Clinical trial Recruiting at 26 sites Phase 3 Interventional Ages 18 and up

Adjuvant cemiplimab after complete surgery for stage II–IIIA non-small cell lung cancer in patients who have not had chemotherapy

Official title: A Randomised Phase III Trial of Adjuvant Cemiplimab in Patients With Resected Stage II-IIIA NSCLC Who Have Not Received Prior Adjuvant Chemotherapy

Run by ETOP IBCSG Partners Foundation · NCT06931717 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This trial tests whether giving cemiplimab after complete surgery can help prevent cancer from coming back in people with stage II–IIIA non-small cell lung cancer who did not receive chemotherapy.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 3
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment390 (estimated)
SponsorETOP IBCSG Partners Foundation
Research network
Drugs / interventionscemiplimab, chemotherapy, prednisone
Locations35 sites (Vienna and 34 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedJanuary 12, 2026
Main results expectedMarch 2029
Study endsMarch 2029
Registry record updatedOctober 28, 2026
Trial IDNCT06931717 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are adults with pathologic stage II–IIIA NSCLC who had a complete (R0) resection, have tumor PD-L1 ≥1%, have not received adjuvant platinum chemotherapy, and can provide tumor tissue and attend study visits.

Probably not a fit

Patients with PD-L1 <1%, those who already received adjuvant chemotherapy, those with positive surgical margins or unresectable/metastatic disease, or patients ineligible for the required imaging or tissue submission are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

ARCH is a randomized, stratified, multicenter Phase III trial comparing adjuvant cemiplimab to observation in patients with completely resected stage II–IIIA non-small cell lung cancer who have not received prior adjuvant platinum chemotherapy. Treatment consists of cemiplimab 350 mg IV every 3 weeks for four cycles, then 700 mg IV every 6 weeks for up to six cycles, or until relapse or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint is disease-free survival, with the primary analysis planned in patients whose tumors have centrally confirmed PD-L1 expression ≥1%. Key eligibility includes R0 resection, appropriate lymph node dissection, required brain imaging, and availability of tumor tissue for central testing.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lower the risk of recurrence after surgery and extend the time patients remain cancer-free.

How similar studies have gone: Similar adjuvant strategies using PD-1/PD-L1–directed therapies have shown disease-free survival benefits in some recent trials, but results vary by drug, patient subgroup, and prior chemotherapy use.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Pathological stage II-IIIA (UICC/ AJCC staging 9th edition) NSCLC Brain imaging should have been performed to complete staging, either preoperatively or postoperatively. If brain imaging has not been performed, a contrast-enhanced CT or MRI of the brain must be performed at screening prior randomisation.
* Complete resection with negative surgical margins (R0).

  * Acceptable types of surgical resection include any of the following:
* Lobectomy, sleeve lobectomy, bilobectomy, or pneumectomy.
* Segmentectomy for tumours ≤2 cm is permitted in patients with poor pulmonary reserve or another major comorbidity that contraindicates lobectomy.

  * Wedge resection is not allowed.
  * Lymph node dissection should be done according to applicable guidelines.
  * No disease recurrence following surgical resection.
* Tumour PD-L1 expression of ≥1%, determined locally using a locally approved immuno-histochemistry test.
* Availability of archival FFPE tumour tissue for central PD-L1 expression testing.
* Patient is not considered for adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy due to:

  * Documented patient refusal; or
  * Patient is unfit to receive adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy (per investigator assessment) due to:

ECOG PS2, or ECOG PS 0/1 and aged ≥70 years with substantial comorbidities or other contraindication(s) to platinum-based doublet chemotherapy.

* Estimated life expectancy of ≥3 months.
* Age ≥18 years.
* Patient has recovered from surgery-related complications.
* Adequate haematological, renal and liver function.
* Patient is able to comply with the trial protocol, in the investigator's judgment.
* Negative pregnancy test Female participants of childbearing potential (including women who had their last menstruation in the last 2 years), must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 5 weeks before randomisation. Pregnancy test must be repeated within 3 days before the first dose of protocol treatment and at every treatment visit (urine beta HCG test is sufficient).
* Use of highly effective contraceptive methods Female participants of childbearing potential (including women who had their last menstruation in the last 2 years) and male participants with a female partners of childbearing potential must agree to use a highly effective method of contraception for the duration of the protocol treatment and until 4 months after the last dose of cemiplimab.
* Written Informed Consent must be signed and dated by the patient and the investigator prior to any trial-related intervention.

