Mesothelioma Clinical Trials Recruiting in 2026
Approximately 90 mesothelioma trials are recruiting in 2026. We profile active CAR-T, CAR-NK, bispecific, and surgery trials from ClinicalTrials.gov.
For the roughly 2,500 to 3,000 Americans diagnosed with mesothelioma each year, clinical trials offer access to therapies that standard care cannot. CDC United States Cancer Statistics recorded 2,803 new cases in 2021 and 2,669 in 2022.
We reviewed actively recruiting mesothelioma trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. Immunotherapy combinations and cell therapies dominate the pipeline, while two high-profile targeted programs in the Hippo (TEAD) pathway were discontinued in the past 18 months.
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Search our Clinical Trials Database to find recruiting trials by location, treatment type, and eligibility criteria. Updated daily from ClinicalTrials.gov.
How Many Trials Are Recruiting?
ClinicalTrials.gov lists approximately 90 mesothelioma trials with a status of “recruiting” in early 2026. The exact count fluctuates daily as studies open, close, or update their status. For the live search, use the ClinicalTrials.gov recruiting filter.
The trials profiled below were selected because each has a documented protocol on ClinicalTrials.gov and represents a distinct mechanism or design question that is drawing investigator attention in 2026.
Cell Therapy Trials
Cell therapies engineer a patient’s immune cells (or allogeneic donor cells) to recognize tumor antigens. The mesothelioma pipeline now includes both CAR-T and CAR-NK approaches, with a range of targets.
| Trial | Product | Target | Phase | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT05703854 | CAR.70 IL15 cord-blood NK cells | CD70 (CAR-NK, not CAR-T) | Phase 1/2 | MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| NCT06051695 | A2B694 (Tmod logic-gated CAR-T) | Mesothelin (MSLN+ with HLA-A*02 LOH) | Phase 1/2 | A2 Biotherapeutics |
| NCT06256055 | UCMYM802 circular mRNA CAR-T | Mesothelin | Phase 1 | UTC Therapeutics (industry) |
| NCT06885697 | TNhYP218 anti-mesothelin CAR-T | Mesothelin | Phase 1 | National Cancer Institute (PI Raffit Hassan) |
| NCT06726564 | MT027 intracavitary CAR-T | B7-H3 (pleural delivery route) | Phase 1 | Suzhou Maximum Bio |
NCT05703854 is a CAR-NK trial, not CAR-T. The product is cord blood-derived NK cells transduced with a CD70-targeting CAR and IL-15. The NCI-sponsored TNhYP218 program (NCT06885697) uses naive/stem-cell memory T cells against mesothelin. MT027 (NCT06726564) targets B7-H3 and is delivered into the pleural space rather than infused intravenously.
CAR-T and CAR-NK trials typically have strict eligibility criteria and are concentrated at major cancer centers. Several require specific biomarkers (MSLN expression, HLA-A*02 loss of heterozygosity, or B7-H3 overexpression by IHC) in addition to prior-treatment requirements.
Immunotherapy Combination Trials
Checkpoint inhibitor combinations continue to be the largest single category of mesothelioma research, building on CheckMate 743. That trial led to FDA approval of nivolumab plus ipilimumab as first-line treatment for unresectable pleural mesothelioma on October 2, 2020. The primary results were published in The Lancet (2021;397:375-386).
Ivonescimab for relapsed pleural disease (NCT06840834)
IFCT-2403 “Bi-MAPS” is a Phase 2, multicentre, open-label, single-arm trial of ivonescimab (20 mg/kg IV every three weeks, up to two years) in relapsing pleural mesothelioma previously treated with immunotherapy and chemotherapy. It is running at approximately 20 centres in France, sponsored by the Intergroupe Francophone de Cancerologie Thoracique (IFCT), with 38 patients planned. The primary endpoint is disease control rate at 12 weeks (null hypothesis of 30% or less, alternative of 55% or more).
Ivonescimab is a bispecific antibody that targets PD-1 and VEGF, developed by Akeso and Summit Therapeutics. Note that it pairs an immune checkpoint with an angiogenesis target, not two immune checkpoints.
Pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy plus lenvatinib (NCT06318286)
This Phase 2, single-arm trial at Hyogo Medical University in Japan combines pembrolizumab, platinum, pemetrexed, and the TKI lenvatinib as first-line therapy for unresectable pleural mesothelioma. Target enrollment is 25 patients. The primary endpoint is overall response rate.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma Surgery Trial
Intraperitoneal vs intravenous post-HIPEC chemotherapy (NCT06057935)
This Phase 2 study at Memorial Sloan Kettering randomizes patients with peritoneal mesothelioma to intraperitoneal or intravenous pemetrexed plus cisplatin or carboplatin after cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC. Target enrollment is 64 across 13 sites. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival.
