Study of Pemetrexed+Platinum Chemotherapy With or Without Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in Participants With First Line Metastatic Nonsquamous Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (MK-3475-189/KEYNOTE-189)

Phase 3

Completed

• Conditions: Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma
• Interventions: Biological: Pembrolizumab 200 mg; Drug: Cisplatin; Drug: Carboplatin; Drug: Pemetrexed; Dietary Supplement: Folic acid 350-1000 μg; Dietary Supplement: Vitamin B12 1000 μg; Drug: Dexamethasone 4 mg; Drug: Saline solution

• Registration Number: NCT02578680
• Lead Sponsor: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Brief Summary

This is an efficacy and safety study of pembrolizumab (MK-3475) combined with pemetrexed/platinum chemotherapy versus pemetrexed/platinum chemotherapy alone in participants with advanced or metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have not previously received systemic therapy for advanced disease. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive pembrolizumab combined with pemetrexed/platinum (Investigators choice of cisplatin or carboplatin), OR pemetrexed/platinum (Investigators choice of cisplatin or carboplatin).

With Amendment 10 (effective date 23-Dec-2019), active participants, investigator, and sponsor personnel or delegate(s) involved in the treatment administration or clinical evaluation of the participants will be unblinded, and all participants in the 'control' arm will discontinue saline placebo.

With Amendment 11 (effective date 31-Jan-2022), once the study objectives have been met or the study has ended, participants will be discontinued from this study and will be enrolled in an extension study to continue protocol-defined assessments and treatment.

The primary hypothesis is that pembrolizumab in combination with pemetrexed/platinum chemotherapy prolongs Progression-Free Survival (PFS) and Overall Survival (OS) compared to pemetrexed/platinum chemotherapy alone.

Detailed Description

Not available

Basic Information
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Recruitment & Eligibility
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Study & Design
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Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2015-10-15
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-10-15
• Study First Posted: 2015-10-19
• Study Start: 2016-01-15
• Primary Completion: 2017-11-08
• Results First Submitted: 2018-09-11
• Results First Submitted QC: 2018-10-29
• Results First Posted: 2018-11-28
• Study Completion: 2023-06-22
• Status Verified: 2024-06
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-06-14
• Last Update Posted: 2024-07-09

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 616

Inclusion Criteria

• Has a histologically-confirmed or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of stage IV nonsquamous NSCLC.
• Has confirmation that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-directed therapy is not indicated.
• Has measurable disease.
• Has not received prior systemic treatment for their advanced/metastatic NSCLC.
• Can provide tumor tissue.
• Has a life expectancy of at least 3 months.
• Has a performance status of 0 or 1 on the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status.
• Has adequate organ function
• If female of childbearing potential, is willing to use adequate contraception for the course of the study through 120 days after the last dose of study medication or through 180 days after last dose of chemotherapeutic agents.
• If male with a female partner(s) of child-bearing potential, must agree to use adequate contraception starting with the first dose of study medication through 120 days after the last dose of study medication or through 180 days after last dose of chemotherapeutic agents.