Exclusion Criteria:

* EGFR-mutant or ALK-rearranged NSCLC.
* Any small cell component
* Prior neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant systemic treatment for NSCLC.

Note: Previous treatment for another malignancy not excluded as per next criterion (Participating in another interventional clinical trial for NSCLC) is allowed if the below conditions are fulfilled:

* Treatment with an approved systemic therapy is completed \>4 weeks before randomisation or
* Treatment with systemic biologic therapy is completed \>5 half-lives before randomisation and patient has recovered from any immune-mediated adverse events and endocrinopathies are adequately managed with hormone replacement.

  * Participating in another interventional clinical trial for NSCLC.
  * Diagnosis with another malignancy other than NSCLC that is progressing or requires active treatment.

Exceptions:

* Non-melanoma skin cancer that has undergone potentially curative therapy
* In situ cervical carcinoma
* Any tumour that has been deemed to be definitively treated, such as definitively treated non-metastatic prostate cancer.

  * Has any condition requiring ongoing/continuous corticosteroid therapy (\>10 mg prednisone/day or anti-inflammatory equivalent) within 1 week prior to randomisation. Physiologic replacement doses are allowed even if they are \>10 mg of prednisone per day or equivalent, as long as they are not being administered for immunosuppressive intent. Inhaled or topical steroids are permitted, provided that they are not for treatment of an autoimmune disorder.

Note: Patients who require a brief course of steroids (ex. 3 days in the week before randomisation) or physiologic replacement are allowed to be included in the study.

* Ongoing or recent (within 5 years) evidence of significant autoimmune disease that required treatment with systemic immunosuppressive treatments.

The following are not exclusions: vitiligo, childhood asthma that has resolved, endocrinopathies (such as hypothyroidism or type 1 diabetes) that require only hormone replacement, or psoriasis that does not require systemic treatment.

* Encephalitis, meningitis, organic brain disease (e.g., Parkinson's disease) or uncontrolled seizures within 1 year prior to randomisation.
* Myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to randomisation.
* Known history of, or any evidence of, interstitial lung disease or active, non-infectious pneumonitis within 5 years prior to randomisation.
* Uncontrolled infection with HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C infection; or the patient has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency.

  * Patients with known HIV infection who have controlled infection \[undetectable viral load (HIV RNA PCR) and CD4 count above 350 either spontaneously or on a stable antiviral regimen\] are allowed to be included in the study. Patients with controlled HIV infection should be monitored according to local standards.
  * Patients with hepatitis B (HBsAg+) with controlled infection (serum hepatitis B virus DNA PCR that is below the limit of detection and receiving antiviral therapy for hepatitis B) may be included in the study. Patients with controlled infection must undergo regular monitoring of HBV DNA. Patients must remain on antiviral therapy for at least 6 months after the last dose of cemiplimab.
  * Patients who are hepatitis C virus antibody positive (HCV Ab+) with controlled infection (undetectable HCV RNA by PCR either spontaneously or in response to a successful prior course of anti-HCV therapy) may be included in the study.
* Any infection requiring hospitalisation or treatment with intravenous anti-infectives within 2 weeks before randomisation.
* Receipt of a live vaccine within 28 days before randomisation.
* Receipt of a COVID-19 vaccination within 1 week before randomisation.
* Prior allogeneic stem cell transplantation or received organ transplants at any time, or autologous stem cell transplantation within 12 weeks before randomisation.
* Known or suspected hypersensitivity to cemiplimab or its excipients.
* Women who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are in the period of lactation.
* Sexually active men and women of childbearing potential who are not willing to use an effective contraceptive method during the study.
* Patients who are, or have an immediate family member who is, a member of the clinical study team, unless prior approval has been obtained from the sponsor (ETOP IBCSG Partners Foundation).
* Judgement by the investigator that the patient is unlikely to comply with study procedures, restrictions and requirements.

