Home › Trials › NCT07160335

Comparing HLX17 and Keytruda after surgery for NSCLC, melanoma, or renal cell cancer

A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel-Controlled Phase I Clinical Study to Evaluate the Pharmacokinetic Profile, Efficacy, Safety and Immunogenicity of HLX17 vs. Keytruda® (US-sourced Keytruda®) in Multiple Resected Solid Tumors

Phase 1 Interventional Shanghai Henlius Biotech · NCT07160335

This trial will test whether HLX17 works like Keytruda in people who have had surgery to remove non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma, or renal cell carcinoma.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 1
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment174 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 70 Years
SexAll
SponsorShanghai Henlius Biotech Industry-sponsored
Drugs / interventionspembrolizumab, radiation, prednisone
Locations69 sites (Glendale, California and 68 other locations)
Trial IDNCT07160335 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a multicenter, randomized, double‑blind, parallel‑controlled Phase I trial comparing the pharmacokinetics, efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of HLX17 versus US‑sourced Keytruda in patients with completely resected non‑small cell lung cancer, melanoma, or renal cell carcinoma at risk of recurrence. Participants are adults between 18 and 75 years with good performance status (ECOG 0) and specified BMI and weight limits, enrolled at several sites in the Los Angeles area. The study measures drug exposure and immune response while monitoring recurrence endpoints and adverse events under blinded treatment assignments. Shanghai Henlius Biotech is the lead sponsor and sites include regional oncology clinics and an HCA hospital in Southern California.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18–75 who have had complete resection of NSCLC, melanoma, or intermediate‑to‑high‑risk RCC, have ECOG performance status 0, meet the study weight/BMI limits, and have adequate organ function.

Not a fit: Patients with unresected or active metastatic disease, poorer performance status, significant organ dysfunction, or who fall outside the study's strict age, weight, or BMI criteria are unlikely to qualify or benefit from this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If HLX17 is similar to Keytruda, patients could have an effective alternative anti–PD‑1 therapy that may increase supply or lower costs while maintaining protection against recurrence.

How similar studies have performed: Other biosimilar comparisons and PD‑1 agent equivalence studies have shown similar pharmacokinetics and safety in some settings, so the overall approach is established though specific results vary by agent and indication.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Participants must have signed and dated an Institutional Review Board/Independent Ethics Committee (IRB/IEC) approved written informed consent form (ICF) in accordance with regulatory and institutional guidelines.
2. At least 18 years and no older than 75 years (including 75 years old) at the time of signing the ICF.
3. 18 kg/m2 ≤ body mass index (BMI) ≤ 30 kg/m2 and 50 kg ≤ body weight ≤ 85 kg.
4. The patient with one of the following resected solid tumors:

   * NSCLC patients after complete resection OR
   * Melanoma following complete resection OR
   * Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) at intermediate-high or high risk of recurrence following nephrectomy, or following nephrectomy and resection of metastatic lesions.
5. Have a performance status of 0 on the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status within 7 days prior to the first dose in this study.
6. Have a life expectancy of at least 12 weeks.
7. Have adequate organ function as indicated by the following laboratory values (no blood transfusions, or treatment with albumin, recombinant human thrombopoietin or colony-stimulating factor within 14 days prior to the first dose in this study)
8. Female patients must meet one of the following conditions:

   1. Menopause (defined as no menstruation for at least 1 year with no confirmed cause other than menopause), or
   2. Surgically sterilized (removal of the ovaries and/or uterus), or
   3. Fertile, but must:

