Active — Not RecruitingPhase 3

Efficacy and Safety of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in Combination With Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) in High-Risk Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (HR NMIBC) (MK-3475-676/KEYNOTE-676)

United States, Australia, Austria1,397 participantsStarted 2018-12-24

Plain-language summary

Researchers are looking for new ways to treat high-risk non muscle invasive bladder cancer (HR NMIBC). NMIBC is cancer in the tissue that lines the inside of the bladder but has not spread to the bladder muscle or outside of the bladder. High-risk means NMIBC may have a high chance of getting worse or coming back after treatment. The goals of this study are to learn: 1. If more people who receive pembrolizumab with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) have no signs of cancer in their body and live longer without the cancer growing, spreading, or coming back compared to people who receive BCG alone. 2. About the safety and how well people tolerate BCG alone or in combination with pembrolizumab.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Have locally and blinded independent central review (BICR)-confirmed histological diagnosis of high-risk non-muscle invasive (T1, high grade Ta and/or CIS) UC of the bladder * Has undergone cystoscopy/ transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) to remove all resectable disease * Has provided tissue for biomarker analysis * Has Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0, 1 or 2 * Has adequate organ function * During the treatment period and for ≥7 days after the last dose of BCG, male participants are EITHER abstinent from heterosexual intercourse as their preferred and usual lifestyle and agree to remain abstinent, OR, must agree to use contraception unless confirmed to be azoospermic * Female participants who are not pregnant, not breastfeeding, and either not a woman of child bearing potential (WOCBP); or are a WOCBP who agrees to use a contraception method that is highly effective or remains abstinent from heterosexual intercourse during the treatment period and for ≥7 days after the last dose of BCG or 120 days after the last dose of pembrolizumab, whichever comes last BCG Post-induction Cohort (Cohort A) Only * Has been treated with one adequate course of BCG induction therapy for the treatment of HR NMIBC * Following adequate BCG induction therapy, must have persistent or recurrent HR NMIBC Exclusion Criteria: * Has a history of or concurrent locally advanced (i.e., T2, T3, T4) or metastatic UC * Has concurrent ext…

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Complete Response Rate (CRR) by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR) (Cohort A)

Timeframe: Up to ~3.5 years

Event-Free Survival (EFS) (Cohort B)

Timeframe: Up to ~5 years

Trial details

NCT IDNCT03711032

SponsorMerck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Sponsor typeINDUSTRY

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-07-31

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More High-risk Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer trials