A Clinical Trial of MK-1045 and Rituximab in People With Follicular Lymphoma (MK-1045-007)

June 4, 2026 updated by: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

A Phase 2/3 Randomized, Open-label Study of MK-1045 in Combination With Rituximab in Participants With 1L Follicular Lymphoma

Researchers are looking for new ways to treat follicular lymphoma (FL). A standard (usual) treatment for FL includes a targeted therapy called rituximab and chemotherapy. In this study, researchers want to learn if giving a study medicine called MK-1045 and rituximab can treat FL. MK-1045 is a type of treatment called immunotherapy.

The goals of this study are to learn:

  • About the safety of MK-1045 and rituximab, and if people tolerate them when given together
  • If people who receive MK-1045 and rituximab have the cancer go away
  • If people who receive MK-1045 and rituximab live longer without their cancer getting worse compared to those who receive standard treatment (rituximab and chemotherapy)

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
960

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2
  • Phase 3

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Has biopsy-proven, previously untreated, histologically confirmed cluster of differentiation (CD)19-positive and CD20-positive classical follicular lymphoma (FL), with Ann Arbor Stage II-IV disease and a Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) score of 2-5.
  • Has radiographically measurable disease per the Lugano Response Criteria.
  • Has provided a newly obtained core or excisional biopsy or archival tissue of a tumor lesion not previously irradiated.
  • If human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive, has well-controlled HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART).
  • If hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive, has undetectable hepatitis B virus (HBV) viral load and has received HBV antiviral therapy for at least 4 weeks and will continue it.
  • If history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, has undetectable HCV viral load.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Has received prior systemic anticancer therapy or radiotherapy for FL.
  • Has follicular large B-cell lymphoma or any other subtype of FL other than classical FL.
  • Has FL that has transformed into a more aggressive type of lymphoma.
  • History or presence of clinically relevant central nervous system (CNS) diseases.
  • Has history of serious cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
  • Is HIV-infected with a history of Kaposi's sarcoma and/or Multicentric Castleman's Disease.
  • Has received a live or live-attenuated vaccine within 30 days before the first dose of study intervention.
  • Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy.
  • Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 3 years.
  • Has known active CNS lymphoma or involvement.
  • Has an active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years.
  • Has active infection requiring systemic therapy.
  • Has chronic liver disease, including liver cirrhosis of Child-Pugh class B or C.
  • Has not adequately recovered from major surgery or has ongoing surgical complications.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Part 1: MK-1045 plus Rituximab (or biosimilar)
Participants will receive escalating doses of MK-1045 (from 2 mg to 90 mg) once weekly (QW) for up to approximately 12 months. Participants will also receive 375 mg/m^2 rituximab (or biosimilar) once every 4 weeks (Q4W) for up to approximately 6 months.
Biological: Rituximab
IV infusion
Biological: MK-1045
Intravenous (IV) infusion
Other Names:
  • CN201
Biological: Rituximab biosimilar
IV infusion
Other Names:
  • TRUXIMA®
  • RUXIENCE®
  • RIABNI®
Experimental: Part 2: MK-1045 plus Rituximab (or biosimilar)
Participants will receive MK-1045 QW at the dose determined in Part 1 for up to approximately 12 months. Participants will also receive 375 mg/m^2 rituximab (or biosimilar) Q4W for up to approximately 6 months.
Biological: Rituximab
IV infusion
Biological: MK-1045
Intravenous (IV) infusion
Other Names:
  • CN201
Biological: Rituximab biosimilar
IV infusion
Other Names:
  • TRUXIMA®
  • RUXIENCE®
  • RIABNI®
Experimental: Part 2: Physician's Choice of Chemotherapy plus Rituximab (or biosimilar)
Participants will receive physician's choice of: 90 mg/m^2 bendamustine on Days 1 and 2 of each 4-week cycle for up to 6 cycles (up to approximately 6 months) plus 375 mg/m^2 rituximab (or biosimilar) Q4W for up to approximately 6 months OR 750 mg/m^2 cyclophosphamide, 50 mg/m^2 doxorubicin, and 1.4 mg/m^2 vincristine on day 1 of each 3-week cycle (Q3W) and 100 mg/m^2 prednisone (or prednisolone) once daily on days 1 through 5 Q3W for up to 6 cycles (up to approximately 4 months) plus 375 mg/m^2 rituximab (or biosimilar) Q3W for up to approximately 4 months OR 750 mg/m^2 cyclophosphamide and 1.4 mg/m^2 vincristine Q3W and 40 mg/day prednisone (or prednisolone) once daily on days 1 through 5 of each 3-week cycle for up to 6 cycles (up to approximately 4 months) plus 375 mg/m^2 rituximab (or biosimilar) Q3W for up to approximately 6 months.
Biological: Rituximab
IV infusion
Drug: Cyclophosphamide
IV infusion
Other Names:
  • Cytoxan
  • Cytophosphane
  • Neosar
Drug: Bendamustine
IV infusion
Other Names:
  • Treanda
  • Bendeka
  • Belrapzo
Drug: Vincristine
IV infusion
Other Names:
  • Oncovin
  • Vincasar PFS
Biological: Rituximab biosimilar
IV infusion
Other Names:
  • TRUXIMA®
  • RUXIENCE®
  • RIABNI®
Drug: Prednisone
Per approved product label
Other Names:
  • Prednisone acetate
Drug: Prednisolone
Per approved product label
Other Names:
  • Prednisolone acetate
Drug: Doxorubicin Hydrochloride
IV infusion
Other Names:
  • Adriamycin

