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Evaluating the effects of nemtabrutinib in patients with blood cancers

A Phase 2 Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of MK-1026 in Participants With Hematologic Malignancies

Phase 2 Interventional Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC · NCT04728893

This study is testing a new oral medication called nemtabrutinib to see if it can help people with blood cancers like chronic lymphocytic leukemia and Waldenström's macroglobulinemia feel better and stay safe.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment490 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorMerck Sharp & Dohme LLC Industry-sponsored
Drugs / interventionsnemtabrutinib
Locations121 sites (Springdale, Arkansas and 120 other locations)
Trial IDNCT04728893 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial aims to assess the safety and efficacy of nemtabrutinib in patients diagnosed with various hematologic malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia and Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. The study is divided into two parts: the first part focuses on dose escalation to determine the recommended phase 2 dose, while the second part involves cohort expansion with disease-specific groups. Participants will receive the oral medication and will be monitored for treatment outcomes and side effects.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include individuals with hematologic malignancies who have a performance status of 0 to 2 and meet specific health criteria.

Not a fit: Patients with severe organ dysfunction or those who cannot tolerate oral medications may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a new therapeutic option for patients with difficult-to-treat blood cancers.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results with similar therapies targeting hematologic malignancies, suggesting potential for success in this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria:

* Has an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 2 within 7 days before C1D1 (the first dose of study treatment)
* Has a life expectancy of at least 3 months, based on the investigator assessment
* Has the ability to swallow and retain oral medication
* Participants who are Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive are eligible if they have received Hepatitis B virus (HBV) antiviral therapy for at least 4 weeks and have undetectable HBV viral load prior to randomization
* Participants with history of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are eligible if HCV viral load is undetectable at screening
* Has adequate organ function
* Male participants agree to refrain from donating sperm and agree to either remain abstinent from penile-vaginal intercourse as their preferred and usual lifestyle OR agree to use contraception, during the intervention period and for at least the time required to eliminate the study intervention after last dose of study intervention
* Female participants assigned female sex at birth who are not pregnant or breastfeeding are eligible to participate if not a participant of childbearing potential (POCBP), or if a POCBP they either use a contraceptive method that is highly effective OR remain abstinent from penile-vaginal intercourse as their preferred and usual lifestyle during the intervention period and for at least to eliminate study intervention after the last dose of study intervention
* Participants with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are eligible if they meet all of the following: the CD4 count is \>350 cells/uL at screening, the HIV viral load is below the detectable level, are on a stable ART regimen for at least 4 weeks prior to study entry, and are compliant with their ART

Part 1 and Part 2 (Cohorts A to C and J)

* Has a confirmed diagnosis of Chronic lymphocytic leukemia/ Small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) with

  * At least 2 lines of prior therapy (Part 1 only)
  * Part 2 Cohort A: CLL/SLL participants who are relapsed or refractory to prior therapy with a covalent, irreversible Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi), and a B-cell lymphoma 2 inhibitor (BCL2i). CLL participants must have received and failed, been intolerant to, or determined by their treating physician to be a poor phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor (PI3Ki) candidate or ineligible for a PI3Ki per local guidelines
  * Part 2 Cohort B: CLL/SLL participants who are relapsed or refractory following at least 1 line of prior therapy and are BTKi treatment naive
  * Part 2 Cohort C: CLL/SLL participants with 17p deletion or tumor protein p53 (TP53) mutation who are relapsed or refractory following at least 1 line of prior therapy
  * Part 2 Cohort J: CLL/SLL participants whose disease relapsed or was refractory to prior therapy with a covalent/irreversible BTKi and BCL2i. NOTE: As of Protocol Amendment 09, at least 10 CLL/SLL participants whose disease relapsed or was refractory to prior therapy with a covalent/irreversible BTKi, BCL2i and noncovalent/reversible BTKi (all three classes of therapies are required) will be enrolled into Cohort J
  * Has active disease for CLL/SLL clearly documented to initiate therapy
  * For SLL participants in Part 2: Has evaluable core or excisional lymph node biopsy for biomarker analysis from an archival or newly obtained biopsy or bone marrow aspirate at Screening (optional for participants enrolling in Part 1)

Part 2 (Cohorts D to G)

\- Has a confirmed diagnosis of and meets the following prior therapy requirements:

* Participants with Richter's transformation who are relapsed or refractory following at least 1 line of prior therapy (Cohort D)
* Participants with pathologically confirmed Mantle-cell lymphoma (MCL), documented by either overexpression of cyclin D1 or t (11;14), who are relapsed or are refractory to chemoimmunotherapy and a covalent irreversible BTKi (Cohort E)
* Participants with Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) (including splenic, nodal, and extra nodal MZL) who are relapsed or refractory to at least one prior line of systemic therapy including an anti-CD20-based regimen
* Participants with Follicular lymphoma (FL) who are relapsed or refractory to chemoimmunotherapy and immunomodulatory agents (such as lenalidomide based regimen) (Cohort G)
* Have measurable disease defined as at least 1 lesion that can be accurately measured in at least 2 dimensions with spiral Computed tomography (CT) scan
* Has a lymph node biopsy for biomarker analysis from an archival or newly obtained biopsy or bone marrow aspirate (Cohort D) at Screening

Part 2 (Cohort H): confirmed diagnosis of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM); participants who are relapsed or refractory to standard therapies for WM including chemoimmunotherapy and a covalent irreversible BTKi

* Has active disease defined as 1 of the following: systemic symptoms, physical findings, laboratory abnormalities, coexisting disease
* Has measurable disease, satisfying any of the following: at least 1 lesion that can be accurately measured in at least 2 dimensions with spiral CT scan (minimum measurement must be \>15 mm in the longest diameter or \>10 mm in the short axis); IgM ≥450 mg/dL; or bone marrow infiltration of 10%
* Has fresh bone marrow aspirate or a lymph node biopsy for biomarker analysis at Screening or a lymph node biopsy from an archival

Exclusion Criteria:

* Has active HBV/HCV infection (Part 1 and Part 2)
* Has a history of malignancy ≤3 years before providing documented informed consent. Participants with basal cell carcinoma of skin, squamous cell carcinoma of skin, or carcinoma in situ (e.g., breast carcinoma, cervical cancer in situ) that have undergone potential curative therapy are not excluded. Participants with low-risk, early-stage prostate cancer (T1-T2a, Gleason score ≤6, and prostate-specific antigen \<10 ng/mL) either treated with definitive intent or untreated in active surveillance with SD are not excluded
* Has active central nervous system (CNS) disease
* Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy
* Has received prior systemic anti-cancer therapy within 5 half-lives or 4 weeks (if prior therapy was a monoclonal antibody) before C1D1
* Is currently participating in or has participated in a study of an investigational agent or has used an investigational device within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study intervention
* Has any clinically significant gastrointestinal abnormalities that might alter absorption
* History of severe bleeding disorders

Where this trial is running

Springdale, Arkansas and 120 other locations

+71 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 Hematologic MalignanciesWaldenstroms MacroglobulinaemiaNon-Hodgkins LymphomaChronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia
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.