The Study of NC318 Alone or in Combination With Pembrolizumab in Patients With Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

This is a phase 2 study to investigate NC318 alone or in combination with Pembrolizumab in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Pembrolizumab; Drug: NC318 800 mg; Drug: NC318 400 mg

Detailed Description

This is a non-randomized, three-arm trial.

Arm 1a and 1b will enroll patients with advanced NSCLC regardless of tumor PD-L1 expression who have experienced disease progression on or after PD-1 axis inhibitor therapy, given alone or in combination with other systemic anti-cancer therapy. Patients will be assigned to arm 1a or 1b at the discretion of the treating physician. Patients on arm 1a will receive NC318 alone; those on arm 1b, combination therapy with NC318 and pembrolizumab.

Arm 1a will be based on a Simon two-stage minimax design. In the first stage, 18 patients will be accrued. If tumor response per RECIST v1.1 is achieved in 2 or fewer patients, arm 1a will be closed to further enrollment. If tumor response is demonstrated in 3 or more patients, then 25 additional patients will be accrued (stage 2), for a total of 43 patients.

Arm 1a and 1b will start with a safety run-in portion consisting of 6 patients (see 4.1.1). If deemed safe, each arm will continue to accrue and follow the Simon two-stage design outlined above. Patients in the run-in portion will be included in stage 1 of the Simon two-stage design.

Arm 2 will enroll patients with advanced NSCLC and tumor PD-L1 expression less than 50% who are naïve to PD-1 axis inhibitor therapy. Patients on arm 2 will receive combination therapy with NC318 and pembrolizumab. Arm 2 will also start with a safety run-in portion identical to that of arms 1a and 1b (see 4.1.1). If deemed safe, accrual will continue following a Simon two-stage minimax design. In the first stage, 19 patients will be accrued. If tumor response per RECIST v1.1 is achieved in 3 or fewer patients, arm 2 will be closed to further enrollment. If tumor response is demonstrated in 4 or more patients, then 36 additional patients will be accrued (stage 2), for a total of 54 patients. Patients in the run-in portion will be included in stage 1 of the Simon two-stage design.

The study protocol was amended to add 2 additional arms 5/2023. Arms 1c and 2a will receive NC318 800 mg, IV weekly for 8 doses, followed by every 2 week dosing. They both follow the same procedures as the earlier arms in the study. Arm 2 has essentially been removed from the study- but remains included in the protocol registration.

In addition, patients treated on arm 1a will be allowed to receive combination therapy with NC318 and pembrolizumab at the time of progression, after a mandatory tumor biopsy. They will be considered separately from arm 1c.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 159
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Connecticut
    • New Haven, Connecticut, United States, 06492
      • Yale University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Histologically or cytologically documented, locally advanced or metastatic (i.e., Stage IIIB not eligible for definitive chemoradiotherapy, Stage IV, or recurrent) NSCLC (per the American Joint Committee /AJCC staging system)
• ECOG performance status of 0 to 1
• Measurable disease per RECIST v1.1 criteria
• Arm 1a, and 1b and 1c: Prior PD-1 axis inhibitor therapy (anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1, e.g. nivolumab, pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, durvalumab, avelumab) either alone or in combination with other systemic agents, with documented progressive disease.
• Arm 2a: PD-L1 expression of less than 50 percent (PD-1 axis inhibitor therapy naïve)

• Patients with NSCLC known to harbor an ALK rearrangement, ROS1 rearrangement, EGFR mutation or BRAF mutation known to be sensitive to FDA approved tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), are only eligible after experiencing disease progression (during or after treatment) or intolerance to respective TKI:

  1. Patients with TKI treated EGFR mutant NSCLC harboring the secondary EGFR T790M tumor must have received prior osimertinib.
  2. Patients with crizotinib treated ALK rearranged NSCLC must have received a next generation ALK inhibitor (e.g. ceritinib, alectinib, brigatinib or lorlatinib).
• At least one tumor amenable to incisional, excisional, core or forceps (transbronchial) biopsy. Patients must be willing to undergo a tumor biopsy before starting trial therapy and at the time of disease progression.
• Adequate hematologic and end-organ function

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects must not have a history of life-threatening toxicity related to prior anti-PD-1 axis therapy:

  a. Subjects with history of anti-PD-1 axis therapy toxicities that are unlikely to recur with standard countermeasures (e.g., hormone replacement after adrenal crisis) are eligible.