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Part 1: Number of Participants Who Experience an Adverse Event (AE)
Time Frame: Up to approximately 15 months
An AE is defined as any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, disease, or worsening of preexisting condition temporally associated with study treatment and irrespective of causality to study treatment.
Up to approximately 15 months
Part 1: Number of Participants Who Discontinue Study Treatment Due to an AE
Time Frame: Up to approximately 12 months
An AE is defined as any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, disease, or worsening of preexisting condition temporally associated with study treatment and irrespective of causality to study treatment.
Up to approximately 12 months
Part 1: Number of Participants Who Experience Dose Limiting Toxicity (DLT)
Time Frame: Up to approximately 36 days
DLT will be defined as any drug-related AE observed during the DLT evaluation period that results in a change to a given dose or a delay in initiating the next cycle.
Up to approximately 36 days
Part 1: Complete Response (CR) Rate
Time Frame: Up to approximately 60 months
For participants who demonstrate a confirmed Complete Response (CR: disappearance of all target lesions) per Lugano response criteria. CR rate is defined as the percentage of participants who experience a CR. The CR rate as assessed by physician investigator will be presented.
Up to approximately 60 months
Part 2: Progression-Free Survival (PFS)
Time Frame: Up to approximately 63 months
PFS is defined as the time from randomization to the first documented disease progression per Lugano response criteria by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR) or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first.
Up to approximately 63 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Part 1: Objective Response Rate (ORR)
Time Frame: Up to approximately 60 months
ORR is defined as the percentage of participants with CR (CR: disappearance of all target lesions) or Partial Response (PR: at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) per Lugano response criteria. The percentage of participants who experience CR or PR as assessed by physician investigator will be presented.
Up to approximately 60 months
Part 1: Duration of CR
Time Frame: Up to approximately 60 months
For participants who demonstrate CR (CR: disappearance of all target lesions) at end of treatment per Lugano response criteria, defined as the time from the first documented evidence of CR until disease progression or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first.
Up to approximately 60 months
Part 1: Area Under the Concentration-Time Curve at Steady State (AUCss) of MK-1045
Time Frame: Predose and at designated time points post-dose (up to approximately 12 months)
Blood samples will be collected at multiple time points to estimate the AUCss of MK-1045.
Predose and at designated time points post-dose (up to approximately 12 months)
Part 1: Maximum Concentration (Cmax) of MK-1045
Time Frame: Predose and at designated time points post-dose (up to approximately 12 months)
Blood samples will be collected at multiple time points to estimate the Cmax of MK-1045.
Predose and at designated time points post-dose (up to approximately 12 months)
Part 1: Trough Concentration (Ctrough) of MK-1045
Time Frame: Predose and at designated time points post-dose (up to approximately 12 months)
Blood samples will be collected at multiple time points to estimate the Ctrough of MK-1045.
Predose and at designated time points post-dose (up to approximately 12 months)
Part 2: CR Rate at 30 Months
Time Frame: 30 months
For participants who demonstrate a confirmed CR (CR: disappearance of all target lesions) per Lugano response criteria. CR rate is defined as the percentage of participants who experience a CR by month 30. The CR rate as assessed by BICR at month 30 will be presented.
30 months
Part 2: ORR
Time Frame: Up to approximately 63 months
ORR is defined as the percentage of participants with CR (CR: disappearance of all target lesions) or PR (PR: at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) per Lugano response criteria. The percentage of participants who experience CR or PR as assessed by BICR will be presented.
Up to approximately 63 months
Part 2: Overall Survival (OS)
Time Frame: Up to approximately 63 months
OS is defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause.
Up to approximately 63 months
Part 2: Event-Free Survival (EFS)
Time Frame: Up to approximately 63 months
EFS is defined as the time randomization to the first documented disease progression per Lugano response criteria by BICR, death due to any cause, initiation of a new anticancer therapy or a positive biopsy for residual disease, whichever occurs first.
Up to approximately 63 months
Part 2: Duration of CR
Time Frame: Up to approximately 63 months
For participants who demonstrate CR (CR: disappearance of all target lesions) per Lugano response criteria by BICR, defined as the time from the first documented evidence of CR until disease progression or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first.
Up to approximately 63 months
