Updated June 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2 / Phase 3INTERVENTIONAL

A Clinical Trial of MK-1045 in People With B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (MK-1045-005)

A Phase 2/3, Randomized, Open-Label, Comparison Study of MK-1045 Versus Blinatumomab in Participants With Relapsed or Refractory CD19+ B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL)

A Clinical Trial of MK-1045 in People With B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (MK-1045-005) (NCT07570173) is a Phase 2 / Phase 3 interventional studying B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

About This Trial

Researchers are looking for new ways to treat people with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (R/R B-ALL) that is CD19 positive using a medicine called MK-1045. MK-1045 is an immunotherapy, which is a treatment that helps the immune system fight cancer. This trial will compare MK-1045 to a standard immunotherapy called blinatumomab. The goals of this trial are to learn if more people who receive MK-1045 have no cancer cells in their bone marrow compared to people who receive blinatumomab and if people who receive MK-1045 live longer compared to people who receive blinatumomab.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia 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.

A target enrollment of 340 participants makes this a sizable late-stage trial. Studies in this range typically have enough power to detect clinically meaningful differences from a comparator and to characterize less-common side effects.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: - Has a confirmed diagnosis of relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with 5% or more lymphoblasts in the bone marrow - Has CD19+ disease, confirmed by local flow cytometry and/or immunohistochemistry testing at the time of enrollment - Has Philadelphia-negative disease, confirmed by testing, at the time of enrollment - Participants who have AEs due to previous anticancer therapies must have recovered to Grade ≤1 or baseline - Human weakened immune system virus (HIV)-infected participants must have well controlled HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) Who Should NOT Join This Trial: - Has Burkitt's leukemia - History or presence of clinically relevant central nervous system (CNS) diseases such as epilepsy, hemorrhagic/ischemic stroke, severe brain injuries, dementia, Parkinson's disease, cerebellar disease, organic brain syndrome, and psychosis - Has active acute graft versus host disease (GvHD) or chronic GvHD. NOTE: Participants who have received CNI for GvHD within 4 weeks before the first dose of study intervention are also excluded - History of serious cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. - HIV-infection with a history of Kaposi's sarcoma and/or Multicentric Castleman's Disease - Received prior treatment with blinatumomab within 12 weeks for Part 1 and 24 weeks for Part 2 before the first dose of study intervention (individuals known to be refractory or intolerant to blinatumomab are to be excluded). Refractory to blinatumomab is defined as failure to achieve a response after at least 2 cycles of previous blinatumomab treatment - Diagnosis of weakened immune system 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 to the first dose of study intervention - Known additional malignancy that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 2 years ...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: * Has a confirmed diagnosis of relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with 5% or more lymphoblasts in the bone marrow * Has CD19+ disease, confirmed by local flow cytometry and/or immunohistochemistry testing at the time of enrollment * Has Philadelphia-negative disease, confirmed by testing, at the time of enrollment * Participants who have AEs due to previous anticancer therapies must have recovered to Grade ≤1 or baseline * Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected participants must have well controlled HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) Exclusion Criteria: * Has Burkitt's leukemia * History or presence of clinically relevant central nervous system (CNS) diseases such as epilepsy, hemorrhagic/ischemic stroke, severe brain injuries, dementia, Parkinson's disease, cerebellar disease, organic brain syndrome, and psychosis * Has active acute graft versus host disease (GvHD) or chronic GvHD. NOTE: Participants who have received CNI for GvHD within 4 weeks before the first dose of study intervention are also excluded * History of serious cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. * HIV-infection with a history of Kaposi's sarcoma and/or Multicentric Castleman's Disease * Received prior treatment with blinatumomab within 12 weeks for Part 1 and 24 weeks for Part 2 before the first dose of study intervention (individuals known to be refractory or intolerant to blinatumomab are to be excluded). Refractory to blinatumomab is defined as failure to achieve a response after at least 2 cycles of previous blinatumomab treatment * 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 to the first dose of study intervention * Known additional malignancy that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 2 years * Isolated extramedullary disease (EMD) * Active autoimmune disease unrelated to ALL that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years or history of autoimmune disease with potential CNS involvement * Active infection requiring systemic therapy * Has not adequately recovered from major surgery or have ongoing surgical complications

Treatments Being Tested

BIOLOGICAL

MK-1045

Intravenous administration

BIOLOGICAL

Blinatumomab

Intravenous administration

DRUG

Acetaminophen

Oral administration as a premedication

DRUG

Diphenhydramine

Intravenous administration as a premedication

DRUG

Dexamethasone

Intravenous administration as a premedication

DRUG

Tocilizumab

Intravenous administration as a rescue medication

DRUG

Siltuximab

Intravenous administration as a rescue medication

DRUG

Avtozma

Intravenous administration as a rescue medication

DRUG

Tyenne

Intravenous administration as a rescue medication

Locations (3)

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.

Rambam Health Care Campus ( Site 0903)

Haifa, Israel

Haddasah Medical Center ( Site 0900)

Jerusalem, Israel

Sheba Medical Center ( Site 0902)

Ramat Gan, Israel

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT07570173), the sponsor (Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC), 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 NCT07570173 clinical trial studying?

Who can participate in NCT07570173?

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 NCT07570173?

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 NCT07570173. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT07570173. 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 2026-06-07 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.