NCT05142189 · BioNTech SE
Clinical Trial Evaluating the Safety, Tolerability and Preliminary Efficacy of BNT116 Alone and in Combinations in Patients With Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
(LuCa-MERIT-1)
What this study is about
This first-in-human (FIH) study for BNT116 aims to establish the safety profile and a safe dose for BNT116 treatment given alone as well as for BNT116 in combination with approved medicinal products and/or in combination with experimental medicinal products (IMPs) including, but not limited to, cemiplimab, docetaxel, carboplatin, paclitaxel, osimertinib, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), rearranged during transfection (RET) TKIs, BNT316 (an anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 \[CTLA-4\] antibody), an anti-B7-H3 antibody conjugated to a topoisomerase I inhibitor, an anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3) antibody conjugated to a topoisomerase I inhibitor or a bispecific antibody for programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) in participants with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study will comprise several cohorts for dose confirmation in treatment given alone as well as in combinations of BNT116 as mentioned above. The study will enroll participants with NSCLC in advanced or metastatic stage in Cohorts 1 to 4 and Cohorts 7 to 10, unresectable NSCLC Stage III in Cohorts 5 and 11, resectable NSCLC of Stage II and III in group of participants 6, advanced/metastatic epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant NSCLC in group of participants EGFR, and advanced/metastatic ALK rearranged or RET rearranged NSCLC in group of participants ALK/RET. group of participants EGFR and group of participants ALK/RET will enroll only at selected sites in the US.
View original scientific description
This first-in-human (FIH) study for BNT116 aims to establish the safety profile and a safe dose for BNT116 monotherapy as well as for BNT116 in combination with approved medicinal products and/or in combination with investigational medicinal products (IMPs) including, but not limited to, cemiplimab, docetaxel, carboplatin, paclitaxel, osimertinib, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), rearranged during transfection (RET) TKIs, BNT316 (an anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 \[CTLA-4\] antibody), an anti-B7-H3 antibody conjugated to a topoisomerase I inhibitor, an anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3) antibody conjugated to a topoisomerase I inhibitor or a bispecific antibody for programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) in participants with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study will comprise several cohorts for dose confirmation in monotherapy as well as in combinations of BNT116 as mentioned above. The study will enroll participants with NSCLC in advanced or metastatic stage in Cohorts 1 to 4 and Cohorts 7 to 10, unresectable NSCLC Stage III in Cohorts 5 and 11, resectable NSCLC of Stage II and III in Cohort 6, advanced/metastatic epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant NSCLC in Cohort EGFR, and advanced/metastatic ALK rearranged or RET rearranged NSCLC in Cohort ALK/RET. Cohort EGFR and Cohort ALK/RET will enroll only at selected sites in the US.
Who can participate
This study lists these criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov. A study coordinator reviews eligibility during screening — this page does not determine whether you qualify.
Inclusion criteria
- Participants must have histologically confirmed NSCLC and measurable disease by RECIST v1.1. Note: Participants in Cohorts 1, 5 and 11 do not have to present with measurable disease.
- Participants must present with unresectable Stage III or metastatic Stage IV NSCLC by American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) Cancer Staging Manual, Eighth Edition. EXCEPT
- Participants in Cohorts 5 and 11 must present with unresectable Stage III NSCLC by AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, Eighth Edition before receiving pre-study chemoradiotherapy.
- Participants in Cohort 6 with the initial diagnosis of resectable Stage II and Stage III NSCLC by AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, Eighth Edition.
- Participants in Cohorts 2, 4, 5, 6, 10 and 11 must be able to tolerate (additional) anti-PD-1 therapy (i.e., did not permanently discontinue anti-programmed death protein 1 \[PD-1\] / programmed death ligand 1 \[PD-L1\] therapy due to toxicity).
- Participants must have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG-PS) less than or equal to (\<=) 1, except for participants in Cohorts 1, 4, 5, 10 and 11 who are eligible with an ECOG-PS of 0-2. Cohort-specific inclusion criteria: Cohort 1:
- Participants' prior therapy must have included at least a PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor and a platinum-based chemotherapy regimen as well as one other line of systemic therapy (except if a participant is not candidate for a platinum-based chemotherapy and/or PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor and/or another line of systemic therapy). Note: Participants newly enrolled in Cohort 1B under protocol v 5.0 and subsequent versions of the protocol must consent to mandatory blood sampling for peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).
- Participants who are to start cemiplimab at Cycle 3 must present with PD-L1 expression of tumor proportion score (TPS) greater than or equal to (\>=) 1% in tumor cells (as determined locally). Cohort 2:
- Participants must present with PD-L1 expression of tumor proportion score (TPS) \>= 50% in tumor cells (as determined locally prior to inclusion in this study).
- Participants must present with progressive disease either
- in the advanced or metastasized stage of NSCLC: while on a PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor therapy or within 6 months of termination of this treatment as first-line treatment. Or
- be refractory to ongoing adjuvant therapy/maintenance treatment after CRT with a PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor that has been given for at least 3 months in monotherapy (i.e., after an initial combination therapy) before being enrolled into this study. Cohort 3:
- Participants' prior therapy must have included at least a PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor and a platinum-based chemotherapy regimen (except if a participant is not candidate for a platinum-based chemotherapy and/or PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor).
- Participants must present with progressive disease. Cohort 4:
- Participants who are not candidates for chemotherapy as first-line treatment for the advanced or metastasized stage of NSCLC may be enrolled if presenting with PD-L1 expression: TPS \>= 1% in tumor cells (as determined locally). Cohort 5:
- Participants' NSCLC must have been considered unresectable due to participant's condition and/or tumor-related factors and the participants must have undergone chemoradiotherapy before entering the study. Cohort 6:
- Participants' NSCLC must be considered technically and medically resectable.
