New immunotherapy drug shows promise against lung cancer in major trial

NCT ID NCT02220894

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

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

Summary

This large phase 3 trial tested whether the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda) could help people with a specific type of advanced lung cancer live longer than standard chemotherapy. Over 1,200 participants with PD-L1 positive non-small cell lung cancer were randomly assigned to receive either pembrolizumab or a platinum-based chemo combination. The main goal was to see if pembrolizumab improved 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 (Keytruda)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could show that pembrolizumab alone works better than standard chemotherapy for people with PD-L1 positive advanced lung cancer, potentially offering a more targeted treatment option.
What could go wrong: This trial is completed, but results may not apply to all lung cancer patients. Pembrolizumab can cause immune-related side effects, and not all participants may benefit equally.

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-small cell lung carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER

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