Testing a new combination of drugs for advanced melanoma treatment

Is this trial a fit for you?

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 investigates the safety and effectiveness of combining two immunotherapy drugs, fianlimab and cemiplimab, compared to cemiplimab alone in adults with resectable stage 3 or 4 melanoma. Participants will receive treatment prior to surgery, followed by surgical resection of the tumor, and may continue treatment post-surgery. The study aims to evaluate not only the efficacy of the drug combination but also the potential side effects associated with the treatments. This approach leverages the immune system to target and eliminate cancer cells more effectively.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Key Inclusion Criteria:

1. All patients must be either stage III (IIIB, IIIC, IIID) or stage IV (M1a, M1b, M1c) per American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th edition (Amin 2017) and have histologically confirmed cutaneous melanoma that is deemed completely surgically resectable in order to be eligible as described in the protocol.
2. Patients with stage III melanoma must have clinically detectable disease that is confirmed as malignant on the pathology report. The pathology report must be reviewed, signed and dated by the investigator; this process will be confirmed during the interactive voice response system (IVRS) process as described in the protocol.
3. Patients must be candidates for full resection with curative intent and must be able to be surgically rendered free of disease with negative margins on resected specimens at surgery. The treatment plan including date of surgery must be documented by the investigator prior to randomization.
4. All patients must undergo full disease staging through a complete physical examination and imaging studies within 4 weeks prior to randomization. Imaging must include a computer tomography (CT) scan of the chest, abdomen, pelvis (if the primary tumor is on the head/neck then include a CT scan of head/neck), and all known sites of previously resected disease (if applicable) and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (or brain CT with contrast allowed if MRI is contraindicated).
5. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) 0 or 1

Key Exclusion Criteria:

Medical conditions:

1. Primary uveal melanoma
2. Ongoing or recent (within 2 years) evidence of an autoimmune disease that required systemic treatment with immunosuppressive agents. The following are non-exclusionary: vitiligo, childhood asthma that has resolved, residual hypothyroidism that requires only hormone replacement, psoriasis not requiring systemic treatment.
3. Patients must not have received any prior systemic anti-cancer therapy for melanoma. Prior radiotherapy for melanoma is allowed if not given to a target lesion or, if given to a target lesion, there is pathological evidence of disease progression in the same lesion.
4. Uncontrolled infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection; or diagnosis of immunodeficiency that is related to or results in chronic infection as described in the protocol.

   Prior/concomitant therapy:
5. Use of immunosuppressive doses of corticosteroids (≥10mg of prednisone per day or equivalent) within 14 days of the first dose of study medication as described in the protocol.
6. Treatment with any anti-cancer therapy for malignancies other than melanoma, including immuno- therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or biological therapy in the 5 years prior to randomization as described in the protocol.

   Other comorbidities:
7. Participants with a history of myocarditis.
8. History or current evidence of significant (CTCAE grade ≥2) local or systemic infection (e. g., cellulitis, pneumonia, septicemia) requiring systemic antibiotic treatment within 2 weeks prior to the first dose of trial medication.

Note: Other protocol-defined inclusion/ exclusion criteria apply

Where it's running

• UC San Diego
  La Jolla, California, United States Recruiting
• USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
  Los Angeles, California, United States Recruiting
• Hoag Family Cancer Institute
  Newport Beach, California, United States Recruiting
• California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute
  San Francisco, California, United States Recruiting
• University of California San Francisco (UCSF)
  San Francisco, California, United States Recruiting
• St John's Cancer Institute
  Santa Monica, California, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Clinical Trials Administrator
• Email: clinicaltrials@regeneron.com
• Phone: 844-734-6643

Similar studies

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

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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.