- Participants must be considered eligible for neo-adjuvant treatment. Cohort 7:
- Participants' prior therapy must have included at least a PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor and a platinum-based chemotherapy regimen (except if a participant is not a candidate for a platinum-based chemotherapy and/or PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor). Note 1: Participants may have received prior therapy targeting CTLA-4, lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3), T cell immunoglobulin and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif \[ITIM\] domain (TIGIT), VEGF or VEGF receptor (VEGFR) inhibitor as monotherapy or part of a combination therapy. Note 2: If the participants' prior therapies included a CTLA-4 inhibitor, the participant must be able to tolerate (additional) treatment with the CTLA-4 inhibitor.
- Participants must present with progressive disease at study enrollment.
- Participants must consent to mandatory blood sampling for PBMCs. Cohorts 8 \& 9:
- Participants' prior therapy must have included at least a PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor and a platinum-based chemotherapy regimen (except if a participant is not a candidate for a platinum-based chemotherapy and/or PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor).
- Participants must present with progressive disease at study enrollment. Cohort 10:
- Participants who are not candidates for chemotherapy as first-line treatment for the advanced or metastasized stage of NSCLC may be enrolled. Cohort 11:
- Participants' NSCLC must have been considered unresectable due to participants condition and/or tumor related factors and the participants must have undergone chemoradiotherapy before entering the study. Cohort EGFR (will enroll only at selected sites in the US):
- Participants' NSCLC must have classical EGFR mutations, i.e., ex19Del or L858R.
- Participants must have ongoing treatment with osimertinib. Cohort ALK/RET (will enroll only at selected sites in the US):
- Participants' NSCLC must have ALK rearrangement or RET rearrangement.
- Participants must have ongoing treatment with a standard of care ALK TKI or RET TKI. Key
Exclusion criteria
- Ongoing active systemic treatment against NSCLC.
- Presence of a driver mutation for which approved target therapies are available except if the participant is not a candidate for the respective targeted therapy. EXCEPT participants in Cohort EGFR and Cohort ALK/RET.
- Ongoing or recent evidence (within the last 5 years) of significant autoimmune disease that required treatment with systemic immunosuppressive treatments which may suggest risk for immune-related adverse events. Note: Participants with autoimmune-related hyperthyroidism, autoimmune-related hypothyroidism who are in remission, or on a stable dose of thyroid-replacement hormone, vitiligo, or psoriasis may be included.
- Current evidence of new or growing brain or spinal metastases during screening. Participants with leptomeningeal disease are excluded. Participants with known brain or spinal metastases may be eligible for all Cohorts, except for Cohorts 5, 6 and 11, if they:
- had radiotherapy or another appropriate therapy for the brain or spinal metastases, AND
- have no neurological symptoms that can be attributed to the current brain lesions, AND
- have stable brain or spinal disease on the computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan within 4 weeks before signing the informed consent (confirmed by stable lesions on two scans at least 4 weeks apart), AND
- do not require steroid therapy for the treatment of brain or spinal metastases within 14 days before the first dose of study treatment. Note: Spinal bone metastases (that is, of the vertebrae) are allowed, unless imminent fracture or cord compression is anticipated.
- Systemic immune suppression:
- Current use of chronic systemic steroid medication (\<= 5 mg/day prednisolone equivalent is allowed); participants using physiological replacement doses of prednisone for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency are eligible. Note: Steroid medication given for supportive or prophylactic reasons during CRT for participants in Cohorts 5 and 11 needs to be tapered to \<= 5 mg/day prednisolone equivalent at latest on the day before the study treatment starts.
- Other clinically relevant systemic immune suppression within the last 3 months before study enrollment.
- Known history of seropositivity for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4)+ T-cell (CD4+) counts less than (\<) 350 cells/microlitre (mcL) and with a history of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining opportunistic infections.
- Prior splenectomy.
- History/risk of interstitial lung disease or low baseline lung function (baseline pulse oximetry of less than 92% oxygen saturation \[SpO2\] without additional oxygen). NOTE: Other protocol defined Inclusion/Exclusion criteria apply to all or some participants depending on the cohort.
Where
- Lexington, Kentucky
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Houston, Texas
- Fairfax, Virginia
Frequently asked questions
What is a clinical trial?
A clinical trial is a research study that tests new medical treatments, drugs, devices, or procedures to determine their safety and effectiveness. Trials are carefully designed and monitored to protect participants while advancing medical knowledge.
Is it safe to participate?
Clinical trials follow strict safety guidelines and ethical standards. Trials must be reviewed and approved, and participants are closely monitored by medical professionals throughout the study. You can withdraw at any time if you choose.
Will I be compensated?
Many clinical trials offer compensation for your time, travel expenses, and inconvenience. The specific compensation varies by study and will be discussed during the screening process. All study-related medical care is typically provided at no cost to participants.
Will I receive a placebo instead of treatment?
When effective treatment exists, participants typically receive either the standard treatment plus the study intervention, or the standard treatment plus placebo. You would not be denied effective care. Placebos are primarily used when no proven treatment is available, or in addition to standard care. Your trial consent form will clearly explain what treatments you may receive.
Can I leave a trial if I change my mind?
Absolutely. Participation in clinical trials is completely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.
How long does a clinical trial last?
Trial duration varies widely depending on the study design and purpose. Some trials last just a few weeks, while others may continue for months or years. The study coordinator will provide specific timeline information during your screening call.
Data: ClinicalTrials.gov · synced Apr 14, 2026 · Source of record for eligibility and locations