New hope for aggressive breast cancer: targeted drug combo shows promise in early trial

NCT ID NCT06797635

Recruiting now 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 2 trial is testing whether adding a targeted drug called patritumab deruxtecan to standard immunotherapy and chemotherapy can improve outcomes for people with high-risk early-stage triple-negative or hormone receptor-low positive breast cancer. About 372 participants will receive different combinations of these drugs before surgery, and researchers will check how many have no cancer cells left after surgery. The study also monitors safety and side effects.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: Patritumab deruxtecan (a targeted antibody-drug conjugate) plus pembrolizumab (an immunotherapy) and chemotherapy (carboplatin, paclitaxel, doxorubicin)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could lead to a more effective treatment before surgery for high-risk early-stage breast cancer, potentially increasing the chance of eliminating all cancer cells.
What could go wrong: This is an early phase 2 trial with a small number of participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The combination of drugs can cause serious side effects, including lung inflammation and immune-related reactions.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

breast cancer breast neoplasm hormone receptor-positive breast cancer triple-negative breast carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

BREAST CANCER BREAST NEOPLASMS

Contacts and locations

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Study contacts

Contact

Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

Asan Medical Center ( Site 2401)
RECRUITING

Seoul, 05505, South Korea
Clinica Universidad de Navarra ( Site 1703)
RECRUITING

Madrid, Madrid, Comunidad de, 28027, Spain
Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia ( Site 1702)
RECRUITING

Córdoba, 14004, Spain
Houston Methodist Hospital ( Site 0022)
RECRUITING

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
Institut Català d'Oncologia (ICO) - Badalona ( Site 1700)
RECRUITING

Badalona, Catalonia, 08916, Spain
Intermountain Health St. Vincent Regional Hospital - Cancer Centers of Montana ( Site 0003)
RECRUITING

Billings, Montana, 59102, United States
Koo Foundation Sun Yat-Sen Cancer Center ( Site 2501)
RECRUITING

Taipei, 112, Taiwan
National Cheng Kung University Hospital ( Site 2503)
RECRUITING

Tainan, 704, Taiwan
Northwest Cancer Specialists (Compass Oncology) ( Site 8003)
RECRUITING

Tigard, Oregon, 97223, United States
Orchard Healthcare Research Inc. ( Site 0006)
RECRUITING

Skokie, Illinois, 60077, United States
SCRI Oncology Partners ( Site 7000)
RECRUITING

Nashville, Tennessee, 37203, United States
Seoul National University Hospital ( Site 2400)
RECRUITING

Seoul, 03080, South Korea
Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System ( Site 2402)
RECRUITING

Seoul, 03722, South Korea
Taichung Veterans General Hospital ( Site 2502)
RECRUITING

Taichung, 407, Taiwan
Texas Oncology - DFW ( Site 8000)
RECRUITING

Dallas, Texas, 75246, United States
UCLA Hematology/Oncology - Parkside ( Site 0021)
RECRUITING

Santa Monica, California, 90404, United States
Virginia Oncology Associates (VOA) ( Site 8001)
RECRUITING

Norfolk, Virginia, 23502, United States

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