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Exclusion Criteria

• Has predominantly squamous cell histology NSCLC.
• Is currently participating and receiving study therapy or has participated in a study of an investigational agent and received study therapy or used an investigational device within 4 weeks prior to administration of pembrolizumab.
• Before the first dose of study medication: a) Has received prior systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy for metastatic disease, b) Has received antineoplastic biological therapy (e.g., erlotinib, crizotinib, cetuximab), c) Had major surgery (<3 weeks prior to first dose)
• Received radiation therapy to the lung that is >30 Gray (Gy) within 6 months of the first dose of study medication.
• Completed palliative radiotherapy within 7 days of the first dose of study medication.
• Is expected to require any other form of antineoplastic therapy while on study.
• Received a live-virus vaccination within 30 days of planned start of study medication.
• Has clinically active diverticulitis, intra-abdominal abscess, gastrointestinal obstruction, peritoneal carcinomatosis.
• Known history of prior malignancy except if participant has undergone potentially curative therapy with no evidence of that disease recurrence for 5 years since initiation of that therapy, except for successful definitive resection of basal cell carcinoma of the skin, superficial bladder cancer, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, in situ cervical cancer, or other in situ cancers.
• Has known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis.
• Previously had a severe hypersensitivity reaction to treatment with another monoclonal antibody (mAb).
• Known sensitivity to any component of cisplatin, carboplatin or pemetrexed.
• Has active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in past 2 years.
• Is on chronic systemic steroids.
• Is unable to interrupt aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), other than an aspirin dose ≤1.3 g per day, for a 5-day period (8-day period for long-acting agents, such as piroxicam).
• Is unable or unwilling to take folic acid or vitamin B12 supplementation.
• Had prior treatment with any other anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), or PD-ligand 1 (PD-L1) or PD-L2 agent or an antibody targeting other immuno-regulatory receptors or mechanisms. Has participated in any other pembrolizumab study and has been treated with pembrolizumab.
• Has an active infection requiring therapy.
• Has known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
• Has known active Hepatitis B or C.
• Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorder that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial.
• Is a regular user (including "recreational use") of any illicit drugs or had a recent history (within the last year) of substance abuse (including alcohol).
• Has symptomatic ascites or pleural effusion.
• Has interstitial lung disease or a history of pneumonitis that required oral of IV glucocorticoids to assist with management.
• Is pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children prior to 120 days after the last dose of study medication or through 180 days after last dose of chemotherapeutic agents.

