New kidney cancer drug shows promise in early trial
NCT ID NCT04846920
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This early-stage trial tested a drug called belzutifan in 29 people with advanced clear cell kidney cancer that had worsened after other treatments. The main goal was to check safety and find the right dose. Participants took belzutifan pills daily, and researchers monitored side effects and how the drug moved through the body.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Belzutifan (also known as MK-6482, WELIREG™)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could lead to a new treatment option for advanced kidney cancer that has stopped responding to other therapies.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early Phase 1 trial with only 29 participants, focused on safety. It is too small to prove effectiveness, and side effects may limit its use.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 1
The first testing in people. Mainly checks safety and dose, usually in a small group.
- Participants
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29 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jun 2021
- Finished
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Apr 2026
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Has a histologically-confirmed diagnosis of unresectable, locally advanced/metastatic RCC with clear cell component (with or without sarcomatoid features) (may include participants with a diagnosis of von Hippel-Lindau \[VHL\] associated ccRCC). * Has experienced disease progression on or after having received at least one previous systemic treatment for advanced ccRCC. * Shows adequate organ function. * Male participants are eligible to participate if they are abstinent from heterosexual intercourse or agree to use contraception during the intervention period and for at least 7 days after the last dose of study intervention. * A female participant is eligible to participate if she is not pregnant or breastfeeding, and is not a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP) or is a WOCBP and using contraception or is abstinent from heterosexual intercourse during the intervention period and for at least 30 days after the last dose of study intervention. Exclusion Criteria: * Has hypoxia, or requires intermittent supplemental oxygen, or requires chronic supplemental oxygen. * Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 3 years. Note: The time requirement does not apply to participants who underwent successful definitive resection of basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, superficial bladder cancer, in situ cervical cancer, or other in situ cancers. * Has any history of or current brain or meningeal metastasis. * Has clinically significant cardiac disease, including unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), or coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) ≤6 months from Day 1 of study drug administration, or New York Heart Association Class III or IV congestive heart failure. Medically controlled arrhythmia stable on medication is permitted. * Has moderate to severe hepatic impairment. * Has an active infection requiring therapy (includes tuberculosis). * Has known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and/or hepatitis B or C infections or is known to be positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)/hepatitis B virus (HBV) deoxy ribonucleic acid (DNA) or hepatitis C antibody or ribonucleic acid (RNA). * Has a history or current evidence of a gastrointestinal (GI) condition (eg, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis) or impaired liver function. * Has had major surgery ≤3 weeks prior to first dose of study intervention. * Has received prior treatment with belzutifan. * Has received any type of systemic anticancer antibody (including investigational antibody) ≤4 weeks prior to the first dose of study intervention. * Has recovered from all AEs due to previous therapies to ≤ Grade 1 or baseline. Participants with a ≤ Grade 2 neuropathy may be eligible. * Has received prior radiotherapy within 2 weeks prior to randomization. * Has received colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) (e.g., granulocyte-CSF \[G-CSF\], granulocyte monocyte-CSF \[GM-CSF\] or recombinant erythropoietin \[EPO\]) ≤28 days prior to the first dose of study intervention. * Has participated and received study intervention in a study of an investigational agent or has used an investigational device within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study intervention. Note: Participants who have entered the follow-up phase of an investigational study may participate as long as it has been at least 4 weeks since the last dose of the previous investigational agent.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center ( Site 1002)
Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
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University of Michigan ( Site 1006)
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States
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University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center-Genitourinary Medical Oncology ( Site 1007)
Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
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Vanderbilt University Medical Center-Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center ( Site 1005)
Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- New antibody GNR-051 tested for safety in Hard-to-Treat cancers
- Can a drug combo prime the immune system to fight kidney cancer before surgery?
- Can a Patient's own immune cells beat advanced kidney cancer?
- A simple blood draw may spot kidney cancer early
- Personalized vaccine trains immune system to attack kidney cancer blood vessels
- Cell therapy combo aims to boost kidney cancer treatment