Using cemiplimab to treat skin cancers

A Phase 1 Study of Pre-Operative Cemiplimab (REGN2810), Administered Intralesionally, for Patients With Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (CSCC) or Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

PHASE1 · Regeneron Pharmaceuticals · NCT03889912

This study is testing a new drug called cemiplimab to see if it can safely help adults with certain types of skin cancer feel better and manage their tumors.

Quick facts

PhasePHASE1
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment113 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorRegeneron Pharmaceuticals (industry)
Drugs / interventionscemiplimab
Locations22 sites (Phoenix, Arizona and 21 other locations)
Trial IDNCT03889912 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the safety and tolerability of an experimental drug called cemiplimab in adult patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) or basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Participants will receive different doses of cemiplimab weekly for 12 weeks, and the study will assess side effects, the drug's effect on tumors, and how the drug is processed in the body. The goal is to determine how well cemiplimab can help manage these skin cancers.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with a history of recurrent, resectable CSCC or BCC who have measurable disease.

Not a fit: Patients with significant autoimmune diseases requiring systemic immunosuppressive treatments or those with metastatic disease will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a new therapeutic option for patients with recurrent skin cancers.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results with similar immunotherapy approaches, suggesting potential for success in this trial.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Key Inclusion Criteria

1. Dose Escalation: History of recurrent resectable CSCC or BCC (Cohort C and I only) that satisfies conditions as defined in the protocol
2. Patients must have measurable disease in the index lesion, defined as 1-2 cm in the longest diameter
3. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤1

Key Exclusion Criteria

1. Ongoing or recent (within 5 years) evidence of significant autoimmune disease that required treatment with systemic immunosuppressive treatments, which may suggest risk for immune-mediated adverse events (imAEs)
2. Prior treatment with an agent that blocks the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)/ programmed cell death 1 ligand (PD-L1) pathway.
3. Prior treatment with other systemic immune modulating agent as defined in the protocol
4. M1 or N1, N2 (a, b, or c), or N3 CSCC or BCC. Patients with history of metastatic CSCC (distant or nodal), or metastatic BCC (distant or nodal) are excluded unless the disease-free interval is at least 3 years
5. Concurrent malignancies, other than those with negligible risk of metastasis or death. Patients with hematologic malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), are excluded.
6. Patients with a history of solid organ transplant
7. Has received a Coronavirus induced disease of 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination (initial series and booster) within 1 week of planned start of study medication

Note: Other protocol defined Inclusion/Exclusion criteria apply.

Where this trial is running

Phoenix, Arizona and 21 other locations

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 →

Conditions: Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Basal Cell Carcinoma, CSCC, BCC

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.