Study of Lenalidomide and Dexamethasone With or Without Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in Participants With Newly Diagnosed Treatment Naive Multiple Myeloma (MK-3475-185/KEYNOTE-185)

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02579863
• Recruitment Status: Terminated
• First Posted: October 20, 2015
• Results First Posted: September 17, 2019
• Last Update Posted: July 20, 2021
• Sponsor: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Study Description

Brief Summary:

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of lenalidomide and low dose dexamethasone with pembrolizumab (MK-3475) to that of lenalidomide and low dose dexamethasone without pembrolizumab in terms of progression-free survival (PFS) in participants with newly diagnosed and treatment-naïve multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant (Auto-SCT). The study's primary hypothesis is that pembrolizumab in dexamethasone prolongs progression free survival (PFS) as assessed by Clinical Adjudication Committee (CAC) blinded central review using International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) response criteria compared to treatment combination with lenalidomide and low-dose with lenalidomide and low-dose dexamethasone (standard of care, SOC) alone.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Multiple Myeloma	Biological: Pembrolizumab; Drug: Lenalidomide; Drug: Dexamethasone	Phase 3

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Actual Enrollment: 310 participants
• Allocation: Randomized
• Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)
• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Official Title: A Phase III Study of Lenalidomide and Low-Dose Dexamethasone With or Without Pembrolizumab (MK3475) in Newly Diagnosed and Treatment Naïve Multiple Myeloma (KEYNOTE 185).
• Actual Study Start Date: October 19, 2015
• Actual Primary Completion Date: July 9, 2018
• Actual Study Completion Date: July 13, 2020

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Experimental: Pembrolizumab + Lenalidomide + Dexamethasone; Participants received pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously (IV) on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle PLUS lenalidomide 25 mg orally (PO) on Days 1 to 21 of each 21-day treatment cycle, and dexamethasone 40 mg PO on Days 1, 8, 15 and 22 of each 28-day cycle for up to 18 cycles.	Biological: Pembrolizumab; IV infusion; Other Name: MK-3475; Drug: Lenalidomide; oral capsules; Drug: Dexamethasone; oral tablets
Active Comparator: Lenalidomide + Dexamethasone; Participants received lenalidomide 25 mg PO on Days 1 to 21 of each 21-day treatment cycle, and dexamethasone 40 mg PO on Days 1, 8, 15 and 22 of each 28-day cycle for up to 18 cycles.	Drug: Lenalidomide; oral capsules; Drug: Dexamethasone; oral tablets

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Progression Free Survival (PFS) Evaluated According to the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) Response Criteria 2011 by Clinical Adjudication Committee (CAC) Blinded Central Review [ Time Frame: Up to approximately 30 months ]
   PFS was defined as the time from randomization to the first documented disease progression (events of new bone lesions, soft tissue plasmacytomas or an increase in existing lesions, or death due to any cause). The median PFS was calculated from the product-limit (Kaplan-Meier) method for censored data. Due to the small number of events, the tail of the estimated survival distribution was close to the median for both arms. The higher variability of the tail estimates resulted in observing the median estimate in the experimental arm but not in the standard of care arm even when number of events in 2 arms were similar. The database cutoff date was July 9, 2018.

