Follicular LymphomaPhase 2/3NCT07634471
A Clinical Trial of MK-1045 and Rituximab in People With Follicular Lymphoma (MK-1045-007)
A Phase 2/3 study testing MK-1045, Rituximab and Rituximab biosimilar in people with Follicular Lymphoma, run by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC at 35 sites in 13 countries.
Trial summary
Researchers are looking for new ways to treat follicular lymphoma (FL). A standard (usual) treatment for FL includes a targeted therapy called rituximab and chemotherapy. In this study, researchers want to learn if giving a study medicine called MK-1045 and rituximab can treat FL. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Follicular Lymphoma
- What is being tested?
- MK-1045, Rituximab and Rituximab biosimilar
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 960 participants
- Where
- 35 sitesin 13 countries
- Study dates
- 22 Jun 2026to 23 Jul 2035
- Phase
- Phase 2/3
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Has biopsy-proven, previously untreated, histologically confirmed cluster of differentiation (CD)19-positive and CD20-positive classical follicular lymphoma (FL), with Ann Arbor Stage II-IV disease and a Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) score of 2-5.
- Has radiographically measurable disease per the Lugano Response Criteria.
- Has provided a newly obtained core or excisional biopsy or archival tissue of a tumor lesion not previously irradiated.
- If human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive, has well-controlled HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART).
- If hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive, has undetectable hepatitis B virus (HBV) viral load and has received HBV antiviral therapy for at least 4 weeks and will continue it.
- If history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, has undetectable HCV viral load.
Who cannot join
- Has received prior systemic anticancer therapy or radiotherapy for FL.
- Has follicular large B-cell lymphoma or any other subtype of FL other than classical FL.
- Has FL that has transformed into a more aggressive type of lymphoma.
- History or presence of clinically relevant central nervous system (CNS) diseases.
- Has history of serious cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
- Is HIV-infected with a history of Kaposi's sarcoma and/or Multicentric Castleman's Disease.
Show all 14Show fewer
- Has received a live or live-attenuated vaccine within 30 days before the first dose of study intervention.
- Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy.
- Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 3 years.
- Has known active CNS lymphoma or involvement.
- Has an active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years.
- Has active infection requiring systemic therapy.
- Has chronic liver disease, including liver cirrhosis of Child-Pugh class B or C.
- Has not adequately recovered from major surgery or has ongoing surgical complications.
Trial locations and contacts
35 sites in 13 countries. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
35 sites in 13 countries
United States7 sites, 7 recruiting
- Recruiting
University Hospitals of Cleveland ( Site 1321)
Cleveland, Ohio, 44106
Study Coordinator, 216-425-6880
- Recruiting
City of Hope - Duarte Cancer Center ( Site 1301)
Duarte, California, 91010
Study Coordinator, 877-589-4352
- Recruiting
Duke Cancer Center Clinic 1B/C Onc/Heme ( Site 1307)
Durham, North Carolina, 27710
Study Coordinator, 919-681-5698
- Recruiting
John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center ( Site 1311)
Hackensack, New Jersey, 07601
Study Coordinator, 551-996-1777
- Recruiting
University of Kentucky ( Site 1303)
Lexington, Kentucky, 40536
Study Coordinator, 859-323-2354
- Recruiting
SCRI Oncology Partners ( Site 7000)
Nashville, Tennessee, 37203
Study Coordinator, 615-329-7640
- Recruiting
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai ( Site 1325)
New York, New York, 10029
Study Coordinator, 212-824-7391
Spain5 sites, 5 recruiting
- Recruiting
Institut Català d'Oncologia (ICO) - Badalona ( Site 0904)
Badalona, Barcelona, 08916
Study Coordinator, 34 934978387
