Experimental virus therapy takes on Drug-Resistant lung cancer
NCT ID NCT06125197
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This early-stage trial tests a new treatment for people with advanced non-small cell lung cancer that no longer responds to standard immunotherapy. The treatment combines a specially designed virus (TILT-123) that delivers immune-boosting signals directly into tumors, with the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab. The study aims to find a safe dose and check for side effects in about 22 participants.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- TILT-123 (a modified virus that delivers immune-boosting proteins) combined with pembrolizumab (an immunotherapy drug)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a new treatment option for people with advanced lung cancer whose current immunotherapy has stopped working.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early, small Phase 1 trial focused on safety, not yet on effectiveness. The virus may cause side effects or fail to shrink tumors.
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 22 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jul 2024
- Expected to finish
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May 2026
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: Histologically confirmed NSCLC cancer which cannot be treated with curative intent with available therapies and is refractory to or progressing after anti-PD(L)1 immunotherapy or immunotherapies. At least one tumor lesion (\>15 mm or bigger) must be available for biopsy that in the opinion of the investigator, is accessible to repeated biopsies without major safety concerns. The patient must have disease evaluable per RECIST 1.1 Have adequate organ function as defined in the following values below. Specimens must be collected within 10 days prior to the start of study treatment. Hematological laboratory values * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC): ≥1500/µL * Platelets: ≥ 100 000/µL * Hemoglobin: ≥9.0 g/dL or ≥5.6 mmol/L. Criteria must be met without packed red blood cell (pRBC) transfusion within the prior 2 weeks. Participants can be on stable dose of erythropoietin (≥ approximately 3 months. * Leukocytes (WBC) \> 3.0 Renal laboratory values * GFR: \>45 ml/min (Cockcroft-Gault formula). * Hepatic laboratory values * Total bilirubin: ≤1.5 ×ULN OR direct bilirubin ≤ULN for participants with total bilirubin levels \>1.5 × ULN (excluding patients with Gilbert's disease) * AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT): ≤2.5 × ULN (≤5 × ULN for participants with liver metastases) Patients must be willing to use adequate forms of contraception from screening, during the trial, and for a minimum of 120 days after end of treatment. ECOG/WHO performance score of 0-1 at screening. Life expectancy longer than 3 months. Exclusion Criteria: * Has an active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in past 2 years. Replacement therapy (e.g., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency) and inhaled and topical treatments are not considered a form of systemic treatment and are allowed. Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy (in dosing exceeding 10 mg daily of prednisone equivalent) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior the first dose of study drug. Treated with any anti-cancer therapy within 30 days prior to the first virus injection. Participants must have recovered from all AEs due to previous therapies to ≤Grade 1 or baseline. Participants with ≤Grade 2 neuropathy may be eligible. Treated with a prior radiotherapy, including for palliative purposes, within 2 weeks of start of study treatment (before or after). Treated with a prior therapy with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti PD L2 agent or with an agent directed to another stimulatory or co-inhibitory T-cell receptor (e.g., CTLA-4, OX 40, CD137), and was discontinued from that treatment due to a Grade 3 or higher irAE. History of myocarditis or congestive heart failure (as defined by New York Heart Association Functional Classification III or IV), cerebral stroke, unstable angina, serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia, uncontrolled infection, or myocardial infarction 6 months prior to study entry. History of myocardial infarction or cerebral stroke within the previous 12 months before screening or is not sufficiently recovered from an older infarction or cerebral stroke. History of severe hepatic dysfunction. History of Hepatitis B (defined as HBsAg reactive), Hepatitis C (defined as HCV RNA \[qualitative\] is detected) or HIV. No testing for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV is required unless mandated by a local health authority. History of coagulation disorder. Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the study, interfere with the participant's participation for the full duration of the study, or is not in the best interest of the participant to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator. Female patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding or intend to become pregnant. Women of child bearing potential who has a positive urine pregnancy test (within 72 hours) prior to treatment. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required. Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 5 years. Participants with basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or carcinoma in situ (e.g., breast carcinoma, cervical cancer in situ) that have undergone potentially curative therapy are not excluded. Has known active CNS metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis. Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy. Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease that required steroids or has current pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease. Has a known psychiatric or substance abuse disorder that would interfere with the participant's ability to cooperate with the requirements of the study. Allergy to ingredients present in the investigational medicinal products (ingredients are listed in the protocol) ie. severe hypersensitivity (≥Grade 3) to pembrolizumab and/or any of its excipients. Known contraindications to pembrolizumab. Has had an allogenic tissue/solid organ transplant. Has received a live or live-attenuated vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of study intervention. Administration of killed vaccines are allowed. Has received radiation therapy to the lung that is \>30Gy within 6 months of the first dose of trial treatment.
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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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Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian
Newport Beach, California, 92658, United States
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UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
Santa Monica, California, 90404, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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