BOSTON - Verastem Oncology (NASDAQ:VSTM), a biopharmaceutical company, has announced promising interim results from its ongoing RAMP 205 Phase 1/2 clinical trial, which is testing a new drug combination for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer. As of May 14, 2024, 83% of patients in the first cohort achieved a confirmed partial response to the combination therapy, which includes avutometinib and defactinib with gemcitabine and Nab-paclitaxel.
The initial findings will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting on June 1, 2024. The study is significant as it explores the effectiveness of targeting the RAS/MAPK pathway, which is relevant in more than 90% of pancreatic tumors known to have a KRAS mutation.
Despite one dose-limiting toxicity observed, the dose level was cleared for further investigation after more patients were enrolled. The trial continues to evaluate additional dose and schedule regimens to establish the recommended Phase 2 dose.
Metastatic pancreatic cancer, a stage IV cancer that has spread to other organs, is notoriously difficult to treat, with a 5-year survival rate of only 3% in the U.S. Verastem's trial is supported by the PanCAN Therapeutic Accelerator Award, highlighting the urgency to develop more effective treatments.
The trial has enrolled patients across four dose and schedule cohorts, with the most mature cohort showing a confirmed partial response rate of 83%. Treatment emergent serious adverse events were reported, including one case of febrile neutropenia as a dose-limiting toxicity. However, most patients in the recently enrolled cohorts remained on treatment as of the data cutoff.
Verastem Oncology will hold an investor conference call and webcast on Friday, May 24, 2024, at 8:00 am EDT to discuss these interim results. The company's focus is on advancing new medicines that inhibit signaling pathways in cancer, with a particular emphasis on RAS/MAPK-driven cancers.
InvestingPro Insights
As Verastem Oncology (NASDAQ:VSTM) presents its interim results for the RAMP 205 Phase 1/2 clinical trial at the upcoming ASCO Annual Meeting, investors and industry observers are closely monitoring the company's financial health and market performance. According to recent data from InvestingPro, Verastem Oncology holds a market capitalization of approximately $308.25 million, with a negative price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of -2.72, reflecting the company's current lack of profitability.
The company's stock has experienced a strong return over the last year, with a 116.06% price total return, and a significant 45.95% year-to-date price total return as of 2024. However, it's important to note that Verastem is trading at a high Price / Book multiple of 12.3, which could indicate that the stock is valued quite richly in relation to the company's book value.
Two InvestingPro Tips that could be particularly relevant for investors considering Verastem Oncology are:
- The company holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet, which could provide some financial flexibility in its operations and research development.
- However, analysts have concerns about the company's profitability, with expectations that net income may drop this year and no anticipation of profitability within the year.
For investors seeking a deeper dive into Verastem Oncology's financials and market outlook, there are additional InvestingPro Tips available. By visiting InvestingPro's dedicated page for VSTM, you can access a comprehensive list of insights. For those interested in an InvestingPro subscription, use the coupon code PRONEWS24 to get an additional 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription.
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