- Recruiting
Hospital Universitari Vall de Hebron ( Site 0903)
Barcelona, 08035
Study Coordinator, +34932746000, 2347
- Recruiting
Hospital Universitario Gregorio Maranon ( Site 0902)
Madrid, 28007
Study Coordinator, 34 915868888
- Recruiting
Hospital Virgen de la Victoria ( Site 0905)
Málaga, Malaga, 29010
Study Coordinator, 34 923291100,56621
- Recruiting
Hospital Universitario de Salamanca ( Site 0906)
Salamanca, 37007
Study Coordinator, +34923291100ext56621
Argentina4 sites, 4 recruiting
- Recruiting
Hospital Aleman ( Site 0101)
Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires F.D., C1118AAT
Study Coordinator, +54 11-4827-7000
- Recruiting
Instituto Alexander Fleming ( Site 0105)
Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, C1426ANZ
Study Coordinator, +541132218900
- Recruiting
Hospital Privado Universitario de Córdoba ( Site 0102)
Córdoba, X5016KEH
Study Coordinator, +54 9 0351 468-8200
- Recruiting
Sanatorio Nuestra Senora del Rosario ( Site 0104)
Rosario, Santa Fe Province, S2001SBK
Study Coordinator, +543414858585
Israel3 sites, 3 recruiting
- Recruiting
Hadassah Medical Center ( Site 0701)
Jerusalem, 9112001
Study Coordinator, +97226777333
- Recruiting
Sheba Medical Center ( Site 0702)
Ramat Gan, 5265601
Study Coordinator, +97235303030
- Recruiting
Sourasky Medical Center ( Site 0704)
Tel Aviv, 6423906
Study Coordinator, +97236974444
Turkey (Türkiye)3 sites, 3 recruiting
- Recruiting
Hacettepe Universite Hastaneleri ( Site 1110)
Ankara, 06230
Study Coordinator, +905348719633
- Recruiting
Sisli Florence Nightingale Hastanesi ( Site 1112)
Istanbul, 34381
Study Coordinator, +905348310606
- Recruiting
Ondokuz Mayıs Universitesi ( Site 1113)
Samsun, 55270
Study Coordinator, +905068756912
Chile2 sites, 2 recruiting
- Recruiting
Biocenter ( Site 0402)
Concepción, Biobio, 4070196
Study Coordinator, +5695684078
- Recruiting
Fundacion Arturo Lopez Perez FALP ( Site 0404)
Santiago, Region M. de Santiago, 7500836
Study Coordinator, +56224205098
China2 sites, 2 recruiting
- Recruiting
Beijing Cancer hospital ( Site 0501)
Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100142
Study Coordinator, +861088196118
- Recruiting
Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center ( Site 0504)
Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 200030
Study Coordinator, +860216417559088217
Greece2 sites, 2 recruiting
- Recruiting
Evangelismos General Hospital of Athens ( Site 1501)
Athens, Attica, 106 76
Study Coordinator, 00302132041
- Recruiting
General Hospital of Athens "Laiko" ( Site 1502)
Athens, Attica, 115 27
Study Coordinator, +302132061702
Poland2 sites, 2 recruiting
- Recruiting
Pratia MCM Krakow ( Site 1702)
Krakow, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, 30-727
Study Coordinator, +48122958160
- Recruiting
Narodowy Instytut Onkologii im. Marii Sklodowskiej-Curie ( Site 1701)
Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, 02-781
Study Coordinator, +48225462000
Taiwan2 sites, 2 recruiting
- Recruiting
National Taiwan University Hospital ( Site 1001)
Taipei, 100225
Study Coordinator, 02-23123456
- Recruiting
Chang Gung Medical Foundation-Linkou Branch ( Site 1002)
Taoyuan, 333
Study Coordinator, 03-3281200
Australia1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Box Hill Hospital ( Site 0201)
Box Hill, Victoria, 3128
Study Coordinator, +6104438659719
Italy1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
INOC - Istituto Nazionale Oncologico Candiolo ( Site 1602)
Candiolo, Torino, 10060
Study Coordinator, +390119933355
South Korea1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Samsung Medical Center ( Site 0801)
Seoul, 06351
Study Coordinator, +82234106548
About this study
Official title: A Phase 2/3 Randomized, Open-label Study of MK-1045 in Combination With Rituximab in Participants With 1L Follicular Lymphoma
Researchers are looking for new ways to treat follicular lymphoma (FL). A standard (usual) treatment for FL includes a targeted therapy called rituximab and chemotherapy. In this study, researchers want to learn if giving a study medicine called MK-1045 and rituximab can treat FL. MK-1045 is a type of treatment called immunotherapy.