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. Overall Survival (OS) [ Time Frame: Up to approximately 55 months ]
   OS was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. OS was calculated from the product-limit (Kaplan-Meier) method for censored data. Participants without documented death at the time of the final analysis were censored at the date of the last follow-up. This is an event-driven (events of death) outcome measure. At the time of data cut-off, there were an insufficient number of events from the censored data to be able to estimate certain parameters (e.g. medians). The database cutoff date was August 3, 2020.
2. Overall Response Rate (ORR) Evaluated According to the IMWG Response Criteria by CAC Blinded Central Review [ Time Frame: Up to approximately 30 months ]
   ORR was based on participants who achieved at least a partial response (stringent complete response [sCR]+complete response [CR]+very good partial response [VGPR]+partial response [PR]) according to the IMWG. CR = negative immunofixation of serum and urine AND disappearance of any soft tissue plasmacytomas AND <5% plasmacytomas in the bone marrow; sCR=stringent complete response, CR as above PLUS normal serum free light-chain (FLC) assay ratio and absence of clonal cells in bone marrow by immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence; VGPR = serum and urine M-component detectable by immunofixation but not on electrophoresis OR ≥ 90% reduction in serum M-component plus urine M-component <100 mg/24 hr; PR = ≥50% reduction of serum M-protein and reduction in 24-hour urinary M-protein by ≥90% or to <200 mg/24 hours. The data cutoff date was July 9, 2018.
3. Duration of Response (DOR) Evaluated According to IMWG Response Criteria by CAC Blinded Central Review [ Time Frame: Up to approximately 30 months ]
   Response duration was defined as the time from first documented evidence of at least a partial response (sCR+CR+VGPR+PR]), until confirmed disease progression or death. DOR was calculated from product-limit (Kaplan-Meier) method for censored data. This is an event-driven (events of disease progression and death) outcome measure. At the time of data cut-off, there were an insufficient number of events from the censored data to be able to estimate certain parameters (e.g. medians). Full Range is the minimum and maximum of the observed duration of response. The data cutoff date was July 9, 2018.
4. Disease Control Rate (DCR) Evaluated According to the IMWG Response Criteria by CAC Blinded Central Review [ Time Frame: Up to approximately 30 months ]
   Disease control rate was defined as the percentage of participants who achieved confirmed sCR, CR, VGPR, PR, or have demonstrated SD for at least 12 weeks prior to any evidence of progression. CR = negative immunofixation of serum and urine AND disappearance of any soft tissue plasmacytomas AND <5% plasmacytomas in the bone marrow; VGPR = serum and urine M-component detectable by immunofixation but not on electrophoresis OR ≥ 90% reduction in serum M-component plus urine M-component <100 mg/24 hr; PR = ≥50% reduction of serum M-protein and reduction in 24-hour urinary M-protein by ≥90% or to <200 mg/24 hours; SD = not meeting the criteria for CR, VGPR, PR, or PD; PD = development of new bone lesions or soft tissue plasmacytomas or on a definite increase in the size of existing bone lesions or soft tissue plasmacytomas. Data cutoff date was July 9, 2018.
5. Second Progression Free Survival (PFS2) [ Time Frame: Up to approximately 55 months ]
   PFS2 was defined as the time from randomization to subsequent disease progression after initiation of new anti-cancer therapy, or death from any cause, whichever occurred first, by investigator assessment. PFS was assessed by Clinical Adjudication Committee (CAC) blinded central review according to the IMWG response criteria based on the development of new bone lesions or soft tissue plasmacytomas or on a definite increase in the size of existing bone lesions or soft tissue plasmacytomas. PFS2 was not completed due to incomplete enrollment for a clinical hold and study cancellation.
6. Number of Participants Who Experienced One or More Adverse Events (AEs) [ Time Frame: Up to approximately 55 months ]
   An AE was defined as any unfavorable and unintended sign including an abnormal laboratory finding, symptom or disease associated with the use of a medical treatment or procedure, regardless of whether it was considered related to the medical treatment or procedure, that occurred during the course of the study. The database cutoff date was August 3, 2020.
7. Number of Participants Discontinuing Study Treatment Due to an AE [ Time Frame: Up to approximately 55 months ]
   An AE was defined as any unfavorable and unintended sign including an abnormal laboratory finding, symptom or disease associated with the use of a medical treatment or procedure, regardless of whether it was considered related to the medical treatment or procedure, that occurred during the course of the study. The database cutoff date was August 3, 2020.

