New drug cocktail shows promise for advanced kidney cancer in early trial
NCT ID NCT05030506
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This early-phase study tests a new drug called belzutifan, alone or combined with lenvatinib and pembrolizumab, in 45 Chinese participants with advanced kidney cancer that cannot be removed by surgery. The main goals are to check safety, how the drugs move through the body, and any early signs of tumor shrinkage. It is a first step to see if these combinations are worth testing in larger trials.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- belzutifan (a drug), lenvatinib (a drug), and pembrolizumab (an immunotherapy)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward a new treatment option for advanced kidney cancer that combines targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early (Phase 1) study with only 45 participants, focused mainly on safety and dosing. It is too soon to know if the combination will work better than existing treatments, and side effects are possible.
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 45 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Oct 2021
- Expected to finish
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Jun 2027
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 * Has a histologically confirmed diagnosis of unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC). * Has measurable disease per RECIST 1.1. * Has adequate organ function. * Has adequately controlled blood pressure (BP). * If participants received major surgery or radiation therapy of \>30 Gy, they must have recovered from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention. * Has resolution of the toxic effect(s) of the most recent prior therapy. * Participants receiving bone resorptive therapy must have therapy initiated at least 2 weeks prior to allocation. * Is Chinese descent, defined as both biological parents and all biological grandparents are of Chinese descent. Male Participants: \- Must be willing to use an adequate method of contraception. Female Participants: \- Must be a woman of non-childbearing potential (WONCBP) or have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test and must be willing to use an adequate method of contraception. For Belzutifan + Lenvatinib treatment: * Has progressed on or after having received systemic treatment for locally advanced or metastatic RCC. * Has no more than 3 prior systemic regimens for locally advanced or metastatic RCC. For Belzutifan + Lenvatinib + Pembrolizumab treatment: \- Has received no prior systemic therapy for advanced RCC. Exclusion Criteria * Is a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP) who has a positive urine pregnancy test within 24 hours prior to first dose of study intervention. * Has any of the following: A pulse oximeter reading \<92%, 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. * Has known central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis. * Has clinically significant cardiac disease. * Has symptomatic pleural effusion. * Has a history of inflammatory bowel disease. * Has preexisting ≥Grade 3 gastrointestinal or non-gastrointestinal fistula. * Has clinically significant hematuria, hematemesis or hemoptysis of red blood, or other history of significant bleeding within 3 months before administration of the first dose of study intervention. * Has other clinically significant disorders such as: A serious active non-healing wound/ulcer/bone fracture, requirement for hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis or a history of allogenic tissue/solid organ transplantation. * Received colony-stimulating factors, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF) or recombinant EPO within 28 days prior to the first dose of study intervention. * Has a known psychiatric or substance abuse disorder that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the study. * Is unable to swallow orally administered medication or has a gastrointestinal disorder affecting absorption. * Has received prior treatment with belzutifan. * Has received prior treatment with lenvatinib. * Has received any type of systemic anticancer antibody (including investigational antibody) ≤28 days prior to allocation. * Has received / will be receiving any traditional Chinese medicines. * Has received prior radiotherapy within 2 weeks prior to first dose of study intervention. Participants must have recovered from all radiation-related toxicities and not require corticosteroids. * Is receiving concomitant treatment, in therapeutic doses, with anticoagulants. * Is receiving chronic systemic steroids therapy (at doses \>10 mg daily of prednisone or equivalent) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of study intervention. * Is currently participating in a study of an investigational agent or is currently using an investigational device. * Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy. * Has a known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. * Has a known history of Hepatitis B or known active Hepatitis C virus infection. * Has a known history of active tuberculosis. * Has radiographic evidence of intratumoral cavitation, encasement or invasion of a major blood vessel. * Has known hypersensitivity or allergy to the active pharmaceutical ingredient or any component of the study intervention (belzutifan or lenvatinib) formulations. * Has had major surgery within 4 weeks prior to first dose of study intervention. For Belzutifan + Lenvatinib + Pembrolizumab treatment: * Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or has current pneumonitis. * Has a history of hypersensitivity reaction to the active pharmaceutical ingredient or any component of pembrolizumab or monoclonal antibody (mAb). * Has an active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years. * Has received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of study intervention.
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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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Beijing Cancer hospital-Digestive Oncology ( Site 0001)
Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100142, China
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Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School-Urology ( S
Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210000, China
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SUN YAT-SEN UNIVERSITY CANCER CENTRE-Urology Surgery Department ( Site 0005)
Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, China
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The Second Affiliated hospital of Zhejiang University school of medicine-Urology ( Site 0007)
Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310052, China
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Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital ( Site 0003)
Tianjin, Tianjin Municipality, 300060, China
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can two drugs shrink kidney tumors and their vein clots before surgery?
- Blood test aims to catch Cancer's return earlier
- Can a new drug target Hard-to-Treat kidney and ovarian cancers?
- Personalized dosing could tame kidney cancer Drug's side effects
- Can teaching patients about immunotherapy cut severe side effects?
- Can a year of sunitinib delay kidney Cancer's return after lung surgery?