Dr Tarhini talks to ecancer at ASCO 2025 about data he presented form the phase II randomized trial ECOG-ACRIN EA6194.

This evaluated the safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab alone versus pembrolizumab combined with vidutolimod, a TLR9 agonist, in patients with resectable stage IIIB-D melanoma. 

Amongst 57 enrolled patients, those receiving the combination therapy (Arm B) demonstrated a higher pathologic complete response rate (74%) compared to pembrolizumab alone (56%), with manageable toxicity in both arms. Major pathologic response rates were 79% and 68% in Arms B and A, respectively. 

These findings support further investigation of the pembrolizumab plus vidutolimod regimen as a promising neoadjuvant strategy in high-risk melanoma.