The goals of this study are to learn:
- About the safety of MK-1045 and rituximab, and if people tolerate them when given together
- If people who receive MK-1045 and rituximab have the cancer go away
- If people who receive MK-1045 and rituximab live longer without their cancer getting worse compared to those who receive standard treatment (rituximab and chemotherapy)
- Conditions
- Follicular Lymphoma
- Being tested
- MK-1045, Rituximab, Rituximab biosimilar, Bendamustine, Cyclophosphamide
- Medical subject headings
- Lymphoma, Follicular
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
MK-1045Biological
Also called CN201
Intravenous (IV) infusion
RituximabBiological
IV infusion
Rituximab biosimilarBiological
Also called TRUXIMA®, RUXIENCE®, RIABNI®
IV infusion
BendamustineDrug
Also called Bendeka, Treanda, Belrapzo
IV infusion
CyclophosphamideDrug
Also called Cytoxan, Neosar, Cytophosphane
IV infusion
VincristineDrug
Also called Oncovin, Vincasar PFS
IV infusion
PrednisoneDrug
Also called Prednisone acetate
Per approved product label
PrednisoloneDrug
Also called Prednisolone acetate
Per approved product label
Also called Adriamycin
IV infusion
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1: MK-1045 plus Rituximab (or biosimilar) | Experimental | Participants will receive escalating doses of MK-1045 (from 2 mg to 90 mg) once weekly (QW) for up to approximately 12 months. Participants will also receive 375 mg/m^2 rituximab (or biosimilar) once every 4 weeks (Q4W) for up to approximately 6 months. Receives: Biological: MK-1045; Biological: Rituximab; Biological: Rituximab biosimilar |
| Part 2: MK-1045 plus Rituximab (or biosimilar) | Experimental | Participants will receive MK-1045 QW at the dose determined in Part 1 for up to approximately 12 months. Participants will also receive 375 mg/m^2 rituximab (or biosimilar) Q4W for up to approximately 6 months. Receives: Biological: MK-1045; Biological: Rituximab; Biological: Rituximab biosimilar |
| Part 2: Physician's Choice of Chemotherapy plus Rituximab (or biosimilar) | Experimental | Participants will receive physician's choice of: 90 mg/m^2 bendamustine on Days 1 and 2 of each 4-week cycle for up to 6 cycles (up to approximately 6 months) plus 375 mg/m^2 rituximab (or biosimilar) Q4W for up to approximately 6 months OR 750 mg/m^2 cyclophosphamide, 50 mg/m^2 doxorubicin, and 1.4 mg/m^2 vincristine on day 1 of each 3-week cycle (Q3W) and 100 mg/m^2 prednisone (or prednisolone) once daily on days 1 through 5 Q3W for up to 6 cycles (up to approximately 4 months) plus 375 mg/m^2 rituximab (or biosimilar) Q3W for up to approximately 4 months OR 750 mg/m^2 cyclophosphamide and 1.4 mg/m^2 vincristine Q3W and 40 mg/day prednisone (or prednisolone) once daily on days 1 through 5 of each 3-week cycle for up to 6 cycles (up to approximately 4 months) plus 375 mg/m^2 rituximab (or biosimilar) Q3W for up to approximately 6 months. Receives: Biological: Rituximab; Biological: Rituximab biosimilar; Drug: Bendamustine; Drug: Cyclophosphamide; Drug: Vincristine; Drug: Prednisone; Drug: Prednisolone; Drug: Doxorubicin Hydrochloride |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Part 1: Number of Participants Who Experience an Adverse Event (AE)
An AE is defined as any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, disease, or worsening of preexisting condition temporally associated with study treatment and irrespective of causality to study treatment.
Measured: Up to approximately 15 months
Part 1: Number of Participants Who Discontinue Study Treatment Due to an AE
An AE is defined as any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, disease, or worsening of preexisting condition temporally associated with study treatment and irrespective of causality to study treatment.
Measured: Up to approximately 12 months
Part 1: Number of Participants Who Experience Dose Limiting Toxicity (DLT)
DLT will be defined as any drug-related AE observed during the DLT evaluation period that results in a change to a given dose or a delay in initiating the next cycle.
Measured: Up to approximately 36 days
Part 1: Complete Response (CR) Rate
For participants who demonstrate a confirmed Complete Response (CR: disappearance of all target lesions) per Lugano response criteria. CR rate is defined as the percentage of participants who experience a CR. The CR rate as assessed by physician investigator will be presented.
