Clinical trial Recruiting at 4 sites Phase1; Phase2 Interventional Ages 18 and up

Evaluating CJRB-101 with Pembrolizumab for Advanced Cancer

Official title: Phase 1/2 Open Label, Safety and Preliminary Efficacy Study of a Live Biotherapeutic Product (CJRB-101) in Combination With Pembrolizumab in Subjects With Selected Types of Advanced or Metastatic Cancer

Run by CJ Bioscience, Inc. · NCT05877430 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing a new treatment combining CJRB-101 with pembrolizumab to see if it helps people with advanced cancers like lung cancer and melanoma feel better and respond better to their treatment.

Quick facts

PhasePhase1; Phase2
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment160 (estimated)
SponsorCJ Bioscience, Inc.
Industry-sponsored
Drugs / interventionspembrolizumab
Locations4 sites (Irvine, California and 3 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedSeptember 11, 2023
Main results expectedJuly 2026
Study endsOctober 2027
Registry record updatedDecember 20, 2024
Trial IDNCT05877430 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates include adults aged 18 and older with advanced or metastatic NSCLC, HNSCC, or melanoma who have not previously received immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Probably not a fit

Patients with cancers that have specific genomic aberrations or those who have previously received immune checkpoint inhibitors 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 study investigates the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of CJRB-101 in combination with pembrolizumab for patients with advanced or metastatic cancers such as NSCLC, HNSCC, and melanoma. It aims to address the low response rates to immune checkpoint inhibitors by assessing various outcomes, including response rates, dose-limiting toxicities, and pharmacodynamic effects. The study will be conducted at multiple centers in the USA and South Korea, focusing on patients who are either treatment-naive or have relapsed/refractory disease. Participants will undergo evaluations at different dose levels of CJRB-101 alongside pembrolizumab.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could improve response rates for patients with advanced cancers who currently have limited options.

How similar studies have gone: Other studies using similar combinations of immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown promise, but this specific approach with CJRB-101 is novel.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Willing and able to provide informed consent
2. ≥18 years of age at the time of signing the informed consent form
3. Pathologically documented histological or cytological evidence of NSCLC, HNSCC, or melanoma.
4. Has at least 1 measurable target lesion per RECIST v1.1 that has not been resected/biopsied/or irradiated before enrollment in the study
5. Diagnosis of locally advanced unresectable or metastatic NSCLC, HNSCC, or melanoma in subjects who are ICI treatment-naive or relapsed/refractory, including PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors
6. ICI treatment-naive subjects must meet the following criteria:

   1. NSCLC: Subjects with metastatic or with unresectable, recurrent NSCLC whose tumors must have no EGFR or ALK genomic aberrations and express PD-L1 \[TPS≥50%\]
   2. HNSCC: Subjects with metastatic or with unresectable, recurrent HNSCC whose tumors express PD-L1 \[CPS ≥20\]
   3. Melanoma: Irrespective of PD-L1 result and BRAF V600 mutation
   4. Subjects has not received prior systemic treatment for their metastatic tumor. Subjects who received adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy are eligible if the adjuvant/neoadjuvant therapy was completed at least 6 months before the development of metastatic disease.
7. ICI treatment-refractory subjects as defined by the following criteria:

   1. Has received at least 2 cycles of anti-PD-(L)1 therapy either as monotherapy or in combination
   2. Has demonstrated disease progression after ICI treatment by RECIST v1.1
   3. Has received less than three lines of systemic therapy for metastatic tumor
8. ECOG performance status of 0 or 1
9. Be willing to provide archival tissue or fresh biopsy
10. Have adequate organ function
11. All Grade 3 or greater AEs resolved earlier to Grade 2 or less

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Cancer type and genomic tumor aberrations:

   1. NSCLC subjects with EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations
   2. HNSCC subjects with nasopharyngeal cancer
2. For ICI refractory/relapsed subjects: Immune related AEs ≥Grade 3 that led to discontinuation of prior immune-modulatory agents including PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors
3. With uncontrolled or untreated brain metastasis or leptomeningeal disease
4. Active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years
5. Received a fecal transplant
6. Concurrent participation in another interventional clinical study or use of another investigational agent within 30 days of study consent
7. Contraindication to IV contrast that cannot be managed with pre-medication
8. Female subjects who are pregnant or breastfeeding
9. Male subjects who are unwilling or unable to use an acceptable method of birth control to avoid pregnancy
10. Has a known inability for oral intake of capsules
11. Has received a live vaccine within 4 weeks of start of the study treatment
12. Diagnosis of prior immunodeficiency or organ transplant requiring immunosuppressive therapy
13. Has received whole blood transfusion, blood component transfusion, or colony stimulating factors within 1 week prior to the 1st dose of study treatment
14. In the judgment of the investigator, subjects unlikely to comply with study procedures, restrictions and requirements
15. Has active interstitial lung disease (ILD)/pneumonitis or a history of ILD/pneumonitis requiring treatment with systemic steroids
16. Have allergy to clindamycin, erythromycin, and ampicillin
17. Has signs and symptoms of colitis at screening
18. Infection requiring systemic antibacterial, antifungal, or antiviral therapy within 14 days before study treatment (Note: Antiviral therapy is permitted for subjects with chronic HBV or HCV infection)
19. Untreated chronic hepatitis B or chronic HBV carriers with HBV DNA\>500 IU/mL (or \>2500 copies/mL) at screening (Note: Inactive hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) carriers, treated and stable hepatitis B (HBV DNA \< 500 IU/mL or \< 2500 copies/mL) can be enrolled. Subjects with detectable HbsAg or detectable HBV DNA should be managed per treatment guidelines. Subjects receiving antivirals at screening should have been treated for \> 2 weeks before study treatment.)
20. With active hepatitis C (Note: Subjects with a negative HCV antibody test at screening or positive HCV antibody test followed by a negative HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA) test at screening are eligible. The HCV RNA test will be performed only for subjects testing positive for HCV antibody. Subjects receiving antivirals at screening should have been treated for \> 2 weeks before study treatment.)
21. Known history of HIV infection
22. History of active inflammatory bowel disease with diarrhea believed to be caused by active inflammatory bowel disease in the past 12 months
23. Major surgery for any reason, except diagnostic biopsy, within 4 weeks of study informed consent and or if the subject has not fully recovered from the surgery within 4 weeks of informed consent
24. History of major gastrointestinal surgery
25. History or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the trial
26. Currently active, clinically significant cardiovascular disease
27. Known active intravenous drug or alcohol abuse or use of other drugs of abuse
28. Has any contraindication as mentioned in the recent Keytruda, Highlights of Prescribing Information (pembrolizumab)

Where it's running

  • University of California, Irvine
    Irvine, California, United States
    Recruiting
  • University of Pittsburgh
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
    Recruiting
  • Samsung Medical Center
    Seoul, South Korea
    Recruiting
  • Severance Hospital
    Seoul, South Korea
    Recruiting

Study contacts

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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.