Where it's running

  • Wien AKH
    Vienna, Austria
    Recruiting
  • North Estonia Medical Centre Foundation
    Talinn, Estonia
    Recruiting
  • CHU d'Angers
    Angers, France
    Recruiting
  • Ruhrlandklinik Essen
    Essen, Germany
    Recruiting
  • LMU München
    München, Germany
    Recruiting
  • Pius Hospital, University Medicine Oldenburg
    Oldenburg, Germany
    Recruiting
Show 29 more locations
  • Beaumont Hospital
    Dublin, Ireland
    Recruiting
  • St James's Hospital
    Dublin, Ireland
    Recruiting
  • IRCCS - Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST)
    Meldola, Italy
    Recruiting
  • Instituto Europeo di Oncologia (IEO)
    Milan, Italy
    Recruiting
  • Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo
    Pavia, Italy
    Recruiting
  • Nuovo Ospedale di Prato Santo Stefano
    Prato, Italy
    Recruiting
  • Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata di Verona
    Verona, Italy
    Recruiting
  • National University Hospital
    Singapore, Singapore
    Recruiting
  • Complejo Hospitalario Universitario
    A Coruña, Spain
    Recruiting
  • Hospital General Universitario Dr. Balmis de Alicante
    Alicante, Spain
    Recruiting
  • Hospital Universitario Cruces
    Barakaldo, Spain
    Recruiting
  • Hospital de La Santa Creu I Sant Pau
    Barcelona, Spain
    Recruiting
  • Hospital Universitario Vall D'Hebron
    Barcelona, Spain
    Recruiting
  • Hospital Clínico San Cecilio de Granada
    Granada, Spain
    Recruiting
  • Hospital Universitario de Jerez de La Frontera
    Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
    Recruiting
  • Hospital Clínico San Carlos
    Madrid, Spain
    Recruiting
  • Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria
    Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
    Recruiting
  • Hospital General Universitario de Valencia
    Valencia, Spain
    Recruiting
  • University Hospital Basel
    Basel, Switzerland
    Recruiting
  • Kantonsspital Winterthur
    Winterthur, Switzerland
    Recruiting
  • Centre hospitalier d'Avignon
    Avignon, France
    Not yet recruiting
  • Evangelische Lungenklinik Berlin
    Buch, Germany
    Not yet recruiting
  • Cork University Hospital
    Cork, Ireland
    Not yet recruiting
  • St. Vincent's University Hospital
    Dublin, Ireland
    Not yet recruiting
  • Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori
    Milan, Italy
    Not yet recruiting
  • AOU Maggiore della Carità
    Novara, Italy
    Not yet recruiting
  • University of Perugia, AO SM Misericorida Perugia
    Perugia, Italy
    Not yet recruiting
  • Azienda ospedaliero-universitaria Senese Siena
    Siena, Italy
    Not yet recruiting
  • AULSS2 Marca Trevigiana Treviso
    Treviso, Italy
    Not yet recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

  • Neoadjuvant Cemiplimab + Dupilumab in Early-Stage NSCLC

    This study tests whether giving cemiplimab with dupilumab before surgery can be safe and help shrink tumors in people with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer.

    Recruiting Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) · Montreal, Quebec and 1 other locations · NCT06743581

  • Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer

    This study is testing if adding a new drug called alirocumab to standard chemotherapy helps people with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer have better results after surgery.

    Recruiting Phase 2 Duke University · Durham, North Carolina · NCT06385262

  • Combination treatment for early-stage lung cancer

    This study is testing a combination of two medications, dupilumab and cemiplimab, to see if they can help people with early-stage lung cancer before surgery.

    Recruiting Phase 1/2 Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · New York, New York · NCT06088771

  • Patient-specific MRD liquid biopsy for resected NSCLC

    This study tests a personalized MRD blood and bronchial washing test after surgery to see if it can signal recurrence earlier in people with resected NSCLC.

    Recruiting Yonsei University · Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do and 2 other locations · NCT07921888

  • Osimertinib Plus SRS/SRT for EGFR-Mutant NSCLC with Symptomatic Brain Metastases

    This study tests whether adding targeted brain radiotherapy to osimertinib helps control brain metastases in adults with EGFR-mutant NSCLC and neurological symptoms.

    Recruiting Phase 2 Cho Ray Hospital · Ho Chi Minh City · NCT07911449

  • Dato-DXd in solid tumors (Urothelial Cancer and KRAS-mutant NSCLC) in two sub-studies

    This study tests Datopotamab Deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) alone or with other cancer drugs in people with urothelial cancer or KRAS-mutant non-small cell lung cancer.

    Recruiting Phase 1/2 Daiichi Sankyo · Taichung · NCT07890714

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
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.