Measured: Up to approximately 60 months
Part 2: Progression-Free Survival (PFS)
PFS is defined as the time from randomization to the first documented disease progression per Lugano response criteria by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR) or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first.
Measured: Up to approximately 63 months
Secondary outcomes (15)
Part 1: Objective Response Rate (ORR)
ORR is defined as the percentage of participants with CR (CR: disappearance of all target lesions) or Partial Response (PR: at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) per Lugano response criteria. The percentage of participants who experience CR or PR as assessed by physician investigator will be presented.
Measured: Up to approximately 60 months
Part 1: Duration of CR
For participants who demonstrate CR (CR: disappearance of all target lesions) at end of treatment per Lugano response criteria, defined as the time from the first documented evidence of CR until disease progression or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first.
Measured: Up to approximately 60 months
Part 1: Area Under the Concentration-Time Curve at Steady State (AUCss) of MK-1045
Blood samples will be collected at multiple time points to estimate the AUCss of MK-1045.
Measured: Predose and at designated time points post-dose (up to approximately 12 months)
Part 1: Maximum Concentration (Cmax) of MK-1045
Blood samples will be collected at multiple time points to estimate the Cmax of MK-1045.
Measured: Predose and at designated time points post-dose (up to approximately 12 months)
Part 1: Trough Concentration (Ctrough) of MK-1045
Blood samples will be collected at multiple time points to estimate the Ctrough of MK-1045.
Measured: Predose and at designated time points post-dose (up to approximately 12 months)
Part 2: CR Rate at 30 Months
For participants who demonstrate a confirmed CR (CR: disappearance of all target lesions) per Lugano response criteria. CR rate is defined as the percentage of participants who experience a CR by month 30. The CR rate as assessed by BICR at month 30 will be presented.
Measured: 30 months
Part 2: ORR
ORR is defined as the percentage of participants with CR (CR: disappearance of all target lesions) or PR (PR: at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) per Lugano response criteria. The percentage of participants who experience CR or PR as assessed by BICR will be presented.
Measured: Up to approximately 63 months
Part 2: Overall Survival (OS)
OS is defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause.
Measured: Up to approximately 63 months
Part 2: Event-Free Survival (EFS)
EFS is defined as the time randomization to the first documented disease progression per Lugano response criteria by BICR, death due to any cause, initiation of a new anticancer therapy or a positive biopsy for residual disease, whichever occurs first.
Measured: Up to approximately 63 months
Part 2: Duration of CR
For participants who demonstrate CR (CR: disappearance of all target lesions) per Lugano response criteria by BICR, defined as the time from the first documented evidence of CR until disease progression or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first.
Measured: Up to approximately 63 months
Part 2: Number of Participants Who Experience an AE
An AE is defined as any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, disease, or worsening of preexisting condition temporally associated with study treatment and irrespective of causality to study treatment.
Measured: Up to approximately 15 months
Part 2: Number of Participants Who Discontinue Study Treatment Due to an AE
An AE is defined as any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, disease, or worsening of preexisting condition temporally associated with study treatment and irrespective of causality to study treatment.
Measured: Up to approximately 12 months
Part 2: Change From Baseline in Health-Related Quality Of Life (HRQoL) on Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lymphoma (FACT-Lym) Trial Outcome Index (TOI)
The FACT-Lym is a 42-item questionnaire designed to measure HRQoL and cancer-specific symptoms in non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients. Subscales include FACT-General (FACT-G), FACT-Trial Outcome Index (FACT-TOI), FACT-Lym total score (FACT-Lym TS), and the Lymphoma subscale (Lym S). The Lym S has a single domain consisting of 15 items specific to lymphoma burden with a score ranging from 0 to 60. FACT-G has 4 well-being domains, physical (7 items), social/family (7), emotional (6), and functional (7), with scores ranging from 0 to 108. FACT-TOI combines FACT-G's physical and functional domains with Lym S, with scores ranging from 0 to 116. FACT-Lym TS combines FACT-G with Lym S, with scores ranging from 0 to 168. The scoring of FACT-Lym is on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 to 4, with 0= not at all, 1= a little bit, 2= somewhat, 3=quite a bit, 4=very much. The higher the score the better the quality of life.
