Patients in Walsall will be taking part in a clinical trial which may change the future of cancer care.

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is one of 13 sites in the UK involved in the Keynote 811 cancer trial – a large international commercial trial sponsored by Merc.

This study is trying to find out if combinations of research study medication are safe and work to help slow down or stop the growth of advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer.

The purpose of this is to see if patients with gastric/GEJ cancer (that have not been treated previously) who take the medication pembrolizumab in combination with trastuzumab and chemotherapy, do better than those who take a take placebo (a dummy drug) in combination with trastuzumab and chemotherapy.

This is a research study to test drugs that have not been approved for use in patients with advanced gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma.

Dr Marie Lewis, Assistant Director for Research and Professional Development for Walsall Healthcare, said: “It is a great opportunity for the trust to work with such a renowned commercial trial sponsor and we hope that this will secure a long term relationship with the company for future research in Walsall.

“We’d also like to thank the patients who agree to take part in this trial once recruitment has finished because their experience could potentially change the future of cancer care for others.”