Part 2: Number of Participants Who Experience an AE
Time Frame: Up to approximately 15 months
An AE is defined as any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, disease, or worsening of preexisting condition temporally associated with study treatment and irrespective of causality to study treatment.
Up to approximately 15 months
Part 2: Number of Participants Who Discontinue Study Treatment Due to an AE
Time Frame: Up to approximately 12 months
An AE is defined as any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, disease, or worsening of preexisting condition temporally associated with study treatment and irrespective of causality to study treatment.
Up to approximately 12 months
Part 2: Change From Baseline in Health-Related Quality Of Life (HRQoL) on Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lymphoma (FACT-Lym) Trial Outcome Index (TOI)
Time Frame: Baseline and up to approximately month 13
The FACT-Lym is a 42-item questionnaire designed to measure HRQoL and cancer-specific symptoms in non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients. Subscales include FACT-General (FACT-G), FACT-Trial Outcome Index (FACT-TOI), FACT-Lym total score (FACT-Lym TS), and the Lymphoma subscale (Lym S). The Lym S has a single domain consisting of 15 items specific to lymphoma burden with a score ranging from 0 to 60. FACT-G has 4 well-being domains, physical (7 items), social/family (7), emotional (6), and functional (7), with scores ranging from 0 to 108. FACT-TOI combines FACT-G's physical and functional domains with Lym S, with scores ranging from 0 to 116. FACT-Lym TS combines FACT-G with Lym S, with scores ranging from 0 to 168. The scoring of FACT-Lym is on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 to 4, with 0= not at all, 1= a little bit, 2= somewhat, 3=quite a bit, 4=very much. The higher the score the better the quality of life.
Baseline and up to approximately month 13
Part 2: Change From Baseline in HRQoL on FACT-Lym Total Score
Time Frame: Baseline and up to approximately month 13
The FACT-Lym is a 42-item questionnaire designed to measure HRQoL and cancer-specific symptoms in non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients. Subscales include FACT-General (FACT-G), FACT-Trial Outcome Index (FACT-TOI), FACT-Lym total score (FACT-Lym TS), and the Lymphoma subscale (Lym S). The Lym S has a single domain consisting of 15 items specific to lymphoma burden with a score ranging from 0 to 60. FACT-G has 4 well-being domains, physical (7 items), social/family (7), emotional (6), and functional (7), with scores ranging from 0 to 108. FACT-TOI combines FACT-G's physical and functional domains with Lym S, with scores ranging from 0 to 116. FACT-Lym TS combines FACT-G with Lym S, with scores ranging from 0 to 168. The scoring of FACT-Lym is on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 to 4, with 0= not at all, 1= a little bit, 2= somewhat, 3=quite a bit, 4=very much. The higher the score the better the quality of life.
Baseline and up to approximately month 13
Part 2: Change From Baseline in HRQoL on FACT-Lym Physical Well-being (PWB) (Items General Physical [GP]1 Through GP7)
Time Frame: Baseline and up to approximately month 13
The FACT-Lym is a 42-item questionnaire designed to measure HRQoL and cancer-specific symptoms in non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients. Subscales include FACT-General (FACT-G), FACT-Trial Outcome Index (FACT-TOI), FACT-Lym total score (FACT-Lym TS), and the Lymphoma subscale (Lym S). The Lym S has a single domain consisting of 15 items specific to lymphoma burden with a score ranging from 0 to 60. FACT-G has 4 well-being domains, physical (7 items), social/family (7), emotional (6), and functional (7), with scores ranging from 0 to 108. FACT-TOI combines FACT-G's physical and functional domains with Lym S, with scores ranging from 0 to 116. FACT-Lym TS combines FACT-G with Lym S, with scores ranging from 0 to 168. The scoring of FACT-Lym is on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 to 4, with 0= not at all, 1= a little bit, 2= somewhat, 3=quite a bit, 4=very much. The higher the score the better the quality of life.
Baseline and up to approximately month 13

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Medical Director, Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 6, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
July 23, 2032

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 23, 2035

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
June 4, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 4, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 8, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 8, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 4, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 1045-007
  • U1111-1324-3019 (Registry Identifier: UTN)
  • 2025-522777-10-00 (Registry Identifier: EU CT)
  • MK-1045-007 (Other Identifier: MSD)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

https://trialstransparency.msdclinicaltrials.com/pdf/ProcedureAccessClinicalTrialData.pdf

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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