Measured: Baseline and up to approximately month 13
Part 2: Change From Baseline in HRQoL on FACT-Lym Total Score
The FACT-Lym is a 42-item questionnaire designed to measure HRQoL and cancer-specific symptoms in non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients. Subscales include FACT-General (FACT-G), FACT-Trial Outcome Index (FACT-TOI), FACT-Lym total score (FACT-Lym TS), and the Lymphoma subscale (Lym S). The Lym S has a single domain consisting of 15 items specific to lymphoma burden with a score ranging from 0 to 60. FACT-G has 4 well-being domains, physical (7 items), social/family (7), emotional (6), and functional (7), with scores ranging from 0 to 108. FACT-TOI combines FACT-G's physical and functional domains with Lym S, with scores ranging from 0 to 116. FACT-Lym TS combines FACT-G with Lym S, with scores ranging from 0 to 168. The scoring of FACT-Lym is on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 to 4, with 0= not at all, 1= a little bit, 2= somewhat, 3=quite a bit, 4=very much. The higher the score the better the quality of life.
Measured: Baseline and up to approximately month 13
Part 2: Change From Baseline in HRQoL on FACT-Lym Physical Well-being (PWB) (Items General Physical [GP]1 Through GP7)
The FACT-Lym is a 42-item questionnaire designed to measure HRQoL and cancer-specific symptoms in non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients. Subscales include FACT-General (FACT-G), FACT-Trial Outcome Index (FACT-TOI), FACT-Lym total score (FACT-Lym TS), and the Lymphoma subscale (Lym S). The Lym S has a single domain consisting of 15 items specific to lymphoma burden with a score ranging from 0 to 60. FACT-G has 4 well-being domains, physical (7 items), social/family (7), emotional (6), and functional (7), with scores ranging from 0 to 108. FACT-TOI combines FACT-G's physical and functional domains with Lym S, with scores ranging from 0 to 116. FACT-Lym TS combines FACT-G with Lym S, with scores ranging from 0 to 168. The scoring of FACT-Lym is on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 to 4, with 0= not at all, 1= a little bit, 2= somewhat, 3=quite a bit, 4=very much. The higher the score the better the quality of life.
Measured: Baseline and up to approximately month 13
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted8 Jun 2026
- Study start22 Jun 2026
- Primary completion23 Jul 2032 (estimated)
- Study completion23 Jul 2035 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Follicular LymphomaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLCThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2/3
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 960 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
- Sponsor type
- Industry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Medical Director, Study director, Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07634471
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 1045-007
- Other IDs
- U1111-1324-3019, 2025-522777-10-00, MK-1045-007, 2025
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 4 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 26 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: https://trialstransparency.msdclinicaltrials.com/pdf/ProcedureAccessClinicalTrialData.pdf
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 26 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Phase 2/3 Randomized, Open-label Study of MK-1045 in Combination With Rituximab in Participants With 1L Follicular Lymphoma
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07634471
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 1045-007
- Conditions
- Follicular Lymphoma
- Phase
- Phase 2/3
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 960 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Merck Sharp & Dohme LLCIndustry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Study start
- 22 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 23 Jul 2032 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 23 Jul 2035 (estimated)
- First posted
- 8 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Researchers are looking for new ways to treat follicular lymphoma (FL). A standard (usual) treatment for FL includes a targeted therapy called rituximab and chemotherapy. In this study, researchers want to learn if giving a study medicine called MK-1045 and rituximab can treat FL. MK-1045 is a type of treatment called immunotherapy.