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Pembrolizumab+Pemetrexed+Platinum Chemotherapy Followed by Pembrolizumab+Pemetrexed	Dexamethasone 4 mg	Participants receive pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously (IV) PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV (with vitamin supplementation) PLUS cisplatin 75 mg/m\^2 IV OR carboplatin Area Under the Curve (AUC) 5 IV on Day 1 of every 3-week cycle (Q3W) for 4 cycles followed by pembrolizumab 200 mg IV PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV Q3W until progression. (Participants who receive pembrolizumab 200 mg IV Q3W for up to 2 years but experience disease progression, will be eligible to receive a second course of pembrolizumab monotherapy 200 mg IV Q3W, at the investigator's discretion, for up to 1 additional year.)
Control	Dexamethasone 4 mg	Participants receive saline placebo IV PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV (with vitamin supplementation) PLUS cisplatin 75 mg/m\^2 IV OR carboplatin AUC 5 IV on Day 1 of every 3-week cycle (Q3W) for 4 cycles followed by saline placebo IV PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV Q3W until progression. (Effective 23-Dec-2019, participants will discontinue saline placebo. If documented progression occurs, participants may be able to receive pembrolizumab monotherapy Q3W for the remainder of the study.)
Pembrolizumab+Pemetrexed+Platinum Chemotherapy Followed by Pembrolizumab+Pemetrexed	Pembrolizumab 200 mg	Participants receive pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously (IV) PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV (with vitamin supplementation) PLUS cisplatin 75 mg/m\^2 IV OR carboplatin Area Under the Curve (AUC) 5 IV on Day 1 of every 3-week cycle (Q3W) for 4 cycles followed by pembrolizumab 200 mg IV PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV Q3W until progression. (Participants who receive pembrolizumab 200 mg IV Q3W for up to 2 years but experience disease progression, will be eligible to receive a second course of pembrolizumab monotherapy 200 mg IV Q3W, at the investigator's discretion, for up to 1 additional year.)
Pembrolizumab+Pemetrexed+Platinum Chemotherapy Followed by Pembrolizumab+Pemetrexed	Vitamin B12 1000 μg	Participants receive pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously (IV) PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV (with vitamin supplementation) PLUS cisplatin 75 mg/m\^2 IV OR carboplatin Area Under the Curve (AUC) 5 IV on Day 1 of every 3-week cycle (Q3W) for 4 cycles followed by pembrolizumab 200 mg IV PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV Q3W until progression. (Participants who receive pembrolizumab 200 mg IV Q3W for up to 2 years but experience disease progression, will be eligible to receive a second course of pembrolizumab monotherapy 200 mg IV Q3W, at the investigator's discretion, for up to 1 additional year.)
Pembrolizumab+Pemetrexed+Platinum Chemotherapy Followed by Pembrolizumab+Pemetrexed	Cisplatin	Participants receive pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously (IV) PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV (with vitamin supplementation) PLUS cisplatin 75 mg/m\^2 IV OR carboplatin Area Under the Curve (AUC) 5 IV on Day 1 of every 3-week cycle (Q3W) for 4 cycles followed by pembrolizumab 200 mg IV PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV Q3W until progression. (Participants who receive pembrolizumab 200 mg IV Q3W for up to 2 years but experience disease progression, will be eligible to receive a second course of pembrolizumab monotherapy 200 mg IV Q3W, at the investigator's discretion, for up to 1 additional year.)
Pembrolizumab+Pemetrexed+Platinum Chemotherapy Followed by Pembrolizumab+Pemetrexed	Folic acid 350-1000 μg	Participants receive pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously (IV) PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV (with vitamin supplementation) PLUS cisplatin 75 mg/m\^2 IV OR carboplatin Area Under the Curve (AUC) 5 IV on Day 1 of every 3-week cycle (Q3W) for 4 cycles followed by pembrolizumab 200 mg IV PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV Q3W until progression. (Participants who receive pembrolizumab 200 mg IV Q3W for up to 2 years but experience disease progression, will be eligible to receive a second course of pembrolizumab monotherapy 200 mg IV Q3W, at the investigator's discretion, for up to 1 additional year.)
Control	Saline solution	Participants receive saline placebo IV PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV (with vitamin supplementation) PLUS cisplatin 75 mg/m\^2 IV OR carboplatin AUC 5 IV on Day 1 of every 3-week cycle (Q3W) for 4 cycles followed by saline placebo IV PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV Q3W until progression. (Effective 23-Dec-2019, participants will discontinue saline placebo. If documented progression occurs, participants may be able to receive pembrolizumab monotherapy Q3W for the remainder of the study.)
Control	Folic acid 350-1000 μg	Participants receive saline placebo IV PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV (with vitamin supplementation) PLUS cisplatin 75 mg/m\^2 IV OR carboplatin AUC 5 IV on Day 1 of every 3-week cycle (Q3W) for 4 cycles followed by saline placebo IV PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV Q3W until progression. (Effective 23-Dec-2019, participants will discontinue saline placebo. If documented progression occurs, participants may be able to receive pembrolizumab monotherapy Q3W for the remainder of the study.)
Control	Vitamin B12 1000 μg	Participants receive saline placebo IV PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV (with vitamin supplementation) PLUS cisplatin 75 mg/m\^2 IV OR carboplatin AUC 5 IV on Day 1 of every 3-week cycle (Q3W) for 4 cycles followed by saline placebo IV PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV Q3W until progression. (Effective 23-Dec-2019, participants will discontinue saline placebo. If documented progression occurs, participants may be able to receive pembrolizumab monotherapy Q3W for the remainder of the study.)
Pembrolizumab+Pemetrexed+Platinum Chemotherapy Followed by Pembrolizumab+Pemetrexed	Carboplatin	Participants receive pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously (IV) PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV (with vitamin supplementation) PLUS cisplatin 75 mg/m\^2 IV OR carboplatin Area Under the Curve (AUC) 5 IV on Day 1 of every 3-week cycle (Q3W) for 4 cycles followed by pembrolizumab 200 mg IV PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV Q3W until progression. (Participants who receive pembrolizumab 200 mg IV Q3W for up to 2 years but experience disease progression, will be eligible to receive a second course of pembrolizumab monotherapy 200 mg IV Q3W, at the investigator's discretion, for up to 1 additional year.)
Pembrolizumab+Pemetrexed+Platinum Chemotherapy Followed by Pembrolizumab+Pemetrexed	Pemetrexed	Participants receive pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously (IV) PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV (with vitamin supplementation) PLUS cisplatin 75 mg/m\^2 IV OR carboplatin Area Under the Curve (AUC) 5 IV on Day 1 of every 3-week cycle (Q3W) for 4 cycles followed by pembrolizumab 200 mg IV PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV Q3W until progression. (Participants who receive pembrolizumab 200 mg IV Q3W for up to 2 years but experience disease progression, will be eligible to receive a second course of pembrolizumab monotherapy 200 mg IV Q3W, at the investigator's discretion, for up to 1 additional year.)
Control	Cisplatin	Participants receive saline placebo IV PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV (with vitamin supplementation) PLUS cisplatin 75 mg/m\^2 IV OR carboplatin AUC 5 IV on Day 1 of every 3-week cycle (Q3W) for 4 cycles followed by saline placebo IV PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV Q3W until progression. (Effective 23-Dec-2019, participants will discontinue saline placebo. If documented progression occurs, participants may be able to receive pembrolizumab monotherapy Q3W for the remainder of the study.)
Control	Carboplatin	Participants receive saline placebo IV PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV (with vitamin supplementation) PLUS cisplatin 75 mg/m\^2 IV OR carboplatin AUC 5 IV on Day 1 of every 3-week cycle (Q3W) for 4 cycles followed by saline placebo IV PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV Q3W until progression. (Effective 23-Dec-2019, participants will discontinue saline placebo. If documented progression occurs, participants may be able to receive pembrolizumab monotherapy Q3W for the remainder of the study.)
Control	Pemetrexed	Participants receive saline placebo IV PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV (with vitamin supplementation) PLUS cisplatin 75 mg/m\^2 IV OR carboplatin AUC 5 IV on Day 1 of every 3-week cycle (Q3W) for 4 cycles followed by saline placebo IV PLUS pemetrexed 500 mg/m\^2 IV Q3W until progression. (Effective 23-Dec-2019, participants will discontinue saline placebo. If documented progression occurs, participants may be able to receive pembrolizumab monotherapy Q3W for the remainder of the study.)

