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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

A Study of Fianlimab, Cemiplimab, and Ipilimumab in People With Melanoma

A Phase 2 Study of Fianlimab, Cemiplimab, and Ipilimumab in Anti-PD-1 Refractory Melanoma

A Study of Fianlimab, Cemiplimab, and Ipilimumab in People With Melanoma (NCT06594991) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Advanced Melanoma, sponsored by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

The purpose of this study is to test whether the combination of fianlimab, cemiplimab, and ipilimumab is a safe and effective treatment that causes few or mild side effects for locally advanced or metastatic, unresectable, refractory melanoma.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Advanced Melanoma and continue monitoring side effects. Phase 2 enrolls larger groups (typically 100–300 patients) and produces the first real efficacy signal. A successful Phase 2 readout is what unlocks the much larger Phase 3 confirmatory trials needed for FDA approval.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

Target enrollment of 88 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Advanced Melanoma subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: - Age ≥ 18 years at the time of willing to sign a consent form - Patient/legal authorized representative (LAR) must be able to provide willing to sign a consent form. - Patient must have a diagnosed by tissue sample (biopsy-confirmed) diagnosis of locally advanced unresectable stage III/IV or metastatic stage IV cutaneous or mucosal melanoma that has progressed on PD-1/PD-L1 therapy: o For Cohort A, the patient's melanoma must have progressed on prior PD-1 monotherapy - For Cohort B, the patient's melanoma must have progressed on prior combination PD-1 + LAG-3 blockade - Note: Intervening lines of targeted therapy, chemotherapy, bispecific (e.g. IMCgp100) and cell-based therapies are permitted between last ICI-based therapy and the start of study therapy - Note: For cohort A, peptide and mRNA vaccines may have been combined with PD-1 monotherapy as long as no other checkpoint inhibitors were concomitantly administered. For cohort B, peptide and mRNA vaccines may have been combined with combined PD-1 + LAG-3 blockade as long as no other checkpoint inhibitors were concomitantly administered Note: Prior PD-1 monotherapy (Cohort A) or PD-1 and LAG-3 blockade (Cohort B) may have been given in the neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting as long as progression is documented within 3 months of the final dose neoadjuvant/adjuvant therapy - Patients must have measurable disease as defined by RECIST v1.1 o Note: Lesions previously injected with Talimogene laherparepvec or other local therapies may not be selected as target lesions unless they have demonstrated subsequent growth after injection - If a suitable archival tissue sample is available, the patient must be willing to have this specimen submitted for research. If an archival sample is not available, the patient is still a candidate for the trial, and every reasonable effort will be made to obtain a biopsy if deemed safe - Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤ 1 ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 years at the time of informed consent * Patient/legal authorized representative (LAR) must be able to provide informed consent. * Patient must have a histologically confirmed diagnosis of locally advanced unresectable stage III/IV or metastatic stage IV cutaneous or mucosal melanoma that has progressed on PD-1/PD-L1 therapy: o For Cohort A, the patient's melanoma must have progressed on prior PD-1 monotherapy * For Cohort B, the patient's melanoma must have progressed on prior combination PD-1 + LAG-3 blockade * Note: Intervening lines of targeted therapy, chemotherapy, bispecific (e.g. IMCgp100) and cell-based therapies are permitted between last ICI-based therapy and the start of study therapy * Note: For cohort A, peptide and mRNA vaccines may have been combined with PD-1 monotherapy as long as no other checkpoint inhibitors were concomitantly administered. For cohort B, peptide and mRNA vaccines may have been combined with combined PD-1 + LAG-3 blockade as long as no other checkpoint inhibitors were concomitantly administered Note: Prior PD-1 monotherapy (Cohort A) or PD-1 and LAG-3 blockade (Cohort B) may have been given in the neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting as long as progression is documented within 3 months of the final dose neoadjuvant/adjuvant therapy * Patients must have measurable disease as defined by RECIST v1.1 o Note: Lesions previously injected with Talimogene laherparepvec or other local therapies may not be selected as target lesions unless they have