Cancer-Killing virus plus immunotherapy shows promise in kidney cancer trial

NCT ID NCT03294083

Completed Disease control Sponsor: SillaJen, Inc. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested a combination of two experimental treatments for people with advanced kidney cancer that cannot be removed by surgery. The first is Pexa-Vec, a modified virus designed to infect and destroy cancer cells while also boosting the immune system. The second is cemiplimab, an immunotherapy drug that helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer. The trial involved 95 participants and aimed to find the safest dose and measure how well the combination shrinks tumors. Results will help determine if this approach is worth testing in larger studies.

What this could mean

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

Active substance

Pexa-Vec (a modified virus that infects and kills cancer cells) and cemiplimab (an immunotherapy drug that helps the immune system attack cancer)

What this could lead to

If successful, this combination could offer a new treatment option for people with advanced kidney cancer that hasn't responded to other therapies.

What could go wrong

This is an early-phase trial (phase 1b/2a) with only 95 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The virus-based therapy can cause flu-like symptoms and other side effects, and the combination may not work better than existing treatments.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

clear cell renal carcinoma neoplasm nonpapillary renal cell carcinoma 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

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Locations

Site 2610 Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System

Seoul, 03722, South Korea
Site 2612 Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital

Daegu, 41404, South Korea
Site 2613 Dong-A University Hospital

Pusan, 49201, South Korea
Site 2614 Gyeongsang National University Hospital

Jinju, 52727, South Korea
Site 2615 Korea University Anam Hospital

Seoul, 02841, South Korea
Site 2616 Chungnam National University Hospital

Daejeon, 35015, South Korea
Site 2617 CHA University, CHA Bundang Medical Center

Seongnam, 35015, South Korea
Site 2618 Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital

Gwangju, 58128, South Korea
Site 2619 Pusan National University Hospital

Pusan, 49241, South Korea
Site 2620 Seoul National University Bundang Hospital

Seongnam-si, 13620, South Korea
Site 2622 Gachon University Gil Medical Center

Incheon, South Korea
Site 2623 Ajou University Hospital

Suwon, 16499, South Korea
Site 2624 Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital

Yangsan, 50612, South Korea
Site 2625 Wonju Severance Christian Hospital

Wŏnju, 50612, South Korea
Site 2631

Camperdown, Australia
Site 2632 Flinders Medical Centre

Bedford Park, SA5042, Australia
Site 2641 University of Miami

Miami, Florida, 33136, United States
Site 2642 Billings Clinic

Billings, Montana, 59101, United States
Site 2643 Washington University

St Louis, Missouri, 63141, United States
Site 2644 University of California, Irvine

Irvine, California, 92868, United States
Site 2646 The Ohio State University

Columbus, Ohio, 43201, United States