SAN DIEGO & BOSTON– Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:MRTX), a clinical-stage targeted oncology company and Verastem Oncology (Nasdaq:VSTM), a biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing new medicines for patients battling cancer, today announced a non-exclusive clinical collaboration agreement to evaluate the combination of Mirati’s investigational KRASG12C inhibitor adagrasib with Verastem Oncology’s investigational RAF/MEK inhibitor VS-6766 in KRASG12C-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
The primary objective of this multi-center, single-arm, open-label Phase 1/2 trial is to determine the maximum tolerated dose and recommended Phase 2 dose for the combination of adagrasib and VS-6766 in patients with KRASG12C-mutant NSCLC. The study will also investigate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of the combination in patients who have progressed on a KRASG12C inhibitor. The trial will build on preclinical data showing deeper blockade of ERK pathway signaling resulting in enhanced anti-tumor efficacy with the combination of adagrasib and VS-6766 relative to either agent alone.
“We are pleased to collaborate with Verastem Oncology on this clinical study of VS-6766 and adagrasib. We believe the data from this trial will help to better understand how these agents, when combined, could help improve patient outcomes,” said James Christensen, Ph.D., chief scientific officer, Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. “This clinical collaboration is an example of how Mirati is aggressively advancing the study of adagrasib both as a monotherapy and in rational combinations as part of its expanding development portfolio to benefit people living with difficult-to-treat cancers.”
“We continue to see evidence of the differentiated potential of the dual RAF and MEK properties and favorable safety profile of VS-6766 as an ideal combination therapy in treating RAS pathway-driven cancers. We are excited to partner with Mirati Therapeutics as part of our focused and rapidly advancing development strategy,” said Brian Stuglik, CEO of Verastem Oncology. “Specifically, this collaboration will provide data on the potential of VS-6766 with adagrasib to provide deeper and more durable responses in patients with KRASG12C-mutant NSCLC by overcoming downstream resistance mechanisms in the RAS pathway to address unmet needs for NSCLC patients with KRASG12C mutations.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Verastem Oncology and Mirati will have joint oversight of the study.