• Symptomatic or untreated CNS metastases. Patients with a history of treated asymptomatic CNS metastases are eligible, provided they meet all of the following criteria:

  1. No evidence of interim progression between the completion of CNS-directed therapy and the start of trial therapy
  2. No ongoing requirement for dexamethasone as therapy for CNS disease; anticonvulsants at a stable dose are allowed.
  3. Completed stereotactic radiosurgery at least 1 week prior to initiation of trial therapyCycle 1, Day 1 or whole-brain radiation at least 2 weeks prior to initiation of trial therapyCycle 1, Day 1.
• History of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis
• Prior palliative radiotherapy outside the CNS within 2 weeks of the first dose of study drug
• Treatment with systemic immunosuppressive medications (including but not limited to, dexamethasone at doses > 2 mg daily (or equivalent dose of other corticosteroids), cyclophosphamide, tacrolimus, sirolimus, azathioprine, methotrexate, thalidomide, and antitumor necrosis factor [anti-TNF] agents) within 2 weeks prior to initiating trial therapy. (Inhaled or topically applied steroids, and acute and chronic standard-dose NSAIDs are permitted. Replacement steroids are also permitted). Prophylactic corticosteroids prior to imaging with intravenous contrast are allowed per institutional guidelines, without need for delay of 2 weeks. Arm 2a: No prior PD-1 axis inhibitor therapy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

