On January 8, 2020 Verastem, Inc. (Nasdaq:VSTM) (Verastem Oncology or the Company), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing medicines seeking to improve the survival and quality of life of cancer patients, reported a global licensing agreement with Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., (Chugai) whereby Verastem Oncology is obtaining worldwide development and commercialization rights to the RAF/MEK inhibitor CH5126766 (CKI27) from Chugai currently under development for the treatment of KRAS mutant solid tumors (Press release, Verastem, JAN 8, 2020, View Source [SID1234552858]). The Company will host an investor call to discuss the opportunity and a development update today (details below).

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CH5126766 in combination with Verastem Oncology’s focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibitor, defactinib, is currently the subject of a clinical study (Phase I followed by expansion cohorts) with the expansion cohorts now 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).1 This clinical study of the defactinib/CH5126766 combination is supported by the single-agent Phase 2 studies of defactinib in KRAS mutant NSCLC2 and CH5126766 in KRAS mutant NSCLC and LGSOC.3

"Based on the single-agent defactinib results in KRAS mutant NSCLC, we conducted an internal pre-clinical effort to identify drug classes that were synergistic with defactinib and saw the highest level of synergy in combination with MEK inhibitors and, specifically, with CH5126766," said Dan Paterson, President and Chief Operating Officer of Verastem Oncology. "The exciting early clinical results led to our decision to enter into a partnership with Chugai for CH5126766 and accelerate the combination development program for patients with KRAS mutant cancers, which are highly aggressive and recurrent. We plan to initiate discussions with regulatory authorities about our development plans and to define the registration path early this year."

"We found that MEK blockade activates FAK signaling as a potential escape mechanism," stated Professor Udai Banerji, Professor of Molecular Cancer Pharmacology at The Institute of Cancer Research and Honorary Consultant in Medical Oncology, MBBS, MD, DNB, PhD, FRCP at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, England, and lead investigator of the clinical study. "Based on the synergy between FAK and MEK inhibitors observed in preclinical KRAS mutant models, we have been assessing the combination of defactinib and CH5126766 for treatment of patients with KRAS mutant cancers. The results to date have been encouraging and we look forward to sharing our clinical findings, including the response rate in an upcoming scientific presentation."

"CH5126766 is a unique and particularly promising inhibitor of the RAS/RAF/MEK signaling pathway," noted Neal Rosen, MD, PhD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NY, NY. "In contrast to other MEK inhibitors in development, CH5126766 blocks both MEK kinase activity and the ability of RAF to phosphorylate MEK. This unique mechanism allows CH5126766 to block MEK signaling without the compensatory activation of MEK that appears to limit the efficacy of other inhibitors. The clinical data with the combination of defactinib and CH5126766 are striking and suggest promise for patients with KRAS mutant solid tumors."

Under the terms of the agreement, Verastem Oncology is responsible for the development and worldwide commercialization of CH5126766. The Company will make an upfront payment of $3M and pay royalties to Chugai. Given the potential of the opportunity, the Company will be evaluating various partnering strategies.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

The Verastem Oncology management team will host a conference call and webcast on Wednesday, January 8, 2020, at 4:00 PM (ET). The call can be accessed by dialing (877) 341-5660 (U.S. and Canada) or (315) 625-3226 (international), five minutes prior to the start of the call and providing the passcode 3756707 and web PIN 1655.

The live, listen-only webcast of the conference call can be accessed by visiting the investors section of the Company’s website at View Source A replay of the webcast will be archived on the Company’s website for 90 days following the call.

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.4,5 A Phase 1/2 clinical trial of defactinib in combination with CH5126766 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) is underway.1 The defactinib/CH5126766 combination is supported by the single-agent Phase 2 studies of defactinib in KRAS mutant NSCLC2 and CH5126766 in KRAS mutant NSCLC and LGSOC.3 Defactinib is also in clinical testing in combination with pembrolizumab for treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer, NSCLC and mesothelioma.6