Incyte reports lasting tumor responses in pancreatic cancer patients using targeted drug plus chemotherapy

Incyte announced at the European Society for Medical Oncology meeting that its targeted therapy, when combined with standard chemotherapy, produced durable tumor responses in a subset of pancreatic cancer patients.

The results reinforce the company's plan to move the regimen into a late-stage clinical trial, following earlier data that suggested activity against KRAS-mutated tumors, which are present in about 40% of pancreatic cancers.

The findings come as other firms such as Revolution Medicines, Verastem and Hengrui also pursue next-generation agents aimed at RAS family mutations, after the recent approval of Revolution’s Rasonque.

Incyte did not disclose the exact number of patients or response rates, but described the outcomes as lasting, indicating potential for improved survival in this aggressive disease.