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Overall Survival (OS)	Up to approximately 21 months	OS was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. Participants without documented death at the time of the interim analysis were censored at the date of the last follow-up. The OS is presented.
Progression-Free Survival (PFS) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 as Assessed by Blinded Central Imaging	Up to approximately 21 months	PFS was defined as the time from randomization to the first documented progressive disease (PD) or death due to any cause, whichever occurred first. Per RECIST 1.1, PD was defined as ≥20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the smallest sum on study. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. Note: The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. The PFS per RECIST 1.1 is presented.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Overall Response Rate (ORR) Per RECIST 1.1 as Assessed by Blinded Central Imaging	Up to approximately 21 months	ORR was defined as the percentage of participants in the analysis population who had a Complete Response (CR: Disappearance of all target lesions) or a Partial Response (PR: ≥30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the baseline sum diameters) per RECIST 1.1. The percentage of participants who experienced a CR or PR is presented.
Number of Participants Who Experienced an Adverse Event (AE)	Up to approximately 21 months (Serious AEs: Up to 90 days after last dose of study treatment; Other AEs: Up to 30 days after last dose of study treatment)	An AE was defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a study participant administered study drug and which does not necessarily have to have a causal relationship with this study drug. The number of participants who experienced an AE is presented.
Duration of Response (DOR) Per RECIST 1.1 as Assessed by Blinded Central Imaging	Up to approximately 21 months	For participants who demonstrated a confirmed CR (disappearance of all target lesions) or PR (≥30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) per RECIST 1.1, DOR was defined as the time from first documented evidence of a CR or PR until PD or death. DOR for participants who had not progressed or died at the time of analysis was to be censored at the date of their last tumor assessment. Per RECIST 1.1, PD was defined as ≥20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also have demonstrated an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. Note: The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. DOR assessments were based on blinded central imaging review with confirmation. The DOR per RECIST 1.1 for all participants who experienced a confirmed CR or PR is presented.
Number of Participants Who Discontinued Any Study Drug Due to an AE	Up to approximately 21 months	An AE was defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a study participant administered study drug and which does not necessarily have to have a causal relationship with this study drug. The number of participants who discontinued any randomized study drug due to an AE is presented.