Sponsored by Merck

Lung cancer (both small cell and non-small cell) is the second most common cancer in the U.S.¹ In 2026 alone, it's estimated that nearly 230,000 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed.¹ Nearly half of all lung cancers are diagnosed at a later stage, after the cancer has spread from the lungs to more distant areas of the body.²

What is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)?

The main types of lung cancer are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer, making up more than 8 out of 10 lung cancers in the U.S.³

What causes NSCLC?

Many cancers are caused by gene changes, also called mutations. Genes are pieces of DNA that tell your cells how to work, and when gene mutations occur, they can change how the cells work.

For example, some gene mutations change how cells grow or multiply, causing them to grow or multiply too much, leading to cancer.

Gene mutations in NSCLC

Multiple gene mutations are associated with NSCLC. Specific mutations can influence how someone's cancer grows or spreads and how well available treatments may work in their case.

One specific gene mutation commonly found in NSCLC is the G12C mutation of the KRAS gene.^4,5 The KRAS G12C mutation causes cells to grow in an uncontrolled way, which can form tumors.⁶ About 13% of people (13 in 100) with advanced NSCLC have this specific mutation.⁴ Most KRAS G12C mutations are found in current or former smokers.^5,6

Biomarker testing can help determine if you have certain gene mutations. Doctors often recommend that people with NSCLC get biomarker testing to see what mutations their cancer has.⁷

What are clinical trials?

A clinical trial, also called a clinical study, is a type of research designed to learn more about how the human body responds to investigational medicines, vaccines or other treatments. Clinical trials are the only way treatments can be approved for public use.

Learn about an investigational medicine targeting KRAS G12C

The goal of one particular trial is to learn if an investigational medicine may help stop or slow down the growth of NSCLC with KRAS G12C mutations. It will compare:

• The investigational medicine combined with an immunotherapy, to
• An immunotherapy and a placebo.⁸ A placebo looks like the trial drug but has no medicine in it. Using a placebo helps researchers understand if the investigational medicine works.

This trial is for adults age 18 and older who⁸:

• Have been newly diagnosed with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC. Locally advanced or metastatic means the cancer has spread to other parts of the body or cannot be removed with surgery.
• Have the KRAS G12C mutation.
• Have the PD-L1 protein on their cancer cells. PD-L1 is found on some cancer cells and can help the cancer hide from the body's immune system. To learn if you have PD-L1, doctors test a tissue sample from a tumor.

More about this trial

There are more eligibility criteria for this trial. There may be risks related to participating in clinical trials. The trial doctor can discuss these with you.

Participation in clinical trials is voluntary, and participants are free to leave at any time, for any reason. Participants may help contribute to data that may advance research and potentially help future generations learn more about the investigational medicine and NSCLC.

Advancing research through representation

Representation in clinical trials helps researchers gain a more complete picture of how investigational medicines work across populations. This helps support the development of safe and effective medicines for those who are most affected by the disease or condition being studied.

"Diseases can impact people differently based on their age, gender, race, and ethnicity, as well as other factors," said Michelle Chawla, clinical trial representation program lead at Merck. "That's why it's important for clinical trials to include people from a wide variety of backgrounds. By participating in a clinical trial, you can help researchers understand how investigational treatments may work across different populations and contribute to data that may advance research."

See if you or a loved one may be eligible for a clinical trial

You can learn more about this clinical trial at Merck's clinical trial page.

References

1. American Cancer Society. Key statistics for lung cancer. Updated January 13, 2026. Accessed April 23, 2026. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/lung-cancer/about/key-statistics.html
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. cancer statistics lung cancer stat bite. Updated June 2, 2025. Accessed May 5, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/united-states-cancer-statistics/publications/lung-cancer-stat-bite.html
3. American Cancer Society. What is lung cancer? Updated January 29, 2024. Accessed May 6, 2026. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/lung-cancer/about/what-is.html
4. Lim TKH, Skoulidis F, Kerr KM, et al. KRAS G12C in advanced NSCLC: prevalence, co-mutations, and testing. Lung Cancer. 2023;184:107293. doi:10.1016/j.lungcan.2023.107293
5. Cascetta P, Marinello A, Lazzari C, et al. KRAS in NSCLC: state of the art and future perspectives. Cancers (Basel). 2022;14(21):5430. doi:10.3390/cancers14215430
6. American Lung Association. KRAS and lung cancer. Updated December 2, 2025. Accessed May 6, 2026. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer/symptoms-diagnosis/biomarker-testing/kras
7. American Lung Association. Lung cancer biomarker testing. Updated January 20, 2026. Accessed June 4, 2026. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer/symptoms-diagnosis/biomarker-testing
8. Merck & Co, Inc. MK-1084-004: learn about a clinical trial for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with KRAS G12C mutations. Merck Clinical Trials. Published 2025. Accessed May 6, 2026. https://www.merckclinicaltrials.com/trial/nct06345729/