The purpose of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of pembrolizumab (MK-3475) combination therapy in participants with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). There will be ten cohorts in this study: Cohort A will receive pembrolizumab + olaparib, Cohort B will receive pembrolizumab + docetaxel + prednisone, Cohort C will receive pembrolizumab + enzalutamide, Cohort D will receive pembrolizumab + abiraterone + prednisone Cohort E will receive pembrolizumab+lenvatinib, Cohort F will receive pembrolizumab+lenvatinib, Cohort G will receive pembrolizumab/vibostolimab coformulation (MK-7684A), Cohort H will receive pembrolizumab/vibostolimab coformulation, Cohort I will receive pembrolizumab+carboplatin+etoposide in Arm 1 and carboplatin+etoposide in Arm 2 and Cohort J will receive belzutifan in Arm1 and Pembrolizumab+belzutifan in Arm 2. Outcome measures will be assessed individually for each cohort.
Phase 1 trials primarily test safety and dosing in a small number of participants (typically 20–100). Results do not yet speak to efficacy. FDA approval is typically many years away from this stage.
Phase 2 trials begin testing efficacy in a larger patient group (100–300). This is often where biotech binary events occur — positive Phase 2 data can significantly advance a company's pipeline narrative, while failures can be terminal for a program.
Currently recruiting: the trial is enrolling patients. A data readout is not expected until after enrollment closes and the follow-up period is complete.
Merck & Co (MRK) is the sponsoring company for this trial. BiotechSign currently grades this company F (35/100) based on composite catalyst signals across its full pipeline. This trial is one data point in that overall catalyst picture.