Discover MSD Oncology Clinical Trials
Our clinical trials show our commitment to developing medicines with the goal of extending and improving the lives of cancer patients.
We are currently investigating different study medications alone, or in combination with other study medications or standard of care therapy, to see if they might help the body’s immune system fight cancer cells or prevent their return, or both.
We encourage you to speak with your doctor to see if an MSD Oncology Clinical Trial may be right for you.
There is a lot to consider when deciding whether to participate in a clinical trial. Any clinical trial includes risks, which the study doctor will review with you. Make sure you understand the risks before participating.
Find a Clinical Trial
We have research studies enrolling or planned for multiple cancer types. Choose from the list below to learn more.
- Bladder
- Breast
- Colorectal
- Esophageal
- Gastric
- Gynecologic
- Head and Neck
- Hematologic
- Kidney
- Liver and Bile Duct
- Lung
- Melanoma
- Pediatric
- Prostate
- Solid Tumors
Clinical Trials: Important Information to Consider
There is a lot to consider when deciding whether to participate in a clinical trial. Any clinical trial includes risks, which the study doctor will review with you. Make sure you understand the risks before participating.
About Clinical Trials
What Is a Clinical Trial?
A clinical trial is a research study that tests new ways to help prevent, detect, diagnose, or treat diseases. Clinical trials help to find out whether investigational vaccines, medicines, or new uses for existing medicines are safe and effective. The goal of these studies is to help find potential medicines and vaccines to treat disease and improve lives. Clinical trials are sometimes also called intervention studies, clinical studies, and clinical research.
Important Considerations
Participating in a clinical trial may involve risk, so it’s important that you talk to your doctor and the study doctor before deciding if it’s right for you. There may be unpleasant, serious, or even life-threatening side effects to treatment. Treatment may or may not be effective. Participation in the trial may require more time and attention than would be required outside of a clinical trial. This may include travel to trial sites, more treatments, hospital stays, or complex dosage requirements.
Before considering whether to participate in a clinical trial, you should know as much as possible about the trial and feel comfortable asking questions about the trial, the expected care during the trial, and the costs involved. We invite you to continue exploring the site and to read our helpful FAQ section.
Phases of a Clinical Trial
Research studies are conducted in 4 phases. Explore each step that must be taken before an investigational treatment is submitted for regulatory approval.
Phase 1
Tests the medicine or vaccine in a small group of 20 to 100 volunteers who are usually healthy, but not always.
The trial often takes place in a hospital.
The goals are to determine:
- If the medicine or vaccine is safe
- If there are any side effects
- How the medicine is broken down by and discharged from the body
- How much medicine is needed and how often
- For a vaccine, researchers see if it causes the desired response from the body's immune system
Phase 1 trials can take from six months to one year to complete
Phase 2
Tests the medicine or vaccine in approximately 100 to 500 volunteers. In the case of medicines, volunteers usually have the disease or condition the investigational medicine is designed to treat.
In vaccine studies, the volunteers are usually healthy.
The goals are to determine:
- How well the medicine or vaccine works
- If the medicine or vaccine is safe
- If there are any side effects
- How much of the medicine or vaccine is needed and how often
Phase 2 trials can take from six months to one year to complete
Phase 3
Tests the medicine or vaccine in approximately 1,000 to 5,000 volunteers. For medicines, volunteers have the disease or condition the medicine is designed to treat. In vaccine studies, the volunteers may be healthy or have diseases or conditions. In vaccine studies, the volunteers may be healthy or have diseases or conditions.
Phase 3 trials take place in hospitals, clinics, or physician offices.
Researchers closely monitor patients at regular intervals to:
- Confirm that the medication or vaccine is effective
- Identify and monitor side effects
- Compare the medicine or vaccine to commonly used treatments
Phase 3 trials can take from one to four years to complete, depending on the disease, length of study, and the number of volunteers
Phase 4 (Ongoing Trials)
Thousands of people usually participate in ongoing trials.
Phase 4 clinical trials are conducted after the medicine or vaccine has been approved by the appropriate government and regulatory agencies and is being marketed.
Researchers continue to gather information about:
- The medicine or vaccine and its safety, side effects and effectiveness.
- Marketed products also are studied for new indications.
Phase 4 trials are ongoing.