Peritoneal mesothelioma accounts for 11.1% of malignant mesothelioma in the US (7,079 of 63,620 cases from 2003 to 2022 per CDC USCS). Pleural disease accounts for 81.0%.
Discontinued Programs
Two TEAD inhibitor programs that had drawn attention as potential targeted options in mesothelioma are no longer active. TEAD sits in the Hippo signaling pathway, not the epigenetic machinery, and both named programs are closed.
- IK-930 (Ikena Oncology). Discontinued May 28, 2024, citing sponsor strategic reasons. Ikena cut its workforce 53% and pivoted to IK-595. Trial NCT05228015 was terminated by November 2024 with 67 of a planned 198 participants enrolled.
- IAG933 (Novartis). Removed from the Q3 2025 earnings pipeline on October 31, 2025. A Novartis spokesperson cited “tolerability and antitumour activity.” Phase 1 data showed a 19% objective response rate across 37 participants (13% in 30 people with pleural mesothelioma dosed at 300 to 400 mg). Dose-limiting toxicities included QTc prolongation and proteinuria.
Readers who encounter older coverage describing TEAD inhibition as a near-term pipeline for mesothelioma should note that as of late 2025, both flagship programs have been halted.
How to Find and Enroll in Trials
Start by searching our Clinical Trials page, which allows filtering by location and treatment type. Discuss candidate trials with your oncologist, who can help determine eligibility and make referrals. Contact trial coordinators directly using the information in each ClinicalTrials.gov listing. If a promising trial is out of state, ask whether it offers travel support for participants.
Questions to Ask
- What are the eligibility criteria, and which biomarkers are required?
- How often would I need to visit the trial site?
- Is there a placebo or standard-of-care arm, and how is randomization handled?
- What happens if the treatment works. Can I continue on study?
- What are the known side effects from earlier-phase data?
Related Reading
Reader Q&A
Frequently Asked Questions
How many mesothelioma clinical trials are currently recruiting?
Approximately 90 mesothelioma clinical trials are actively recruiting worldwide per ClinicalTrials.gov in early 2026. The count changes daily as studies open or close. Use the ClinicalTrials.gov recruiting filter for mesothelioma to see the current list.
What kinds of cell therapy are being tested for mesothelioma?
Both CAR-T and CAR-NK approaches are in active trials. Mesothelin remains the most common target (A2B694, UCMYM802, TNhYP218). Additional programs target CD70 with cord blood NK cells (NCT05703854) and B7-H3 via intracavitary delivery (NCT06726564, MT027).
Is ivonescimab a double-checkpoint inhibitor?
No. Ivonescimab is a bispecific antibody that targets PD-1 and VEGF, not two immune checkpoints. It is being tested in NCT06840834 (IFCT-2403 Bi-MAPS) in relapsed pleural mesothelioma in France.
Are TEAD inhibitors still being developed for mesothelioma?
The two most advanced TEAD programs have been discontinued. Ikena Oncology halted IK-930 in May 2024. Novartis removed IAG933 from its pipeline in October 2025, citing tolerability and antitumour activity. Readers should not treat TEAD inhibition as a near-term option for mesothelioma.
How close are we to a cure for mesothelioma?
No cure exists for mesothelioma as of 2026. Approved first-line treatments include nivolumab plus ipilimumab immunotherapy (FDA-approved, with 3-year PFS of 14% vs. 1% for chemotherapy) and pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy (ORR 22% vs. 6%). Over 80 active clinical trials test emerging therapies like enzyme therapy (ADI-PEG20 extended survival 4-fold at 3 years), cancer vaccines (UV1 doubled response rates), and targeted therapies, with median survival reaching 18+ months in some multimodal approaches. Research shows improved outcomes but no evidence of curative potential yet.
What is the new medicine for cancer in 2026?
No single new medicine dominates cancer treatment in 2026. Menin inhibitors, recently FDA-approved targeted therapies, treat about 40% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases and are under study in combinations for survival gains. Radioligand therapy, a targeted radioactive treatment, gained approval for earlier use in metastatic prostate cancer and entered trials for other cancers. Protein degraders like selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs) and RIPTACs advanced in trials for breast, prostate, and pediatric cancers. Overall five-year cancer survival reached 70%, driven by immunotherapies.
What is the longest someone has lived with mesothelioma?
Paul Kraus holds the record as the longest-known survivor of mesothelioma, living 27 years after his 1997 diagnosis with peritoneal mesothelioma until his death in 2024 at age 79. Other notable cases include Heather Von St. James, who survived 20 years after a 2005 pleural mesothelioma diagnosis , and a patient reported in a peer-reviewed journal who exceeded 10 years with advanced pleural mesothelioma. While average survival for people with mesothelioma is 12 to 21 months with treatment, these outliers demonstrate exceptional longevity is possible.