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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Isunakinra Alone and in Combination With Pembrolizumab in Patients With Colorectal Cancer (MSS)

A Phase IIa, Non-Randomized, Open-Label Dose Expansion Trial of Isunakinra in Combination With Pembrolizumab in Patients With Metastatic or Unresectable, Locally Advanced Colorectal Cancer

Isunakinra Alone and in Combination With Pembrolizumab in Patients With Colorectal Cancer (MSS) (NCT06634875) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Colorectal Cancer Metastatic, sponsored by Buzzard Pharmaceuticals. 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

This study will enroll patients with colorectal cancer that is locally advanced or metastatic. The tumor must be microsatellite stable (MSS), have a tumor mutational burden that is high (TMB-H) and be kras mutated. Patients must have been treated with available approved treatments already. In this study the investigators are testing a new type of immunotherapy, the potent IL-1 inhibitor isunakinra to be added to already approved immunotherapy (PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor) in an attempt to get this treatment to work in this treatment resistant type of tumor.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Colorectal Cancer Metastatic 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.

With a target enrollment of 20 participants, this is a small study — typical of early-phase research, rare-disease trials, or pilot studies designed to generate preliminary signal before a larger study is launched.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: - 1\. Subjects must have: - diagnosed by tissue sample (biopsy-confirmed) adenocarcinoma of the colon or the rectum - Tumor is determined to be RAS-mutated (KRAS, NRAS or HRAS) and microsatellite stable/proficient in mismatch repair, as assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/next generation sequencing (NGS) in a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) environment and with a tumor mutational burden (TMB) of 10 MB or more. 2\. The study patients are required to have measurable disease by radiographic criteria (RECIST 1.1 and iRECIST). 3\. Prior therapy: Patients must have completed or had disease progression on at least one prior line of disease-appropriate therapy for metastatic disease (with or without PD-1 inhibitors), with no available therapy likely to convey clinical benefit, or not be candidates for therapy of proven efficacy for their disease. 4\. There should be a minimum of 4 weeks from any prior chemotherapy (except for the nitrosoureas and mitomycin C, requiring a minimum of 6 weeks), immunotherapy and/or radiation. Patients with prostate cancer on hormone deprivation therapy may continue that therapy while on study. 5\. Patients must have recovered (grade 1 or baseline) from any clinically significant toxicity associated with prior therapy (for example, alopecia is not clinically significant). 6\. ECOG performance status ≤ 1 7. Patients must have normal organ and hematologic function as defined below: - Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal OR creatinine clearance and a 24-h urine collection of ≥ 60 mL/min. - ALT and AST ≤ 3x the upper limits of normal. - Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal OR in patients with Gilbert's syndrome, a total bilirubin ≤ 3.0. - Hematological eligibility parameters (within 16 days of starting therapy): - Granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm3 ...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: * 1\. Subjects must have: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the colon or the rectum * Tumor is determined to be RAS-mutated (KRAS, NRAS or HRAS) and microsatellite stable/proficient in mismatch repair, as assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/next generation sequencing (NGS) in a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) environment and with a tumor mutational burden (TMB) of 10 MB or more. 2\. The study patients are required to have measurable disease by radiographic criteria (RECIST 1.1 and iRECIST). 3\. Prior therapy: Patients must have completed or had disease progression on at least one prior line of disease-appropriate therapy for metastatic disease (with or without PD-1 inhibitors), with no available therapy likely to convey clinical benefit, or not be candidates for therapy of proven efficacy for their disease. 4\. There should be a minimum of 4 weeks from any prior chemotherapy (except for the nitrosoureas and mitomycin C, requiring a minimum of 6 weeks), immunotherapy and/or radiation. Patients with prostate cancer on hormone deprivation therapy may continue that therapy while on study. 5\. Patients must have recovered (grade 1 or baseline) from any clinically significant toxicity associated with prior therapy (for example, alopecia is not clinically significant). 6\. ECOG performance status ≤ 1 7. Patients must have normal organ and hematologic function as defined below: * Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal OR creatinine clearance and a 24-h urine collection of ≥ 60 mL/min. * ALT and AST ≤ 3x the upper limits of normal. * Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal OR in patients with Gilbert's syndrome, a total bilirubin ≤ 3.0. * Hematological eligibility parameters (within 16 days of starting therapy): * Granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm3 * Platelet count ≥ 75.000/mm3 8. Patients must have baseline pulse oximetry \> 90% on room air at rest. