On May 9, 2024 Black Diamond Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BDTX), a clinical-stage oncology company developing MasterKey therapies that target families of oncogenic mutations in patients with cancer, reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024, and provided a corporate update (Press release, Black Diamond Therapeutics, MAY 9, 2024, View Source [SID1234642979]).

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"We reached an important inflection in BDTX-1535 development this past quarter, as we initiated dosing of patients with non-classical EGFR mutant NSCLC in the first-line setting, and are on track to release initial results from the ongoing Phase 2 second/third-line cohorts in the third quarter of this year ", said Mark Velleca, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Black Diamond Therapeutics. "Our recent AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) presentation on the evolving EGFR mutation landscape highlights the major unmet need in EGFR mutant NSCLC, and the differentiated BDTX-1535 profile as the potential first- and best-in-class fourth-generation oral TKI in clinical development addressing the full spectrum of classical, non-classical, and C797S resistance mutations in NSCLC."

Recent Developments & Upcoming Milestones:
BDTX-1535:
•Following receipt of End of Phase 1 feedback from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the fourth quarter of 2023, Black Diamond initiated dosing of a Phase 2 first-line cohort in patients with non-classical epidermal growth factor receptor mutation positive (EGFRm) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) during the first quarter of 2024. (NCT05256290)
•In April 2024, Black Diamond described real world evidence of the evolving EGFR mutation landscape in patients with NSCLC and the potential of BDTX-1535 to address a broader range of mutations compared to existing therapies at the 2024 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) annual meeting. The oral presentation titled "BDTX-1535 – A MasterKey EGFR Inhibitor Targeting Classical, Non-Classical and the C797S Resistance Mutation to Address the Evolved Landscape of EGFR Mutant NSCLC," evaluated more than 235,000 sequenced cases of NSCLC sourced from Guardant Health (GuardantINFORM) and Foundation Medicine (FoundationInsights). The analyses revealed a broad spectrum of non-classical mutations, as well as an increased prevalence of the acquired resistance mutation, C797S. These non-classical EGFR mutations were present in 20-30% of newly diagnosed EGFRm NSCLC patients.

•Black Diamond anticipates the following upcoming key milestones for BDTX-1535:
◦Poster presentations at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting on June 1, 2024, of Phase 1 dose escalation data in patients with relapsed/recurrent GBM, and initial intratumoral pharmacokinetic results from a "window of opportunity" (also known as a Phase 0/1 "Trigger") trial sponsored by the Ivy Brain Tumor Center, in patients with recurrent high-grade glioma (HGG).
◦Disclosure of initial Phase 2 data in 2L/3L EGFRm NSCLC patients with non-classical mutations or the acquired resistance C797S mutation remains on track for Q3 2024.
BDTX-4933:
•Enrollment of patients with BRAF and select RAS/MAPK mutation-positive cancers, with an emphasis on patients with KRAS mutant NSCLC is ongoing in a Phase 1 dose escalation trial of BDTX-4933, a brain-penetrant oral inhibitor of oncogenic alterations in KRAS, NRAS and BRAF (NCT05786924). An update from this trial is anticipated in Q4 2024.
Corporate
•In April 2024, the Company announced changes to its Board of Directors. Industry veterans Shannon Campbell and Prakash Raman, Ph.D., have been appointed to the Company’s Board of Directors. In addition, Wendy Dixon, Ph.D., and Alex Mayweg, Ph.D., have stepped down as members of the Board of Directors.
Financial Highlights
•Cash Position: Black Diamond ended the first quarter of 2024 with approximately $115.2 million in cash, cash equivalents, and investments compared to $131.4 million as of December 31, 2023. Net cash used in operations was $21.2 million for the first quarter of 2024 compared to $20.0 million for the first quarter of 2023.
•Research and Development Expenses: Research and development (R&D) expenses were $13.5 million for the first quarter of 2024, compared to $14.8 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease in R&D expenses was primarily due to reduced spending on early discovery projects.
•General and Administrative Expenses: General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $6.7 million for the first quarter of 2024, compared to $6.8 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease in G&A expenses was primarily due to a decrease in personnel related costs and legal and other professional fees.
•Net Loss: Net loss for the first quarter of 2024 was $18.2 million, as compared to $20.9 million for the same period in 2023.
Financial Guidance
•Black Diamond ended the first quarter of 2024 with approximately $115.2 million in cash, cash equivalents and investments which the Company believes is sufficient to fund its anticipated operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the third quarter of 2025.

