On April 13, 2020 Verastem, Inc. (Nasdaq:VSTM) (also known as Verastem Oncology), a biopharmaceutical company committed to developing and commercializing new medicines for patients battling cancer, reported that an abstract highlighting preliminary results from the ongoing investigator-initiated clinical study investigating VS-6766, its RAF/MEK inhibitor, in combination with defactinib, its FAK inhibitor, in patients with KRAS mutant advanced solid tumors has been selected for a virtual poster presentation at the upcoming American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting I, taking place April 27-28, 2020 (Press release, Verastem, APR 13, 2020, View Source [SID1234556264]).
Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:
Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing
Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!
This ongoing study is an open label, dose escalation and expansion study. The expansion cohorts are currently ongoing in patients with KRAS mutant advanced solid tumors, including low grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and colorectal cancer (CRC). Following the virtual data presentation, Verastem Oncology will host an investor conference call to discuss the presented data. The exact date and time of the investor conference call will be announced soon.
"These early clinical results led to our decision to in-license VS-6766 earlier this year and accelerate development of this exciting combination program for patients with KRAS mutant cancers," said Brian Stuglik, Chief Executive Officer of Verastem Oncology. "The synergy between VS-6766 and defactinib has been encouraging and we look forward to sharing the data with the medical and scientific communities later this month."
Verastem Oncology plans to initiate discussions with regulatory authorities during the first half of 2020, with the goal of commencing a registration-directed trial investigating the VS-6766/defactinib combination as soon as possible.
Other Abstracts Selected for Presentation at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2020 Virtual Meeting I
Two additional abstracts also selected for presentation at the April virtual meeting include: updated data from an ongoing Investigator-initiated Phase 1 study investigating defactinib in combination with pembrolizumab and gemcitabine in patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) (Wang-Gilliam, et al); and preclinical research describing the synergistic antitumor efficacy of duvelisib, the Company’s oral inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-delta and PI3K-gamma, in combination with PD-1 blockade in solid tumor and lymphoma models.
Details for the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2020 Virtual Meeting I presentations are as follows:
Title: Phase 1 study of the combination of a RAF-MEK inhibitor CH5126766 and FAK inhibitor defactinib in an intermittent dosing schedule with expansions in KRAS mutant cancers
Lead author: Udai Banerji, Institute of Cancer Research and The Royal Marsden
Poster #: CT143
Session: VPO.CT01 – Phase I Clinical Trials
Date and Time: Monday, April 27, 2020; 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET
URL: View Source!/9045/presentation/10642
Title: Phase 1 study of defactinib combined with pembrolizumab and gemcitabine in patients with advanced cancer: Experiences of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients
Lead author: Andrea Wang-Gilliam, Washington University in St. Louis
Poster #: CT118
Session: VPO.CT01 – Phase I Clinical Trials
Date and Time: Monday, April 27, 2020; 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET
URL: View Source!/9045/presentation/10617
Title: Synergistic antitumor efficacy of the dual PI3K-δ/PI3K-γ inhibitor duvelisib with PD-1 blockade in solid tumor and lymphoma models
Lead author: Jonathan Pachter, Verastem Oncology
Abstract #: CT045
Session: VCTPL04 – Immunotherapy Clinical Trials 2
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 28, 2020; 3:15 – 3:25 p.m. ET
URL: View Source!/9045/presentation/10754
About VS-6766
VS-6766 (formerly known as CH5126766, CKI27 and RO5126766) is a unique inhibitor of the RAF/MEK signaling pathway. In contrast to other MEK inhibitors in development, VS-6766 blocks both MEK kinase activity and the ability of RAF to phosphorylate MEK. This unique mechanism allows VS-6766 to block MEK signaling without the compensatory activation of MEK that appears to limit the efficacy of other inhibitors. The combination of VS-6766 and the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibitor defactinib is currently being investigated in a Phase 1 dose escalation and expansion study. The expansion cohorts are currently ongoing in patients with KRAS mutant advanced solid tumors, including low grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and colorectal cancer (CRC).3 The ongoing clinical study of the VS-6766/defactinib combination is supported by single-agent Phase 2 studies which investigated defactinib in KRAS mutant NSCLC4 and VS-6766 in KRAS mutant NSCLC and LGSOC.5
About Defactinib
Defactinib is an oral small molecule inhibitor of FAK and PYK2 that is currently being evaluated as a potential combination therapy for various solid tumors. The Company has received Orphan Drug designation for defactinib in ovarian cancer and mesothelioma in the US, EU and Australia. Preclinical research by Verastem Oncology scientists and collaborators at world-renowned research institutions has described the effect of FAK inhibition to enhance immune response by decreasing immuno-suppressive cells, increasing cytotoxic T cells, and reducing stromal density, which allows tumor-killing immune cells to enter the tumor.1,2 Additionally, in both preclinical and clinical studies, FAK activation has been shown to occur as a potential resistance mechanism in response to MEK inhibitor treatment, and synergy of a FAK inhibitor with a RAF/MEK inhibitor has been shown in several preclinical models. The combination of defactinib and VS-6766 is currently being investigated in a Phase 1 dose escalation and expansion study. The expansion cohorts are currently ongoing in patients with KRAS mutant advanced solid tumors, including low grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and colorectal cancer (CRC).3 The ongoing clinical study of the VS-6766/defactinib combination is supported by single-agent Phase 2 studies which investigated defactinib in KRAS mutant NSCLC4 and VS-6766 in KRAS mutant NSCLC and LGSOC.5 Defactinib is also in clinical testing in combination with pembrolizumab for treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer, NSCLC and mesothelioma.6
About COPIKTRA (duvelisib)
COPIKTRA is an oral inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and the first approved dual inhibitor of PI3K-delta and PI3K-gamma, two enzymes known to help support the growth and survival of malignant B-cells. PI3K signaling may lead to the proliferation of malignant B-cells and is thought to play a role in the formation and maintenance of the supportive tumor microenvironment.7,8,9 COPIKTRA is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) after at least two prior therapies and relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (FL) after at least two prior systemic therapies. COPIKTRA is also being developed by Verastem Oncology for the treatment of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), for which it has received Fast Track status and Orphan Drug Designation, and is being investigated in combination with other agents through investigator-sponsored studies.10 For more information on COPIKTRA, please visit www.COPIKTRA.com. Information about duvelisib clinical trials can be found on www.clinicaltrials.gov.