Relative Bioavailability Study of Subcutaneous Injection Versus Intravenous Infusion of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in Participants With Advanced Melanoma (MK-3475-555/KEYNOTE-555)

A Phase 1 Randomized Clinical Study of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) to Evaluate the Relative Bioavailability of Subcutaneous Injection Versus Intravenous Infusion in Participants With Advanced Melanoma (KEYNOTE-555)

The purpose of this study is to characterize the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of pembrolizumab (MK-3475) following single subcutaneous (SC) injection of pembrolizumab Dose A versus pembrolizumab Dose C in adults with advanced melanoma. Additionally, the safety and tolerability of pembrolizumab SC injections will be assessed. And, finally, the efficacy of pembrolizumab intravenous (IV) infusion administration will be assessed.

This study consists of two cohorts. Participants in Cohort A are randomized to one of six treatment sequences which will include 2 cycles of pembrolizumab administered via subcutaneous injection and 1 cycle of intravenous (IV) infusion, followed by up to 32 cycles (up to ~2 years) of pembrolizumab administered via IV infusion (each cycle is 21 days). Participants in Cohort B will receive pembrolizumab via IV infusion on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle for up to 18 cycles, up to ~ 2 years. Each cycle is 42 days.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Has histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of advanced melanoma.
• Has unresectable Stage III or Stage IV melanoma, as per American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system not amenable to local therapy.
• Has been untreated for advanced or metastatic disease except as follows:
• a. BRAF V600 mutant melanoma may have received standard of care targeted therapy (e.g. BRAF/ mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase enzyme [MEK] inhibitor, alone or in combination) and be eligible for this study.
• b. Prior adjuvant (post-surgery) or neoadjuvant (pre-surgery) melanoma therapy is permitted if it was completed ≥4 weeks before randomization and all related AEs have either returned to baseline or stabilized (resolution of toxic effect[s] of the most recent prior therapy to Grade 1 or less [except alopecia]).
• Female participants must agree to use contraception during the treatment period and for ≥120 days after the last dose of study treatment.
• Has measurable disease per RECIST 1.1 as assessed by BICR. Lesions situated in a previously irradiated area are considered measurable if progression has been demonstrated in such lesions.
• Has an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 1.
• Has adequate organ function.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Has received prior systemic treatment for unresectable or metastatic melanoma (exceptions as noted above in the Inclusion Criteria).
• Has received prior therapy with an anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), anti-programmed cell death-ligand 1 (anti-PD-L1), or anti-PD-L2 or with an agent directed to another stimulatory or co-inhibitory T-cell receptor (e.g. OX-40 and CD137) or any other antibody or drug specifically targeting checkpoint pathways other than anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (anti-CTLA-4) which is permitted in the adjuvant setting.
• Has received prior radiotherapy within 2 weeks of start of study treatment. Participants must have recovered from all radiation-related toxicities, not require corticosteroids, and not have had radiation pneumonitis.
• Has received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of study treatment.
• Is currently participating in or has participated in a study of an investigational agent or has used an investigational device within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study treatment.
• Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy (in dosing exceeding 10 mg daily of prednisone equivalent) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior the first dose of study treatment.
• Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 2 years. Note: Participants with basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or carcinoma in situ (e.g. breast carcinoma, cervical cancer in situ) that have undergone potentially curative therapy are not excluded.
• Has known active central nervous system metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis.
• Has severe hypersensitivity (≥Grade 3) to pembrolizumab and/or any of its excipients.
• Has ocular melanoma.
• Has an active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in past 2 years (i.e., with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs).
• Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or has current pneumonitis.
• Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy.
• Has a known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
• Has a known history of Hepatitis B or known active Hepatitis C virus infection.
• Is pregnant or breastfeeding or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the study, starting with the screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of study treatment.
• Has had an allogenic tissue/solid organ transplant.