The goals of this study are to learn:
- About the safety of MK-1045 and rituximab, and if people tolerate them when given together
- If people who receive MK-1045 and rituximab have the cancer go away
- If people who receive MK-1045 and rituximab live longer without their cancer getting worse compared to those who receive standard treatment (rituximab and chemotherapy)
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1: MK-1045 plus Rituximab (or biosimilar) | Experimental | Biological: MK-1045, Biological: Rituximab, Biological: Rituximab biosimilarParticipants will receive escalating doses of MK-1045 (from 2 mg to 90 mg) once weekly (QW) for up to approximately 12 months. Participants will also receive 375 mg/m^2 rituximab (or biosimilar) once every 4 weeks (Q4W) for up to approximately 6 months. |
| Part 2: MK-1045 plus Rituximab (or biosimilar) | Experimental | Biological: MK-1045, Biological: Rituximab, Biological: Rituximab biosimilarParticipants will receive MK-1045 QW at the dose determined in Part 1 for up to approximately 12 months. Participants will also receive 375 mg/m^2 rituximab (or biosimilar) Q4W for up to approximately 6 months. |
| Part 2: Physician's Choice of Chemotherapy plus Rituximab (or biosimilar) | Experimental | Biological: Rituximab, Biological: Rituximab biosimilar, Drug: Bendamustine, Drug: Cyclophosphamide, Drug: Vincristine, Drug: Prednisone, Drug: Prednisolone, Drug: Doxorubicin HydrochlorideParticipants will receive physician's choice of: 90 mg/m^2 bendamustine on Days 1 and 2 of each 4-week cycle for up to 6 cycles (up to approximately 6 months) plus 375 mg/m^2 rituximab (or biosimilar) Q4W for up to approximately 6 months OR 750 mg/m^2 cyclophosphamide, 50 mg/m^2 doxorubicin, and 1.4 mg/m^2 vincristine on day 1 of each 3-week cycle (Q3W) and 100 mg/m^2 prednisone (or prednisolone) once daily on days 1 through 5 Q3W for up to 6 cycles (up to approximately 4 months) plus 375 mg/m^2 rituximab (or biosimilar) Q3W for up to approximately 4 months OR 750 mg/m^2 cyclophosphamide and 1.4 mg/m^2 vincristine Q3W and 40 mg/day prednisone (or prednisolone) once daily on days 1 through 5 of each 3-week cycle for up to 6 cycles (up to approximately 4 months) plus 375 mg/m^2 rituximab (or biosimilar) Q3W for up to approximately 6 months. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Has biopsy-proven, previously untreated, histologically confirmed cluster of differentiation (CD)19-positive and CD20-positive classical follicular lymphoma (FL), with Ann Arbor Stage II-IV disease and a Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) score of 2-5.
- Has radiographically measurable disease per the Lugano Response Criteria.
- Has provided a newly obtained core or excisional biopsy or archival tissue of a tumor lesion not previously irradiated.
- If human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive, has well-controlled HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART).
- If hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive, has undetectable hepatitis B virus (HBV) viral load and has received HBV antiviral therapy for at least 4 weeks and will continue it.
Key exclusion criteria (14 listed)
- Has received prior systemic anticancer therapy or radiotherapy for FL.
- Has follicular large B-cell lymphoma or any other subtype of FL other than classical FL.
- Has FL that has transformed into a more aggressive type of lymphoma.
- History or presence of clinically relevant central nervous system (CNS) diseases.
- Has history of serious cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| MK-1045Also: CN201Intravenous (IV) infusion | Biological | Part 1: MK-1045 plus Rituximab (or biosimilar), Part 2: MK-1045 plus Rituximab (or biosimilar) |
| RituximabIV infusion | Biological | Part 1: MK-1045 plus Rituximab (or biosimilar), Part 2: MK-1045 plus Rituximab (or biosimilar), Part 2: Physician's Choice of Chemotherapy plus Rituximab (or biosimilar) |
| Rituximab biosimilarAlso: TRUXIMA®, RUXIENCE®, RIABNI®IV infusion | Biological | Part 1: MK-1045 plus Rituximab (or biosimilar), Part 2: MK-1045 plus Rituximab (or biosimilar), Part 2: Physician's Choice of Chemotherapy plus Rituximab (or biosimilar) |
| BendamustineAlso: Bendeka, Treanda, BelrapzoIV infusion | Drug | Part 2: Physician's Choice of Chemotherapy plus Rituximab (or biosimilar) |
| CyclophosphamideAlso: Cytoxan, Neosar, CytophosphaneIV infusion | Drug | Part 2: Physician's Choice of Chemotherapy plus Rituximab (or biosimilar) |
| VincristineAlso: Oncovin, Vincasar PFSIV infusion | Drug | Part 2: Physician's Choice of Chemotherapy plus Rituximab (or biosimilar) |
| PrednisoneAlso: Prednisone acetatePer approved product label | Drug | Part 2: Physician's Choice of Chemotherapy plus Rituximab (or biosimilar) |
| PrednisoloneAlso: Prednisolone acetatePer approved product label | Drug | Part 2: Physician's Choice of Chemotherapy plus Rituximab (or biosimilar) |
| Doxorubicin HydrochlorideAlso: AdriamycinIV infusion | Drug | Part 2: Physician's Choice of Chemotherapy plus Rituximab (or biosimilar) |
Primary outcome
Part 1: Number of Participants Who Experience an Adverse Event (AE)
Time frame: Up to approximately 15 months
An AE is defined as any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, disease, or worsening of preexisting condition temporally associated with study treatment and irrespective of causality to study treatment.