5

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Arm 1a - NC318 only; At the discretion of the treating physician, advanced NSCLC patients on arm 1a will receive NC318 alone.	Drug: NC318 800 mg; NC318 will be given intravenously (IV) weekly for 8 doses and then every 2 weeks for patients receiving combination therapy treatment or weekly for patient receiving NC318 in monotherapy.
Experimental: Arm 1b - NC318 and Pembrolizumab; At the discretion of the treating physician, advanced NSCLC patients on arm 1b will receive combination therapy with NC318 and pembrolizumab.	Drug: Pembrolizumab; Pembrolizumab 200 mg will be given IV every 3 weeks; Drug: NC318 400 mg; NC318 will be given intravenously (IV) every 2 weeks.
Experimental: Arm 1c - NC318 and Pembrolizumab; At the discretion of the treating physician, advanced NSCLC patients on arm 1b will receive combination therapy with NC318 and pembrolizumab.	Drug: NC318 800 mg; NC318 will be given intravenously (IV) weekly for 8 doses and then every 2 weeks for patients receiving combination therapy treatment or weekly for patient receiving NC318 in monotherapy.
Experimental: Arm 2 (naïve to PD-1 axis inhibitor)- NC318 and Pembrolizumab; Arm 2 will enroll patients with advanced NSCLC who are naïve to PD-1 axis inhibitor therapy to receive therapy with NC318 in combination with pembrolizumab.	Drug: Pembrolizumab; Pembrolizumab 200 mg will be given IV every 3 weeks; Drug: NC318 400 mg; NC318 will be given intravenously (IV) every 2 weeks.
Experimental: Arm 2a (naïve to PD-1 axis inhibitor)- NC318 and Pembrolizumab; Arm 2a will enroll patients with advanced NSCLC who are naïve to PD-1 axis inhibitor therapy to receive combination therapy with NC318 and pembrolizumab.	Drug: Pembrolizumab; Pembrolizumab 200 mg will be given IV every 3 weeks; Drug: NC318 800 mg; NC318 will be given intravenously (IV) weekly for 8 doses and then every 2 weeks for patients receiving combination therapy treatment or weekly for patient receiving NC318 in monotherapy.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Objective response rate (ORR) in Arm 1a	To determine the objective response rate (ORR) using RECIST v1.1 to NC318 in arm 1a	Tumor response will be based on tumor assessments at screening, every 8 weeks from the first dose (for the first 24 weeks) and thereafter every 12 weeks until investigator-assessed initial disease progression, up to 4 years
Objective response rate (ORR) in Arm 1b	To determine the objective response rate (ORR) using RECIST v1.1 to NC318 combined with pembrolizumab in arm 1b	Tumor response will be based on tumor assessments at screening, every 8 weeks from the first dose (for the first 24 weeks) and thereafter every 12 weeks until investigator-assessed initial disease progression, up to 4 years
Number of participants on Arm 1b with treatment related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v5	To determine the safety of NC318 when administered in combination with pembrolizumab in arm 1b	Safety run in of 6 weeks
Objective response rate (ORR) in Arm 2	To determine the objective response rate (ORR) using RECIST v1.1 to NC318 combined with pembrolizumab in arm 2	Tumor response will be based on tumor assessments at screening, every 8 weeks from the first dose (for the first 24 weeks) and thereafter every 12 weeks until investigator-assessed initial disease progression, up to 4 years
Number of participants in arm 2 with treatment related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v5	To determine the safety of NC318 when administered in combination with pembrolizumab in arm 2	Safety run in of 6 weeks
Objective response rate (ORR) in Arm 1c	To determine the objective response rate (ORR) using RECIST v1.1 to NC318 combined with pembrolizumab in arm 1b	Tumor response will be based on tumor assessments at screening, every 8 weeks from the first dose (for the first 24 weeks) and thereafter every 12 weeks until investigator-assessed initial disease progression, up to 4 years
Number of participants on Arm 1c with treatment related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v5	To determine the safety of NC318 when administered in combination with pembrolizumab in arm 1b	Safety run in of 6 weeks
Objective response rate (ORR) in Arm 2a	To determine the objective response rate (ORR) using RECIST v1.1 to NC318 combined with pembrolizumab in arm 2	Tumor response will be based on tumor assessments at screening, every 8 weeks from the first dose (for the first 24 weeks) and thereafter every 12 weeks until investigator-assessed initial disease progression, up to 4 years
Number of participants in arm 2a with treatment related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v5	To determine the safety of NC318 when administered in combination with pembrolizumab in arm 2	Safety run in of 6 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Progression-free survival (RECIST v1.1) Arm 1a	To determine progression-free survival (RECIST v1.1) with NC318 in patients with pre-treated advanced NSCLC who have experienced disease progression on or after anti-PD-1 axis therapy.	Until disease progression or death, up to 4 years
Overall Survival (RECIST v1.1) Arm 1a	To determine overall survival with NC318 in patients with pre-treated advanced NSCLC who have experienced disease progression on or after anti-PD-1 axis therapy.	Until death, up to 5 years
Progression-free survival (RECIST v1.1) Arm 1B	To determine progression-free survival (RECIST v1.1) with NC318 combined with pembrolizumab in patients with pre- treated advanced NSCLC who have experienced disease progression on or after anti-PD-1 axis therapy.	Until disease progression or death, up to 4 years
Overall survival (RECIST v1.1) Arm 1B	To determine overall survival (RECIST v1.1) with NC318 combined with pembrolizumab in patients with pre- treated advanced NSCLC who have experienced disease progression on or after anti-PD-1 axis therapy.	Until death, up to 5 years
Progression-free survival (RECIST v1.1) Arm 2	To determine progression-free survival (RECIST v1.1) with NC318 and pembrolizumab when administered in combination to patients with PD-1 inhibitor naïve advanced NSCLC with tumor PD-L1 expression less than 50 percent.	Until disease progression or death, up to 4 years
Overall survival (RECIST v1.1) Arm 2	To determine overall survival (RECIST v1.1) with NC318 and pembrolizumab when administered in combination to patients with PD-1 inhibitor naïve advanced NSCLC with tumor PD-L1 expression less than 50 percent.	Until death, up to 5 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Yale University
• Collaborators: National Cancer Institute (NCI); Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC; NextCure, Inc.
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Scott Gettinger, Yale University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 4, 2021
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 16, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 4, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): January 7, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 13, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 7, 2025
• Last Verified: May 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Tract Neoplasms; Thoracic Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic; Bronchial Neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors; Antineoplastic Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Pembrolizumab
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2000028206; 2P50CA196530-06 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No