Verastem reports promising early results for KRAS G12D inhibitor in pancreatic and lung cancers

Verastem Oncology has shifted its research toward a KRAS G12D inhibitor, VS-7375, and released early data from a phase 1/2 study involving more than 200 patients with advanced KRAS G12D-mutated solid tumors.

In the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cohort, 22 patients received a 900 mg daily dose. Six-month progression-free survival was reported at 67% and overall survival at 80%, with 16 patients still on treatment at the six-month point. In the second-line setting, half of the eight patients responded, and 41% of the 22 patients treated later showed responses, including two complete responses.

Among 23 non-small cell lung cancer patients given a 600 mg daily dose, the confirmed objective response rate was 43% after a median of 4.4 months, and the six-month progression-free survival rate was 72%.

The CEO described the data as setting a new benchmark for targeting KRAS-driven cancers, indicating that the oral selective inhibitor is achieving activity in two difficult tumor types.