We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Verastem (VSTM) Begins Dosing in Solid Tumors Study in China
Read MoreHide Full Article
Verastem Oncology (VSTM - Free Report) announced that it has dosed the first patient in a phase I/II study evaluating its KRAS G12D inhibitor, GFH375/VS-7375, for treating KRAS G12D mutant solid tumors. Verastem’s collaboration partner GenFleet Therapeutics is conducting the study in China.
Shares of VSTM were up 12.8% on Jul 12 following the announcement of the news.
Verastem entered into a collaboration agreement with GenFleet in 2023, wherein GFH375/VS-7375 was selected as its lead program. GFH375/VS-7375 is an oral, potent and selective KRAS G12D dual inhibitor of ON (GTP) and OFF (GDP) states.
The phase I study is designed to investigate the safety and efficacy of GFH375/VS-7375 in patients with advanced KRAS G12D mutant solid tumors in China. The study will also help in determining the recommended dose of GFH375/VS-7375 for a phase II study.
The phase II study will further evaluate the safety and efficacy of GFH375/VS-7375 in patients with advanced solid tumors, such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, colorectal cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.
Verastem stock has plunged 58.7% year to date compared with the industry’s decrease of 2.7%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
We note that after evaluating the initial dose escalation data from the above mentioned phase I study in China, VSTM plans to expedite the development path ahead for GFH375/VS-7375 in the United States.
GenFleet’s investigational new drug application seeking approval to begin clinical studies on GFH375/VS-7375 in China was cleared in June.
Verastem is a clinical-stage company engaged in developing new medicines for the treatment of cancer.
In May 2024, VSTM initiated the rolling submission of a new drug application to the FDA, seeking accelerated approval of the combination of avutometinib and defactinib for treating adult patients with recurrent KRAS mutant low-grade serous ovarian cancer who received at least one prior systemic therapy.
Both avutometinib and defactinib have been in-licensed by Verastem from other pharmaceutical companies. Avutometinib is an RAF/MEK clamp, while defactinib is a best-in-class selective FAK inhibitor.
Also in May 2024, Verastem announced positive interim safety and efficacy data from the dose level 1 cohort of its phase I/II study evaluating avutometinib and defactinib in combination with standard-of-care first-line chemotherapy (gemcitabine and Nab-paclitaxel) in metastatic pancreatic cancer patients.
Verastem is also simultaneously evaluating avutometinib in combination regimens targeting other cancer indications.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Verastem currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
In the past 60 days, estimates for Acrivon Therapeutics’ 2024 loss per share have narrowed from $3.05 to $2.47. Loss per share estimates for 2025 have narrowed from $3.04 to $2.55. Year to date, ACRV shares have rallied 51.4%.
ACRV’s earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed the same on the remaining occasion, the average surprise being 3.56%.
In the past 60 days, estimates for Adaptive Biotechnologies’ 2024 loss per share have narrowed from $1.30 to $1.29, while loss per share estimates for 2025 have narrowed from $1.08 to $1.02. Year to date, ADPT shares have declined 18.3%.
ADPT’s earnings beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters, meeting the same once and missing on the remaining occasion, the average surprise being 0.65%.
In the past 60 days, estimates for RAPT Therapeutics’ 2024 loss per share have narrowed from $2.94 to $2.93. Loss per share estimates for 2025 have narrowed from $2.06 to $2.05. Year to date, RAPT shares have declined 86%.
RAPT’s earnings beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters while missing the same on the remaining two occasions, the average surprise being 3.19%.
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Image: Bigstock
Verastem (VSTM) Begins Dosing in Solid Tumors Study in China
Verastem Oncology (VSTM - Free Report) announced that it has dosed the first patient in a phase I/II study evaluating its KRAS G12D inhibitor, GFH375/VS-7375, for treating KRAS G12D mutant solid tumors. Verastem’s collaboration partner GenFleet Therapeutics is conducting the study in China.
Shares of VSTM were up 12.8% on Jul 12 following the announcement of the news.
Verastem entered into a collaboration agreement with GenFleet in 2023, wherein GFH375/VS-7375 was selected as its lead program. GFH375/VS-7375 is an oral, potent and selective KRAS G12D dual inhibitor of ON (GTP) and OFF (GDP) states.
The phase I study is designed to investigate the safety and efficacy of GFH375/VS-7375 in patients with advanced KRAS G12D mutant solid tumors in China. The study will also help in determining the recommended dose of GFH375/VS-7375 for a phase II study.
The phase II study will further evaluate the safety and efficacy of GFH375/VS-7375 in patients with advanced solid tumors, such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, colorectal cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.
Verastem stock has plunged 58.7% year to date compared with the industry’s decrease of 2.7%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
We note that after evaluating the initial dose escalation data from the above mentioned phase I study in China, VSTM plans to expedite the development path ahead for GFH375/VS-7375 in the United States.
GenFleet’s investigational new drug application seeking approval to begin clinical studies on GFH375/VS-7375 in China was cleared in June.
Verastem is a clinical-stage company engaged in developing new medicines for the treatment of cancer.
In May 2024, VSTM initiated the rolling submission of a new drug application to the FDA, seeking accelerated approval of the combination of avutometinib and defactinib for treating adult patients with recurrent KRAS mutant low-grade serous ovarian cancer who received at least one prior systemic therapy.
Both avutometinib and defactinib have been in-licensed by Verastem from other pharmaceutical companies. Avutometinib is an RAF/MEK clamp, while defactinib is a best-in-class selective FAK inhibitor.
Also in May 2024, Verastem announced positive interim safety and efficacy data from the dose level 1 cohort of its phase I/II study evaluating avutometinib and defactinib in combination with standard-of-care first-line chemotherapy (gemcitabine and Nab-paclitaxel) in metastatic pancreatic cancer patients.
Verastem is also simultaneously evaluating avutometinib in combination regimens targeting other cancer indications.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Verastem currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
Some better-ranked stocks in the healthcare sector are Acrivon Therapeutics, Inc. (ACRV - Free Report) , Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation (ADPT - Free Report) and RAPT Therapeutics, Inc. (RAPT - Free Report) , each holding a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
In the past 60 days, estimates for Acrivon Therapeutics’ 2024 loss per share have narrowed from $3.05 to $2.47. Loss per share estimates for 2025 have narrowed from $3.04 to $2.55. Year to date, ACRV shares have rallied 51.4%.
ACRV’s earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed the same on the remaining occasion, the average surprise being 3.56%.
In the past 60 days, estimates for Adaptive Biotechnologies’ 2024 loss per share have narrowed from $1.30 to $1.29, while loss per share estimates for 2025 have narrowed from $1.08 to $1.02. Year to date, ADPT shares have declined 18.3%.
ADPT’s earnings beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters, meeting the same once and missing on the remaining occasion, the average surprise being 0.65%.
In the past 60 days, estimates for RAPT Therapeutics’ 2024 loss per share have narrowed from $2.94 to $2.93. Loss per share estimates for 2025 have narrowed from $2.06 to $2.05. Year to date, RAPT shares have declined 86%.
RAPT’s earnings beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters while missing the same on the remaining two occasions, the average surprise being 3.19%.