New drug cocktail shows promise for advanced kidney cancer in early trial

NCT ID NCT05030506

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

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

Summary

This early-phase study tests a new drug called belzutifan, alone or combined with lenvatinib and pembrolizumab, in 45 Chinese participants with advanced kidney cancer that cannot be removed by surgery. The main goals are to check safety, how the drugs move through the body, and any early signs of tumor shrinkage. It is a first step to see if these combinations are worth testing in larger trials.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: belzutifan (a drug), lenvatinib (a drug), and pembrolizumab (an immunotherapy)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could point toward a new treatment option for advanced kidney cancer that combines targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
What could go wrong: This is a very early (Phase 1) study with only 45 participants, focused mainly on safety and dosing. It is too soon to know if the combination will work better than existing treatments, and side effects are possible.

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.

kidney cancer renal cell carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

RENAL CELL CARCINOMA

Contacts and locations

Locations

Beijing Cancer hospital-Digestive Oncology ( Site 0001)

Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100142, China
Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School-Urology ( S

Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210000, China
SUN YAT-SEN UNIVERSITY CANCER CENTRE-Urology Surgery Department ( Site 0005)

Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, China
The Second Affiliated hospital of Zhejiang University school of medicine-Urology ( Site 0007)

Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310052, China
Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital ( Site 0003)

Tianjin, Tianjin Municipality, 300060, China

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