Daromun treatment for advanced melanoma before surgery
Official title: An Open-Label, Randomized, Controlled Multi-Center Study of The Efficacy of Daromun (L19IL2 + L19TNF) Neoadjuvant Intratumoral Treatment Followed by Surgery and Adjuvant Therapy Versus Surgery and Adjuvant Therapy in Clinical Stage IIIB/C/D Melanoma Patients
Run by Philogen S.p.A. · NCT03567889 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing if a new treatment called Daromun can help people with advanced melanoma live longer without their cancer coming back after surgery.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 3 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 186 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Philogen S.p.A. Industry-sponsored |
| Drugs / interventions | Ipilimumab, Nivolumab, Pembrolizumab, Trametinib |
| Locations | 37 sites (Phoenix, Arizona and 36 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 20, 2018 |
| Main results expected | December 2027 |
| Study ends | December 2031 |
| Registry record updated | December 17, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT03567889 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with clinically diagnosed stage IIIB or IIIC melanoma who are eligible for complete surgical resection.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with non-resectable melanoma or those with other severe comorbidities may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of Daromun as a neoadjuvant intratumoral treatment in patients with clinical stage IIIB/C melanoma, followed by surgery and adjuvant therapy. It is an open-label, randomized, controlled study involving 186 participants who will be assigned to either receive Daromun treatment or standard surgery and adjuvant therapy. The primary goal is to improve recurrence-free survival compared to the standard treatment alone. Patients will be monitored for up to five years post-randomization to assess outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly improve recurrence-free survival rates for patients with advanced melanoma.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown promise with neoadjuvant therapies in melanoma, suggesting potential for success with this approach.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of clinical stage IIIB, IIIC, and IIID (AJCC 8th edition) locoregional melanoma that is eligible for complete surgical resection of all metastases (surgically resectable). 2. Eligible subjects must have measurable disease and must be candidate for intralesional therapy with at least one injectable cutaneous, subcutaneous, or nodal melanoma lesion (≥ 10 mm in longest diameter) or with multiple injectable lesions that in aggregate have a longest diameter of ≥ 10 mm. 3. Prior anti-tumor treatment for the primary melanoma lesion, including surgery and approved adjuvant treatments (e.g., radiotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, BRAF/MEK inhibitors, etc.) is allowed. Before enrollment in the study, a wash-out period of 6 weeks is required and toxicities from prior treatments should be resumed to Grade ≤1. 4. Males or females, age ≥ 18 years. 5. ECOG Performance Status/WHO Performance Status ≤ 1. 6. Life expectancy of \> 24 months. 7. Absolute neutrophil count \> 1.5 x 109/L. 8. Hemoglobin \> 9.0 g/dL. 9. Platelets \> 100 x 109/L. 10. Total bilirubin ≤ 30 μmol/L (or ≤ 2.0 mg/dl). 11. ALT and AST ≤ 2.5 x the upper limit of normal (ULN). 12. Serum creatinine \< 1.5 x ULN. 13. LDH serum level ≤ 1.5 x ULN. 14. Documented negative test for HIV, HBV and HCV. For HBV serology, the determination of HBsAg and anti-HBcAg Ab is required. In patients with serology documenting previous exposure to HBV (i.e. positive anti-HBsAg with not vaccination and/or positive anti-HBcAg Ab), negative serum HBV-DNA is also required. 15. All acute toxic effects (excluding alopecia) of any prior therapy must have resolved to National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) (v4.03) Grade ≤ 1 unless otherwise specified above. 16. All women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must have negative pregnancy test results at the screening. WOCBP must be using, from the screening to three months following the last study drug administration, highly effective contraception methods. WOCBP and effective contraception methods are defined by the "Recommendations for contraception and pregnancy testing in clinical trials" issued by the Head of Medicine Agencies' Clinical Trial Facilitation Group and which include, for instance, progesterone-only or combined (estrogen- and progesterone-containing) hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation, intrauterine devices, intrauterine hormone-releasing systems, bilateral tubal occlusion, vasectomized partner or sexual abstinence. Pregnancy test will be repeated at the safety visit (only WOCBP and only for patients in Arm 1). 17. Male patients with WOCBP partners must agree to use simultaneously two acceptable methods of contraception (i.e. spermicidal gel plus condom) from the screening to three months following the last study drug administration. 18. Evidence of a personally signed and dated informed consent document indicating that the subject has been informed of all pertinent aspects of the study. 19. Willingness and ability to comply with the scheduled visits, treatment plan, laboratory tests and other study procedures. Exclusion Criteria 1. Uveal melanoma or mucosal melanoma 2. Evidence of distant metastases at screening. 3. Previous or concurrent cancer that is distinct in primary site or histology from the cancer being evaluated in this study except: cervical carcinoma in situ, curatively treated basal cell carcinoma, superficial bladder tumors (Ta, Tis \& T1), second primary melanoma in situ or any cancer curatively treated ≥ 5 years prior to study entry. 