Medical Information Only. Always consult your healthcare provider before enrolling in any clinical trial.

NCT03515837 · ClinicalTrials.gov registry record · Phase 3

Study of Pemetrexed + Platinum Chemotherapy With or Without Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in Adults With Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor- (TKI)-Resistant Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor- (EGFR)-Mutated Metastatic Non-squamous Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) (MK-3475-789/KEYNOTE-789)

A Phase 3 study of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme.

Completed
Registry status
Phase 3
Development phase
492
Enrollment target
20
Study locations

NCT03515837: Completed Phase 3 study of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme.

NCT03515837 is a Phase 3 study of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer that has completed, run by Merck Sharp & Dohme. The registered enrollment target is 492 participants, below the 651-participant average among 454 other Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer trials with a reported enrollment target (24% lower). The trial reports 20 study locations across 12 states. According to ClinicalTrials.gov, the official US trial registry.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

View your shortlist →

The verdict

NCT03515837, a Phase 3 study of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, has completed, sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme.

COMPLETED
Registry status
Phase 3
Development phase
492 participants
Enrollment target
20
Study locations

Study Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pemetrexed plus platinum chemotherapy (carboplatin or cisplatin) with or without pembrolizumab (MK-3475; KEYTRUDA®) in the treatment of adults with the following types of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-resistant, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated, metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumors: 1) TKI-failures (including osimertinib \[TAGRISSO®\] failure) with T790M-negative mutation tumors, 2) T790M-positive mutation tumors with prior exposure to osimertinib, and 3) first-line osimertinib failure regardless of T790M mutation status. The primary study hypotheses are that the combination of pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy has superior efficacy compared to saline placebo plus chemotherapy in terms of: 1) Progression-free Survival (PFS) per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) based on blinded independent central review, and 2) Overall Survival (OS). This study will be considered to have met its success criteria if the combination of pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy is superior to saline placebo plus chemotherapy in terms of PFS or OS. Upon study completion, participants are discontinued and may be enrolled in a pembrolizumab extension study, if available.

Primary Outcome

PFS is defined as the time from randomization to the first documented progressive disease (PD) or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first. PFS was assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR) using RECIST 1.1. Per RECIST 1.1, PD is defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of at least 5 mm. Note: The appearance of one or more new lesions is also cons

Conditions Studied

Interventions

  • BIOLOGICAL pembrolizumab
  • DRUG cisplatin
  • DRUG carboplatin
  • DRUG pemetrexed
  • DRUG saline solution

Study Locations (20)

California

  • Cedars-Sinai Medical Center ( Site 0070) - Los Angeles
  • Pacific Cancer Care ( Site 0058) - Monterey
  • UC Irvine Medical Center/Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center ( Site 0092) - Orange
  • St. Joseph Heritage Healthcare ( Site 0003) - Santa Rosa

New York

  • New York Oncology Hematology P.C ( Site 8000) - Albany
  • Monter Cancer Center ( Site 0054) - Lake Success
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center-Rockerfeller Patient Pavilion ( Site 0049) - New York
  • White Plains Hospital Center for Cancer Care ( Site 0014) - White Plains

Oregon

  • Providence Portland Medical Center ( Site 0097) - Portland
  • Kaiser Permanente Northwest ( Site 0037) - Portland

Texas

  • Parkland Health & Hospital System ( Site 2102) - Dallas
  • University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas ( Site 0035) - Dallas

Illinois

  • North Shore University Health System ( Site 0030) - Evanston

Iowa

  • Siouxland Regioinal Cancer Center dba June E. Nylen Cancer Center ( Site 0065) - Sioux City

Minnesota

  • Southdale Cancer Care, University of Minnesota Medical Center- Edina ( Site 0048) - Edina

Missouri

  • Saint Lukes Hospital of Kansas City ( Site 0060) - Kansas City

Trial Details

FieldValue
Enrollment Target 492 participants
Start Date 2018-06-29
Est. Completion 2023-10-02
Phase Phase 3
Merck Sharp & Dohme

558 total trials

What the finished NCT03515837 record still lists

NCT03515837 is an interventional study that assigns participants to a tested intervention. The registered 492 participants enrollment target is mid-sized for trials with a published cap, below the 651-participant average among 454 other Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer trials with a reported enrollment target (24% lower).

