Verastem Oncology released early data showing its experimental drug VS-7375 shrank tumors in patients with three cancer types. The drug targets the KRAS G12D mutation, the most common KRAS variant, and is designed to bind both the active and inactive states of the mutant protein. In a Phase 1/2 study, objective response rates ranged from 36% to 50% in pancreatic cancer depending on prior treatment lines, 33% in colorectal cancer, and 43% in non-small cell lung cancer. These results met or exceeded Wall Street expectations, prompting analysts to call the profile competitive.
The company plans to launch three late-stage trials, with a first-line pancreatic cancer study set to begin by the end of the year and colorectal and lung cancer trials starting in the first half of next year. Verastem also announced a $250 million stock offering and a CEO transition on the same day, which analysts described as a transformative moment for the company.
The field is highly competitive. Revolution Medicines' KRAS inhibitor Rasonque won FDA approval in August and is expected to become a blockbuster, but FDA documents suggested its effects were more modest for the G12D mutation specifically. That may open the door for rivals like Verastem. Other developers include Eli Lilly, Roche, Tango Therapeutics, Erasca, and BridgeBio Oncology Therapeutics. Verastem's partner GenFleet Therapeutics is developing VS-7375 in China and began a registrational trial there late last year.