      * be tested negative for serum/urine pregnancy test within 7 days prior to the randomization, and
      * agree to use contraception methods with an annual failure rate of \< 1% or to remain abstinent (avoid heterosexual intercourse from signing the ICF to at least 6 months after the last dose of the study drug) (a contraceptive method with an annual failure rate of \< 1% includes bilateral tubal ligation, male sterilization, correct use of hormonal contraceptives that can inhibit ovulation, hormone-releasing intrauterine devices and copper-containing intrauterine devices or condoms), and
      * not breastfeed
9. Male patients must: agree to remain abstinent (avoid heterosexual intercourse) or take contraception measures as follows: male patients with a pregnant partner or a partner of childbearing potential must remain abstinent or use condoms to prevent drug exposure to the embryo during study treatment and for at least 6 months after the last dose of study drug. Periodic abstinence (e.g., contraception based on calendar day, ovulatory phase, basal body temperature, or postovulatory phase) and external ejaculation are ineligible methods of contraception.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Pregnant or lactating women.
2. History of illicit drug use or alcohol abuse within 12 months prior to randomization in the investigator's judgment.
3. Participants with NSCLC have two synchronous primary non-small cell lung cancers or other histopathological types (such as mixed adenosquamous carcinoma, small cell lung cancer, or neuroendocrine carcinoma)； known positive for EGFR sensitive mutations or ALK fusion. EGFR sensitive mutations include: exon 19 deletion mutation (19DEL) and exon 21 point mutation (21L858R).
4. Participants with MEL have mucosal or ocular melanoma.
5. Participants with RCC have pre-existing brain or bone metastatic lesions, or residual thrombus in the renal vein or vena cava after nephrectomy.
6. Participants with other primary active malignancies within 5 years or at the same time prior to randomization.
7. Have received an organ or bone marrow transplantation prior to randomization or scheduled for transplantation during the study.
8. Presence of central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis.
9. Symptomatic cerebrovascular disease or known myocardial infarction or poorly controlled arrhythmia (including QTc intervals ≥ 450 ms for males and ≥ 470 ms for females calculated by Fridericia's formula) within 6 months prior to randomization.
10. Chronic heart failure (Class III to IV based on NYHA classification) or an LVEF (left ventricular ejection fraction) assessed with the doppler echocardiography less than 50%.
11. Peripheral neuropathy greater than or equal to Grade 2 (CTCAE).
12. Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (or positive anti-HIV during screening), or known Hepatitis B (or positive test for HBsAg or HBcAb and positive test for HBV-DNA during screening), or known Hepatitis C (or positive tests for HCV antibody and HCV-RNA during screening), or known Hepatitis B and C co-infection (or positive test for HBsAg or HBcAb and positive test for HCV antibody during screening), or active pulmonary tuberculosis within 6 months prior to randomization.
13. Known interstitial pneumonia, pneumoconiosis, radiation pneumonitis, drug-related pneumonitis, and severe lung function abnormalities that may impede the investigators' diagnosis and management of drug-related pulmonary toxicity prior to screening.
14. Known severe allergic or anaphylactic reactions to pembrolizumab or any other monoclonal antibody or any components of the investigational medicinal products.
15. Known active or suspected autoimmune diseases. Patients with stable disease who do not require systemic immunosuppressive therapy may also participate.
16. Unstable hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism at screening.
17. Have received live vaccines within 28 days prior to the first dose in this study (Inactivated viral vaccines for seasonal influenza are allowed).
18. Treatment with systemic corticosteroids (\> 10 mg/day prednisone efficacy dosage) or other immunosuppressive drugs within 14 days prior to the first dose or during the study. However, participants are allowed to be enrolled under the following conditions: in the absence of active autoimmune disease, participants are allowed to use topical or inhaled steroids and adrenal hormone replacement therapy at dosages equivalent to ≤ 10 mg/day of prednisone efficacy.
19. Any active infection requiring systemic therapy within 1 month prior to the first dose in this study.
20. Participants have planning to undergo surgical treatment during this clinical trial. Tumor puncture or incisional lymph node biopsy is allowed.
21. Have received pembrolizumab or any other immune checkpoints inhibitors (PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA4, etc.) before randomization.
22. Participants have participated in a clinical study with another investigational medicinal product prior to randomization, and the interval between the current study and the previous study is too short: within 1 month prior to the first dose of the current study or within 5 half-lives of the previous investigational medicinal product (whichever is longer). Or planning to participate in a clinical study with another investigational medicinal product before completing all scheduled assessments in this clinical study.
23. Participants have participated in a device clinical study within 1 month prior to screening, or are participating in another surgical or device clinical study at the time of screening, or plan to participate in another surgical or device clinical study during this clinical study.
24. The investigator has a clear reason to believe that participation in this study would be detrimental to the participant.

Where this trial is running

Glendale, California and 68 other locations

+19 more sites — see ClinicalTrials.gov for the full list.

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
View on ClinicalTrials.gov → Find more trials like this →
Conditions Non-small Cell Lung CancerMelanomaRenal Cell Carcinoma
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.