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Confirmed diagnosis of active multiple myeloma and measurable disease.
• Ineligible to receive treatment with auto-SCT due to age (≥65 years old) or any significant coexisting medical condition (cardiac, renal, pulmonary or hepatic dysfunction), likely to have a negative impact on tolerability of auto-SCT. Participants <65 years of age who refuse auto-SCT are not eligible for this study.
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status of 0 or 1.
• Female participants of childbearing potential must have 2 negative urine pregnancy tests (with a sensitivity of at least 25 Milli-international units/milliliter) within 10 to 14 days and within 24 hours prior to receiving study medication.
• Female participants of childbearing potential must agree to use adequate contraception 28 days prior to study start, continuing throughout the study, and for up to 28 days after the last dose of lenalidomide (or 120 days after the last dose of pembrolizumab).
• Male participants of childbearing potential must agree to use adequate contraception from the first dose of study medication, continuing throughout the study, and for up to 28 days after the last dose of lenalidomide (or 120 days after the last dose of pembrolizumab).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Has undergone prior allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation within the last 5 years.
• Has peripheral neuropathy ≥ Grade 2.
• Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment within the last 5 years (except for basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or in situ cervical cancer that has undergone potentially curative therapy).
• Has history of non-infectious pneumonitis that required steroids or current pneumonitis
• Has received prior therapy with an anti-programmed cell death 1 receptor (anti-PD-1), anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (anti-PD-L1), anti-PD-L2, anti-CD137, or anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) antibody (including ipilimumab or any other antibody or drug specifically targeting T-cell co-stimulation or checkpoint pathways).
• Has a known Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), or a known, active Hepatitis B (HBV), or a known, active Hepatitis C (HCV) infection.
• Is unable or unwilling to undergo thromboembolic prophylaxis including, as clinically indicated, aspirin, Coumadin (warfarin) or low-molecular weight heparin.
• Has lactose intolerance.
• Has an invasive fungal infection.

Contacts and Locations

Sponsors and Collaborators

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Investigators

• Study Director: Medical Director; Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

  Study Documents (Full-Text)

Documents provided by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC:

Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan  [PDF] June 4, 2020

More Information

Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):

Usmani SZ, Schjesvold F, Oriol A, Karlin L, Cavo M, Rifkin RM, Yimer HA, LeBlanc R, Takezako N, McCroskey RD, Lim ABM, Suzuki K, Kosugi H, Grigoriadis G, Avivi I, Facon T, Jagannath S, Lonial S, Ghori RU, Farooqui MZH, Marinello P, San-Miguel J; KEYNOTE-185 Investigators. Pembrolizumab plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone for patients with treatment-naive multiple myeloma (KEYNOTE-185): a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial. Lancet Haematol. 2019 Sep;6(9):e448-e458. doi: 10.1016/S2352-3026(19)30109-7. Epub 2019 Jul 18.

• Responsible Party: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02579863
• Other Study ID Numbers: 3475-185; 2015-002901-12 ( EudraCT Number ); 163239 ( Registry Identifier: JAPIC-CTI ); MK-3475-185 ( Other Identifier: Merck ); KEYNOTE-185 ( Other Identifier: Merck )
• First Posted: October 20, 2015
• Results First Posted: September 17, 2019
• Last Update Posted: July 20, 2021
• Last Verified: June 2021

Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:

• Plan to Share IPD: Yes
• Plan Description: http://engagezone.msd.com/doc/ProcedureAccessClinicalTrialData.pdf
• URL: http://engagezone.msd.com/ds_documentation.php

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No

Keywords provided by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC:

PD1; PD-1; PD-L1; PDL1

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Multiple Myeloma; Neoplasms, Plasma Cell; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms; Hemostatic Disorders; Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Paraproteinemias; Blood Protein Disorders; Hematologic Diseases; Hemorrhagic Disorders; Lymphoproliferative Disorders; Immunoproliferative Disorders; Immune System Diseases; Dexamethasone; Pembrolizumab; Lenalidomide; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antiemetics; Autonomic Agents; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Gastrointestinal Agents; Glucocorticoids; Hormones; Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; Antineoplastic Agents; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors