Develops small molecule drugs for the treatment of cancer, focusing on targeting cancer stem cells.
Verastem, Inc., headquartered in Needham, Massachusetts, operates as an innovative biopharmaceutical company in the developmental stages, specializing in the research and commercialization of cancer treatments. Central to its portfolio is VS-6766, a dual inhibitor targeting rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (RAF) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) pathways, pivotal in cancer cell proliferation and survival. This compound holds promise in blocking MEK kinase activity and inhibiting RAF-mediated MEK phosphorylation, representing a novel approach in cancer therapy.
In addition to VS-6766, Verastem is actively advancing clinical trials such as RAMP 201 and RAMP 202. RAMP 201 is a multicenter trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of VS-6766 in combination with defactinib, an oral focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibitor, specifically for patients with recurrent low grade serous ovarian cancer. Meanwhile, RAMP 202 focuses on assessing the safety and efficacy of VS-6766 combined with defactinib in patients with KRAS and BRAF mutant non-small cell lung cancer post platinum-based chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment.
Established in 2010, Verastem has forged strategic partnerships to advance its therapeutic pipeline. These include license agreements with Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for the development and commercialization of VS-6766, as well as collaborations with Pfizer Inc. and Amgen, Inc. to explore synergistic treatments targeting FAK and KRAS-G12C mutations, respectively. With a commitment to transformative oncology research, Verastem continues to pioneer new avenues in cancer treatment, aiming to improve outcomes and quality of life for patients globally.