Verastem, Inc. (NASDAQ:VSTM), focused on discovering and developing
drugs to treat cancer by the targeted killing of cancer stem cells,
today announced publication of an article titled “FAK Inhibitor Kills
Mesothelioma Cells” in Cancer Discovery, a medical journal
published by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). The
commentary references preclinical scientific data on targeting
mesothelioma cancer stem cells through inhibition of focal adhesion
kinase (FAK) that was recently published in Science Translational
Medicine (Vol. 6, Issue 237, p.237ra68).
Two of Verastem’s lead drug candidates, VS-6063 and VS-4718, target
cancer stem cells through potent inhibition of FAK. Cancer stem cells
are an underlying cause of tumor resistance to chemotherapy, recurrence
and ultimate disease progression. VS-6063 is currently being studied in
the registration-directed COMMAND trial in mesothelioma (www.COMMANDmeso.com)
and VS-4718 is currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with
advanced solid tumors.
The Cancer Discovery commentary can be accessed at http://bit.ly/1qsDCMo
The Science Translational Medicine paper on VS-4718 that is the subject
of the commentary can be accessed at http://bit.ly/1imOZp8
The Company will provide an overview of these programs at its upcoming
Research and Development Day being held on Thursday, July 10, 2014 at
12:30pm ET at The Hudson Theatre at the Millennium Broadway Hotel in New
York City. The Company will provide updates regarding its research and
development programs including presentations by five key opinion
leaders. The Company will also discuss recent clinical data, anticipated
milestones and upcoming plans for its programs targeting cancer stem
cells through inhibition of Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) and PI3K/mTOR
signaling pathways. Lunch will be served. Please RSVP to verastem@argotpartners.com.
Special guest speakers to include:
-
José Baselga, M.D., Ph.D., Physician in Chief, Memorial
Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
-
Raphael Bueno, M.D., Associate Chief, Division of Thoracic
Surgery, Brigham & Women's Hospital
-
Professor Dean Fennell, Ph.D., FCRP, Chair of Thoracic
Oncology, University of Leicester, Incoming President of the
International Mesothelioma Interest Group
-
Mary Hesdorffer, N.P., Executive Director, Mesothelioma
Applied Research Foundation
-
Manish R. Patel, M.D., Associate Director of Research,
Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute
Annual Research and Development Day Details and Webcast Info
Title:
Verastem Research and Development Day 2014
Date and Time:
Thursday, July 10, 2014 at 12:30pm ET
Location: The Hudson
Theatre at the Millennium Broadway Hotel, 145 West 44th Street, New
York, NY
Webcast: http://bit.ly/1vvh3sF
Conference
Call Dial-in (U.S.): 866-906-7447
Conference Call Dial-in
(International): 617-939-0999
Conference Call Passcode:
5946305
RSVP: Verastem@argotpartners.com
A replay of the webcast will be archived for 90 days following the
presentation date.
Replay webcast: http://bit.ly/1vvh3sF
Replay
Dial-in (U.S.): 888-799-6166
Replay Dial-in (International): 857-288-2550
Replay
Passcode: 5946305
About Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer that
occurs in the mesothelium, the thin layer of tissue that covers the
lungs. Mesothelioma is associated with exposure to asbestos in most
cases. According to the World Health Organization, there are a total of
59,000 cases of mesothelioma worldwide each year. Most mesotheliomas
begin as one or more nodules that progressively grow to form a solid
coating of tumor surrounding the lung leading to eventual suffocation
and death. A high percentage of mesotheliomas contain cancer stem cells
which are generally resistant to the currently available treatment
options for mesothelioma.
About VS-6063
VS-6063 (defactinib) is an orally available compound designed to target
cancer stem cells through the potent inhibition of focal adhesion kinase
(FAK). Cancer stem cells are an underlying cause of tumor resistance to
chemotherapy, recurrence and ultimate disease progression. Research by
Robert Weinberg, Ph.D., scientific cofounder and chair of Verastem’s
Scientific Advisory Board, and Verastem has demonstrated that FAK is
critical for the growth and survival of cancer stem cells. VS-6063 is
currently being studied in the registration-directed COMMAND trial in
mesothelioma (www.COMMANDmeso.com),
a Phase 1/1b study in combination with paclitaxel for patients with
ovarian cancer and a Phase 2 trial in patients with KRas-mutated
non-small cell lung cancer. VS-6063 has been granted orphan drug
designation in the U.S. and E.U. for use in mesothelioma.
About COMMAND
COMMAND is a registration-directed, double-blind, placebo-controlled
trial of VS-6063 with Progression Free Survival (PFS) and Overall
Survival (OS) as the primary endpoints. VS-6063 targets cancer stem
cells. Cancer stem cells are an underlying cause of tumor progression
and recurrence. The design of COMMAND allows the opportunity to enrich
for patients with tumors low in the biomarker, merlin. Preclinical and
early clinical research has demonstrated that low merlin levels may be
predictive of increased effectiveness of FAK inhibitors such as VS-6063.
The COMMAND study stratifies patients to evaluate the effect of VS-6063
in both the overall patient population and the subgroup of patients
whose tumors are low in merlin.
COMMAND is expected to enroll approximately 350-400 patients at clinical
sites in 12 countries, including the US, UK, Japan, Australia, Canada,
South Africa, New Zealand and countries in mainland Europe. Eligible
patients who had a partial response or stable disease following standard
first-line therapy with platinum/pemetrexed will be stratified to merlin
low or high and then randomized to receive either placebo or 400 mg of
defactinib. For more information visit www.COMMANDmeso.com
About VS-4718
VS-4718 is an orally available compound designed to target cancer stem
cells through the potent inhibition of focal adhesion kinase (FAK).
VS-4718 is currently being studied in a Phase 1 dose escalation study in
patients with advanced cancers.
About Verastem, Inc.
Verastem, Inc. (NASDAQ:VSTM) is discovering and developing drugs to
treat cancer by the targeted killing of cancer
stem cells. Cancer stem cells are an underlying cause of tumor
recurrence and metastasis. Verastem is developing small molecule
inhibitors of signaling pathways that are critical to cancer stem cell
survival and proliferation: FAK, PI3K/mTOR and Wnt. For more
information, please visit www.verastem.com.
Forward-looking statements:
Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans
and prospects for the Company constitute forward-looking statements
within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such
forward-looking statements. The Company anticipates that subsequent
events and developments will cause the Company’s views to change.
However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking
statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically
disclaims any obligation to do so.
Copyright Business Wire 2014