demonstrated subsequent growth after injection * If a suitable archival tissue sample is available, the patient must be willing to have this specimen submitted for research. If an archival sample is not available, the patient is still a candidate for the trial, and every reasonable effort will be made to obtain a biopsy if deemed safe * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤ 1 ° Adequate laboratory function at screening, defined as: ° Hemoglobin ≥ 10 gm/dL (≥ 6.2 mmol/L) ° Platelet count ≥ 100 × 10\^9 /L °Serum direct bilirubin ≤ 1.5 × ULN; AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 × ULN. (Total bilirubin \< 3 mg/dL for subjects with Gilbert's disease) * No signs of active coronary ischemia, including ECG changes or elevated troponin if clinically indicated * Calculated creatinine clearance (CrCl) ≥30 mL/min based on the Cockcroft-Gault equation * All immune-related adverse events (irAE's) from prior ICI based therapy must have improved to Grade 1 or lower with the following exception. Patients with stable adrenal insufficiency are eligible as long as 1) they are asymptomatic at the time of consent on a stable steroid replacement regimen and 2) are on daily steroid replacement of 7.5mg prednisone equivalent or less. * All women of childbearing potential (WOCBP)\* or sexually active men must practice highly effective contraception prior to the initial dose/start of the first treatment, during the study, and for at least 6 months after the last dose. Highly effective contraceptive measures in women include o Stable use of combined (estrogen and progestogen containing) hormonal contraception (oral, intravaginal, transdermal) or progestogen-only hormonal contraception (oral, injectable, implantable) associated with inhibition of ovulation initiated 2 or more menstrual cycles prior to screening, * Intrauterine device (IUD), * Intrauterine hormone-releasing system (IUS), * Bilateral tubal ligation, * Vasectomized partner,† and/or * Sexual abstinence.‡,§ * Male study participants with WOCBP partners are required to use condoms unless they are vasectomized† or practice sexual abstinence.‡,§ * \* WOCBP are defined as women who are fertile following menarche until becoming postmenopausal, unless permanently sterile. A postmenopausal state is defined as no menses for 12 months without an alternative medical cause. A high follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level in the postmenopausal range may be used to confirm a postmenopausal state in women not using hormonal contraception or hormonal replacement therapy. However, in the absence of 12 months of amenorrhea, a single FSH measurement is insufficient to determine the occurrence of a postmenopausal state. The above definitions are according to Clinical Trial Facilitation Group (CTFG) guidance. Pregnancy testing and contraception are not required for women with documented hysterectomy or tubal ligation. Permanent sterilization methods include hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, and bilateral oophorectomy. * Vasectomized partner or vasectomized study participant must have received medical assessment of the surgical success. * Sexual abstinence is considered a highly effective method only if defined as refraining from heterosexual intercourse during the entire period of risk associated with the study drugs. The reliability of sexual abstinence needs to be evaluated in relation to the duration of the clinical trial and the preferred and usual lifestyle of the patient. * Periodic abstinence (calendar, symptothermal, post-ovulation methods), withdrawal (coitus interruptus), spermicides only, and lactational amenorrhea method (LAM) are not acceptable methods of contraception. Female condom and male condom should not be used together. Exclusion Criteria: * Uveal melanoma * Untreated central nervous system (CNS) metastases or leptomeningeal involvement; patients with brain metastases definitively treated with surgery or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) are permitted * Receipt of the following prior therapies: * For Cohort A: Any prior anti-LAG-3 (e.g., relatlimab) or CTLA-4 (e.g., ipilimumab) directed therapy, unless it was given in the adjuvant or neoadjuvant setting and the last dose was given more than three months prior to disease recurrence * For Cohort B: Any prior CTLA-directed therapy (e.g., ipilimumab), unless it was given in the adjuvant or neoadjuvant setting and the last dose was given more than three months prior to disease recurrence * Prior Grade 3 or greater neurologic toxicity associated with a prior line of ICI therapy * Any prior myocarditis associated with ICI therapy * Prior Grade 3 or greater colitis or enteritis requiring hospitalization * Concurrent systemic steroid therapy higher than physiologic dose steroid