Part 1: Number of Participants Who Discontinue Study Treatment Due to an AE
Time frame: Up to approximately 12 months
An AE is defined as any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, disease, or worsening of preexisting condition temporally associated with study treatment and irrespective of causality to study treatment.
Part 1: Number of Participants Who Experience Dose Limiting Toxicity (DLT)
Time frame: Up to approximately 36 days
DLT will be defined as any drug-related AE observed during the DLT evaluation period that results in a change to a given dose or a delay in initiating the next cycle.
Part 1: Complete Response (CR) Rate
Time frame: Up to approximately 60 months
For participants who demonstrate a confirmed Complete Response (CR: disappearance of all target lesions) per Lugano response criteria. CR rate is defined as the percentage of participants who experience a CR. The CR rate as assessed by physician investigator will be presented.
Part 2: Progression-Free Survival (PFS)
Time frame: Up to approximately 63 months
PFS is defined as the time from randomization to the first documented disease progression per Lugano response criteria by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR) or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first.
15 secondary outcomes
Part 1: Objective Response Rate (ORR)
Time frame: Up to approximately 60 months
Part 1: Duration of CR
Time frame: Up to approximately 60 months
Part 1: Area Under the Concentration-Time Curve at Steady State (AUCss) of MK-1045
Time frame: Predose and at designated time points post-dose (up to approximately 12 months)
Part 1: Maximum Concentration (Cmax) of MK-1045
Time frame: Predose and at designated time points post-dose (up to approximately 12 months)
Part 1: Trough Concentration (Ctrough) of MK-1045
Time frame: Predose and at designated time points post-dose (up to approximately 12 months)
Part 2: CR Rate at 30 Months
Time frame: 30 months
Part 2: ORR
Time frame: Up to approximately 63 months
Part 2: Overall Survival (OS)
Time frame: Up to approximately 63 months
Part 2: Event-Free Survival (EFS)
Time frame: Up to approximately 63 months
Part 2: Duration of CR
Time frame: Up to approximately 63 months
Part 2: Number of Participants Who Experience an AE
Time frame: Up to approximately 15 months
Part 2: Number of Participants Who Discontinue Study Treatment Due to an AE
Time frame: Up to approximately 12 months
Part 2: Change From Baseline in Health-Related Quality Of Life (HRQoL) on Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lymphoma (FACT-Lym) Trial Outcome Index (TOI)
Time frame: Baseline and up to approximately month 13
Part 2: Change From Baseline in HRQoL on FACT-Lym Total Score
Time frame: Baseline and up to approximately month 13
Part 2: Change From Baseline in HRQoL on FACT-Lym Physical Well-being (PWB) (Items General Physical [GP]1 Through GP7)
Time frame: Baseline and up to approximately month 13
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 26 Oct 2026.
- Merck Clinical Trials InformationLink provided by the sponsor.
- Plain Language SummaryLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. https://trialstransparency.msdclinicaltrials.com/pdf/ProcedureAccessClinicalTrialData.pdf
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Medical Director study director
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
35 sites in 13 countries: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2/3 study testing MK-1045, Rituximab and Rituximab biosimilar in people with Follicular Lymphoma, run by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC at 35 sites in 13 countries.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 14 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 35 sites in United States, Spain, Argentina, Israel, Turkey (Türkiye) and 8 more countries. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this combined phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Toll Free Number (1-888-577-8839, Trialsites@msd.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Part 1: Number of Participants Who Experience an Adverse Event (AE) (time frame: Up to approximately 15 months). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 26 Oct 2026.