Study summary

Adding belzutifan to pembrolizumab after surgery cut relapse by 28%

LITESPARK-022 trial · Phase 3, double-blind · Published July 2026, New England Journal of Medicine; FDA approved June 2026

28%lower risk of relapse or death than pembrolizumab alone

What was tested

Belzutifan, a HIF-2α-blocking pill, plus pembrolizumab, against pembrolizumab with placebo, for up to a year after kidney removal for clear cell kidney cancer at higher risk of returning.

What they found

Risk of relapse or death was 28% lower (hazard ratio 0.72).
Overall survival did not differ yet; 2-year survival was about 96% in both groups.
Anemia was very common with belzutifan.

What it means

A new option after surgery. Whether it extends life is not yet known.

N Engl J Med, via PubMed ↗ ← Back to the outlook

Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.