Experimental combo therapy targets Hard-to-Treat skin cancer
NCT ID NCT06940440
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This early study tests a new cancer vaccine called IFx-Hu2.0 given together with the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in 9 adults with advanced or metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma. The vaccine is injected directly into a tumor, and pembrolizumab is given through an IV. The main goals are to see if the combination is safe and if it is possible to inject the vaccine into internal tumors.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- IFx-Hu2.0 (a cancer vaccine injected into a tumor) and pembrolizumab (an immunotherapy drug given by IV)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a new combination treatment for advanced Merkel cell carcinoma that is hard to treat.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early Phase 1 trial with only 9 people, so it is mainly checking safety and whether the injection is possible. It is too small and early to know if it will help patients.
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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About 9 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Oct 2025
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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May 2028
An estimate. End dates often move.
- 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: 1. At least 18 years of age. 2. Life expectancy equal to or greater than six months. 3. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status \< 2. 4. Active disease measurable by CT or MRI, measurable lesions are lesions that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter in the plane of measurement is to be recorded). 5. Must be recurrent and/or unresectable Stage III or Stage IV American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) (8th edition) and have histologically confirmed Merkel cell carcinoma a. Must have at least one visceral injectable lesion equal to or greater than 3 mm 6. Subject should be CPI naïve i.e., no prior therapy with CPI including but not limited to Pembrolizumab, avelumab, ipilimumab, nivolumab. 7. Tumor tissue from an archival core biopsy or resected site of disease must be provided for biomarker analyses. If archival tissue is not available, then a new biopsy should be performed. 8. Adequate hematological, hepatic, and renal function according to laboratory ranges and medical criteria defined within the study protocol. Exclusion Criteria 1. Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with protocol requirements. 2. Subjects with active brain metastases, with the exception of treated brain metastases that have imaging proving stability at least 4 weeks after treatment, no new metastases, and not requiring steroids. 3. Subjects with recurrent resectable MCC 4. Subjects who have received prior systemic chemotherapy 5. Pregnant or breastfeeding females and females desiring to become pregnant or breastfeed within the timeframe of this study. 6. Active, known, or suspected autoimmune disease. Potential subjects with type I diabetes mellitus, residual hypothyroidism due to autoimmune thyroiditis only requiring hormone replacement, skin disorders (such as vitiligo, psoriasis, or alopecia) not requiring systemic treatment are permitted to enroll. Low grade autoimmune toxicity is NOT an exclusion under this criterion. 7. A condition requiring systemic treatment with either corticosteroids (\> 10 mg daily prednisone equivalent) or other immunosuppressive medications within 14 days of IFx-Hu2.0 administration. Inhaled or topical steroids are permitted in the absence of active autoimmune disease.
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The study's own enquiry address
This study publishes an address for enquiries. See it below .
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The places running it
2 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Show contact details
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Locations
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H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
RECRUITINGTampa, Florida, 33612, United States
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University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center
RECRUITINGMadison, Wisconsin, 53792, United States
Contact Email: •••••@•••••
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