Immunotherapy drug shows promise for tough bladder cancer cases

NCT ID NCT02625961

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

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

Summary

This phase II trial tested the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda) alone or with another agent in 296 people with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer that did not respond to standard BCG therapy. Participants received the drug intravenously every three weeks. The goal was to see if the treatment could shrink tumors or prevent the cancer from coming back, offering an alternative to bladder removal surgery.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: pembrolizumab (Keytruda) alone or with vibostolimab
What this could lead to: If successful, this could offer a new treatment option for people with bladder cancer that hasn't responded to standard therapy, potentially avoiding bladder removal surgery.
What could go wrong: This is a phase II trial, so results are still early. The drug may not work for everyone, and side effects like immune-related reactions 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.

non-invasive bladder urothelial carcinoma superficial urinary bladder carcinoma urinary bladder carcinoma Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

As listed by the trial registrant

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

BLADDER CANCER

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.