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Subjects must have: ⦁ Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the colon or the rectum • Tumor is determined to be RAS-mutated (KRAS, NRAS or HRAS) and microsatellite stable/proficient in mismatch repair, as assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/next generation sequencing (NGS) in a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) environment and with a tumor mutational burden (TMB) of 10 MB or more. 2. The study patients are required to have measurable disease by radiographic criteria (RECIST 1.1 and iRECIST). 3. Prior therapy: Patients must have completed or had disease progression on at least one prior line of disease-appropriate therapy for metastatic disease (with or without PD-1 inhibitors), with no available therapy likely to convey clinical benefit, or not be candidates for therapy of proven efficacy for their disease. 4. There should be a minimum of 2 weeks wash out period from chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, and 4 weeks wash out period for immunotherapy. 5. Patients must have recovered (grade 1 or baseline) from any clinically significant toxicity associated with prior therapy (for example, alopecia is not clinically significant). 6. ECOG performance status ≤ 1 7. Patients must have normal organ and hematologic function as defined below: * Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal OR creatinine clearance and a 24-h urine collection of ≥ 60 mL/min. * ALT and AST ≤ 3x the upper limits of normal. * Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal OR in patients with Gilbert's syndrome, a total bilirubin ≤ 3.0. * Hematological eligibility parameters (within 16 days of starting therapy): * Granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm3 * Platelet count ≥ 75.000/mm3 8. Patients must have baseline pulse oximetry \> 90% on room air at rest. Exclusion criteria 1. Pregnant women or women presently breast-feeding their children are excluded due to unknown risks to a developing fetus or infant, confirmed by negative pre-treatment serum pregnancy test. 2. Concurrent treatment for cancer, with specific exceptions noted in inclusion criteria. 3. Any significant disease that, in the opinion of the investigator, may impair the patient's tolerance of study treatment. 4. Dementia, altered mental status, or any psychiatric condition that would prohibit the understanding or rendering of informed consent. 5. Active autoimmune diseases requiring treatment. However, patients with vitiligo, alopecia, or clinically stable autoimmune endocrine disease who are on stable dosing of appropriate replacement therapy (if such therapy is indicated) are eligible. 6. Concurrent use of systemic steroids, except for physiologic doses of systemic steroid replacement or local (topical, nasal, or inhaled) steroid use. Limited pharmacologic doses of systemic steroids (e.g., in patients with exacerbations of reactive airway disease or to prevent iv contrast allergic reaction or anaphylaxis in patients who have known contrast allergies) are allowed. 7. Patients who are receiving any other investigational agents within 28 days before start of study treatment. 8. Patients with untreated central nervous system metastases or local treatment of brain metastases within the last 2 months. Patients with stable brain metastasis for 2 months post-intervention are eligible. 9. Has severe hypersensitivity (≥Grade 3) to pembrolizumab or any of its excipients or a history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to the agents used in study. 10. Serious or uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that, in the opinion of the investigator, would limit compliance with study requirements. 11. HIV-positive patients are ineligible because of the potential for decreased immune response. 12. Patients unwilling to use adequate contraception (defined as hormonal or barrier method or abstinence) prior to study entry are excluded. If the patient needs to be on adequate contraception, contraception must start before study entry and continue for 3 months after completion of study therapy.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

isunakinra

Isunakinra is a potent IL1R1 inhibitor

Locations (2)

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.

USC/Norris Cancer Center
Los Angeles, California, United States
Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian
Newport Beach, California, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06634875), the sponsor (Buzzard Pharmaceuticals), 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 NCT06634875 clinical trial studying?

This study will enroll patients with colorectal cancer that is locally advanced or metastatic. The tumor must be microsatellite stable (MSS), have a tumor mutational burden that is high (TMB-H) and be kras mutated. Patients must have been treated with available approved treatments already. In this study the investigators are testing a new type of immunotherapy, the potent IL-1 inhibitor isunakinra to be added to already approved immunotherapy (PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor) in an attempt to get this treatment to work in this treatment resistant type of tumor. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT06634875?

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 NCT06634875?

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 NCT06634875. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06634875. 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.