Verastem Oncology (NASDAQ: VSTM) has announced positive updated safety and efficacy results from the RAMP 205 Phase 1b/2a recommended Phase 2 dose cohort of 29 patients evaluating avutometinib plus defactinib in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in first-line metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).
According to Verastem, 90% of patients in the study presented with metastatic disease at diagnosis. The six-month overall survival rate was 86%.
In a statement, John Hayslip, MD, CMO at Verastem, commented, “The updated data from the RAMP 205 trial provide important clinical insights into the potential impact of combined RAF/MEK and FAK inhibition as a therapeutic option for pancreatic cancer. While pancreatic cancer remains one of the most challenging cancers to treat, the early survival trends and deep responses observed in this study indicate that avutometinib and defactinib are combinable with standard-of-care chemotherapy and may help overcome resistance mechanisms inherent in pancreatic cancer and support further exploration of strategies designed to address oncogenic signaling and mechanisms of treatment resistance.”
Dr. Hayslip added, “We are grateful to PanCAN, the RAMP 205 investigators, and especially the patients and families who participated in the trial.”