4. Presence of active infections (e.g. requiring antimicrobial therapy) or other severe concurrent disease, which, in the opinion of the investigator, would place the patient at undue risk or interfere with the study. 5. History within the last year of acute or subacute coronary syndromes including myocardial infarction, unstable or severe stable angina pectoris. 6. Inadequately controlled cardiac arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation. 7. Heart insufficiency (\> Grade II, New York Heart Association (NYHA) criteria). 8. LVEF ≤ 50% and/or abnormalities observed during baseline ECG and Echocardiogram investigations that are considered as clinically significant by the investigator. 9. Uncontrolled hypertension. 10. Ischemic peripheral vascular disease (Grade IIb-IV). 11. Severe diabetic retinopathy. 12. Active autoimmune disease. 13. History of organ allograft or stem cell transplantation. 14. Recovery from major trauma including surgery within 4 weeks prior to enrollment. 15. Known history of allergy to IL2, TNF, or other human proteins/peptides/antibodies or any other constituent of the product. 16. Breast feeding female. 17. Anti-tumor therapy (except small surgery) within 4 weeks before enrollment. 18. Previous in vivo exposure to monoclonal antibodies for biological therapy in the 6 weeks before enrollment. 19. Planned administration of growth factors or immunomodulatory agents within 7 days before enrollment. 20. Patient requiring or taking corticosteroids or other immunosuppressant drugs on a long-term basis will be evaluated case by case with the Sponsor for inclusion/exclusion in the study. Limited use of corticosteroids to treat or prevent acute hypersensitivity reactions is not considered an exclusion criteria. 21. Any conditions that in the opinion of the investigator could hamper compliance with the study protocol. 22. Previous enrolment and randomization in the same study.
Where it's running
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Mayo Clinic Hospital
Phoenix, Arizona, United States Recruiting -
Moffitt Cancer Center
Tampa, Florida, United States Recruiting -
Winship Cancer Institute, Emory university
Atlanta, Georgia, United States Recruiting -
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota, United States Recruiting -
Rutgers Cancer Institute, 195 Little Albany Street
New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States Recruiting -
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center - Main Campus
Ney York, New York, United States Recruiting
Show 31 more locations
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Duke University Medical Center - Duke Cancer Center
Durham, North Carolina, United States Recruiting -
Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Columbus, Ohio, United States Recruiting -
Penn State Cancer Institute
Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting -
Fox Chase Cancer Center 333 Cottman Avenue
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting -
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas, United States Recruiting -
Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah 2000 Circle of Hope
Salt Lake City, UT, Utah, United States Recruiting -
VCU - McGlothlin Medical Education Center
Richmond, Virginia, United States Recruiting -
Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol
Badalona, Barcelona, Spain Recruiting -
Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau
Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain Recruiting -
Fir Huvh Fundacio Institut De Recerca Hospital Universitari Vall De Hebron
Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain Recruiting -
Hospital Clinic Barcelona
Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain Recruiting -
El Hospital Universitario De Gran Canaria Dr. Negrin
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canarie, Spain Recruiting -
Fundacion Onkologikoa Fundazioa
Donostia / San Sebastian, Gipuzkoa, Spain Recruiting -
Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre
Madrid, Madrid, Spain Recruiting -
Hospital Universitario Regional de Málaga
Málaga, Malaga, Spain Recruiting -
Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca
Murcia, Murcia, Spain Recruiting -
Hospital General Universitario de Valencia
Valencia, Spain Recruiting -
Istituto Oncologico della Svizzera Italiana
Bellinzona, Bellinzona, Switzerland Recruiting -
Kantonsspital St.Gallen
Sankt Gallen, Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland Recruiting -
Universitätsspital Zürich (USZ)
Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland Recruiting -
UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center
La Jolla, California, United States Active not recruiting -
UC Irvine Health-Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
Orange, California, United States Active not recruiting -
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, Illinois, United States Active not recruiting -
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Iowa City, Iowa, United States Active not recruiting -
Ambulatory Care Center at NYC Langarone Health
New York, New York, United States Active not recruiting -
St. Luke's Cancer Center, Clinical Trial, 3rd floor, 1600 St. Luke's Blvd.
Easton, Pennsylvania, United States Active not recruiting -
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Madrid, Madrid, Spain Active not recruiting -
Hospital Universitario Virgen De La Macarena
Seville, Sevilla, Spain Active not recruiting -
Universitätsspital Basel
Basel, Basel, Switzerland Active not recruiting -
Insel Gruppe AG
Bern, Canton of Bern, Switzerland Active not recruiting -
Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève
Geneva, Canton of Geneva, Switzerland Active not recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Sheila Dakhel, PhD
- Email: sheila.dakhel@philogen.com
- Phone: +41 (0) 43 544 88 02
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.