replacement (\>7.5 mg/day of prednisone or equivalent), given within 14 days of starting treatment, or other immunosuppressive medications within 14 days of the start of treatment. Inhaled or topical steroids are permitted in the absence of active autoimmune disease. * Receipt of a live vaccine within 30 days of planned start of study medication * Significant infection requiring systemic antibiotics within 2 weeks of the planned start of study medication (e.g., pneumonia, cellulitis) * Uncontrolled (i.e., unstable) concomitant medical condition or organ system dysfunction which, in the treating Investigator's opinion, could compromise the patient's safety or compliance with the study procedures. * Other active, concurrent malignancy that requires ongoing systemic treatment or interferes with radiographic assessment of melanoma response as determined by the treating investigator * History of severe hypersensitivity reactions to any unknown allergens or any components of the study drugs (active ingredients or excipients) * Has uncontrolled infection with human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C infection; or has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency. Notes: * Patients will be tested for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) at screening. * Patients with known HIV infection who have controlled infection (undetectable viral load (HIV RNA PCR) and CD4 count above 350 either spontaneously or on a stable antiviral regimen) are permitted. For patients with controlled HIV infection, monitoring will be performed per local standards. * Patients with hepatitis B (HBsAg+) who have controlled infection (serum hepatitis B virus DNA PCR that is below the limit of detection and receiving anti-viral therapy for hepatitis B) are permitted. Patients with controlled infections must undergo periodic monitoring of HBV DNA. Patients must remain on anti-viral therapy for at least 6 months beyond the last dose of investigational study drug. * Patients who are hepatitis C virus antibody positive (HCV Ab+) who have controlled infection (undetectable HCV RNA by PCR either spontaneously or in response to a successful prior course of anti-HCV therapy) may be enrolled into the study. * Patients who are breastfeeding or who are pregnant as evidenced by a positive serum pregnancy test (minimum sensitivity 25 IU/L or equivalent units of HCG) performed within 14 days of the first dose of study drug. * Prisoners or participants who are involuntarily incarcerated. (Note: Under certain specific circumstances where local regulations permit, a person who has been imprisoned may be permitted to continue as a participant.) * Participants who are compulsorily detained for treatment of either a psychiatric or physical illness (e.g., transmissible infection)

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Fianlimab

Fianlimab IV given every three weeks

DRUG

Cemiplimab

Cemiplimab IV given every three weeks

DRUG

Ipilimumab

Ipilimumab will be give every 6 weeks continuously

Locations (11)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, California, United States
Stanford University (Data Collection Only)
Stanford, California, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge (All Protocol Activities)
Basking Ridge, New Jersey, United States
Hackensack Meridian Health (Data Collection Only)
Hackensack, New Jersey, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth (All Protocol Activities)
Middletown, New Jersey, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen (Limited Protocol Activities)
Montvale, New Jersey, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Suffolk - Commack (Limited Protocol Activities)
Commack, New York, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester (All Protocol Activities)
Harrison, New York, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (All Protocol Activities)
New York, New York, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Nassau (Limited Protocol Activities)
Uniondale, New York, United States
MD Anderson Cancer Center (Data Collection Only)
Houston, Texas, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06594991), the sponsor (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT06594991 clinical trial studying?

The purpose of this study is to test whether the combination of fianlimab, cemiplimab, and ipilimumab is a safe and effective treatment that causes few or mild side effects for locally advanced or metastatic, unresectable, refractory melanoma. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT06594991?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT06594991?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT06594991. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06594991. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.