The record links to 1 condition, with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer appearing as the primary indexed condition, and to 5 interventions - of which pembrolizumab is the first listed.

NCT03515837 names 20 study sites across 12 states, led by California, New York, Oregon.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is clinical trial NCT03515837 about?

NCT03515837 is a clinical study titled "Study of Pemetrexed + Platinum Chemotherapy With or Without Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in Adults With Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor- (TKI)-Resistant Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor- (EGFR)-Mutated Metastatic Non-squamous Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) (MK-3475-789/KEYNOTE-789)". The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pemetrexed plus platinum chemotherapy (carboplatin or cisplatin) with or without pembrolizumab (MK-3475; KEYTRUDA®) in the treatment of adults with the following types of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-resistant, epidermal growth f...

What is the current status of trial NCT03515837?

This trial is currently completed. It is a Phase 3 study. The enrollment target is 492 participants. The study started on 2018-06-29. Estimated completion is 2023-10-02.

What conditions does trial NCT03515837 study?

This clinical trial studies the following conditions: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

What interventions are being tested in trial NCT03515837?

The interventions under investigation include: pembrolizumab (BIOLOGICAL), cisplatin (DRUG), carboplatin (DRUG), pemetrexed (DRUG), saline solution (DRUG).

Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT03515837?

This trial is sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme, which has 558 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Where is trial NCT03515837 being conducted?

This trial has 20 study locations across California, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri. Contact the study sites directly through ClinicalTrials.gov for enrollment availability.

Similar trials for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Matched on the same primary condition, ranked to surface studies in the same phase first, then by recruiting status, no relevance scoring or editorial curation.

Where NCT03515837's enrollment target sits among peer trials

492 80th of 454 higher than 375 of 454 other Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer trials

participants (enrollment target), bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more other Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer trials. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source ClinicalTrials.gov registry export · 2026-08-08

Nationwide trials with similar profiles

Cross-condition peers matched on enrollment target and registry start date, not the same-condition list above.

Similar enrollment target

  • NCT05861973 · 492 participants · NA

    SMARTer Weight Loss Management

  • NCT05908331 · 492 participants · NA

    MagicTouch for Treatment of In-Stent Restenosis in Coronary Artery Lesions

  • NCT06152575 · 492 participants · Phase 3

    MagnetisMM-32: A Study to Learn About the Study Medicine Called Elranatamab in People With Multiple Myeloma (MM) That Has Come Back After Taking Other Treatments (Including Prior Treatment With an Anti-CD38 Antibody and Lenalidomide)

  • NCT06953089 · 492 participants · Phase 2

    DB-1311 in Combination With BNT327 or DB-1305 in Advanced/Metastatic Solid Tumors

Similar registry start date

  • NCT05962346 · started 2026-12 · NA

    Fetal Endoscopic Tracheal Occlusion for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

  • NCT07125183 · started 2026-12 · Phase 2

    Study on Efficacy and Tolerability of Weekly Doxorubicin in Elderly Patients With Advanced or Metastatic Leiomyosarcoma

  • NCT07292298 · started 2026-11 · Phase 2

    Phase 2 Single-Arm Rectal Cancer Brachytherapy for Patients With Low-Lying Residual Adenocarcinoma After Total Neoadjuvant Therapy to Improve Organ Preservation Rates

  • NCT04263285 · started 2026-10 · NA

    Treatment of Depression Post-SCI

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03515837, the US trial registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine. NCT03515837 (mid enrollment · wide site footprint · completed) retrieved and formatted by PlainTrial, see methodology.