University-Urology ( Site 6036)

Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510120, China
The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University ( Site 6019)

Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330006, China
The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University-Urology Surgery ( Site 6021)

Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University ( Site 6014)

Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University ( Site 6024)

Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
The First Hospital of Jiaxing ( Site 6033)

Jiaxing, Zhejiang, 314001, China
The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University-Urology ( Site 6025)

Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215004, China
The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University ( Site 6032)

Tianjin, Tianjin Municipality, 300211, China
West China Hospital Sichuan University-Urology Surgery ( Site 6016)

Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
Wuhan Union Hospital ( Site 6002)

Wuhan, Hubei, 430022, China

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