A large phase 3 clinical trial tested two medicines, pembrolizumab plus belzutifan, as an adjuvant treatment for people with a type of kidney cancer called clear cell kidney cancer, who have already had surgery to remove their kidney. The study found that using both drugs together helped patients stay free from cancer for longer when compared to using pembrolizumab with a placebo (an inactive treatment).

1,841 patients took part in the study, and were randomly given either the combination of pembrolizumab plus belzutifan or pembrolizumab with a placebo for about a year. Both medicines are already approved in many countries for treating kidney cancer.

The side effects seen with the drug combination were similar to those seen when the drugs are used individually. The study will keep following patients to see if the treatment helps them live longer overall.

This is the second major study showing that belzutifan works well as part of a combination for treating kidney cancer. More details will be shared at an upcoming medical conference.

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