On May 9, 2024 Intensity Therapeutics, Inc. ("Intensity" or "the Company") (Nasdaq: INTS), a late-stage clinical biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of proprietary, novel immune-based intratumoral cancer therapies designed to kill tumors and increase immune system recognition of cancers, reported first quarter 2024 financial results and provides a corporate update (Press release, Intensity Therapeutics, MAY 9, 2024, View Source [SID1234642995]).

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Corporate Update

•In mid-2024, the Company intends on initiating a Phase 3 open-label, randomized study, or the INVINCIBLE-3 Study, testing INT230-6 as a monotherapy compared to the standard of care ("SOC") drugs in second and third line treatment for certain soft tissue sarcoma subtypes. We plan to enroll 333 patients with an endpoint of overall survival and have screened and qualified over 30 sites for the INVINCIBLE-3 Study. Contract negotiations to approve and activate these sites are in process. We estimate the sites could take between two to six months to complete their contracting processes.

•In mid-2024, the Company intends on initiating a Phase 2/3 program testing INT230-6 in combination with the SOC treatment (chemotherapy/immunotherapy) compared to SOC alone in women with triple negative breast cancer in presurgical (neoadjuvant) breast cancer. The endpoint for the Phase 2 portion of the study, or the INVINCIBLE-4 Study, is the change in the pathological complete response rate for the combination compared to the SOC alone. We expect to initiate the INVINCIBLE-4 Study in mid-2024, which will provide data to size a Phase 3 study. We are in the process of screening and qualifying sites for the INVINCIBLE-4 Study.

"We continue to make excellent progress towards the initiation of our INVINCIBLE-3 Study," said Lewis H. Bender, Founder, President and CEO of Intensity Therapeutics, Inc. "In the first quarter, we were able to release our INT230-6 Phase 3 clinical supplies, successfully ship the entire batch to our main depot, and complete labeling of a portion of the vials for the United States sites. During the quarter, we completed evaluation of dozens of sites and are now in various stages of contract and budget discussions with over 30 different high-quality sarcoma centers. We continue to qualify new sarcoma specialty hospitals in the US and internationally, and top enrolling centers from our previous metastatic study have expressed interest in participating in the INVINCIBLE-3 trial." Mr. Bender continued, "Our INVINCIBLE-4 Study also continues to make excellent progress. Sites are being recruited and we continue to work towards initiating the study in mid-2024."

First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Research and development expenses were $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $0.8 million for the same period in 2023. The increase was primarily due to preliminary work related to the INVINCIBLE-3 Study, and to a lesser extent, costs for manufacturing a new batch of INT230-6 and increased expenses related to salary, benefits, and stock-based compensation.

General and administrative expenses were $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $0.5 million for the same period in 2023. The increase was primarily due to increased expenses related to salary, benefits and stock-based compensation, higher legal, audit, and consulting fees, and higher directors and officers insurance.

Overall, net loss was $4.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $1.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023.

As of March 31, 2024, cash, cash equivalents and marketable debt securities totaled $10.5 million, which the Company expects will be sufficient to fund operations through the end of the first quarter in 2025.

About INT230-6
INT230-6, Intensity’s lead proprietary investigational product candidate, is designed for direct intratumoral injection. INT230-6 was discovered using Intensity’s proprietary DfuseRx℠ technology platform. The drug is composed of two proven, potent anti-cancer agents, cisplatin and vinblastine, and a penetration enhancer molecule (SHAO) that helps disperse potent cytotoxic drugs throughout tumors for diffusion into cancer cells. These agents remain in the tumor resulting in a favorable safety profile. In addition to local disease control, direct killing of the tumor by INT230-6 releases a bolus of neoantigens specific to the patient’s malignancy, leading to engagement of the immune system and systemic anti-tumor effects. Importantly, these effects are mediated without immunosuppression that so often occurs with systemic chemotherapy.

On May 9, 2024 Nuvalent, Inc. (Nasdaq: NUVL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on creating precisely targeted therapies for clinically proven kinase targets in cancer, reported pipeline progress, reiterated key anticipated milestones, and reported first quarter 2024 financial results (Press release, Nuvalent, MAY 9, 2024, View Source [SID1234643011]).

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"Guided by our OnTarget 2026 operating plan, 2024 is a year of focused execution on our path towards a potential first approval in 2026 from our pipeline of novel kinase inhibitors," said James Porter, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer at Nuvalent. "We expect to share clinical updates from our parallel lead programs for ROS1-positive and ALK-positive NSCLC at a medical meeting in the second half of the year and are on-track to dose the first patient in our HER2 program this year. This is an important time for Nuvalent, and we are excited to carry this momentum forward in hopes of bringing our therapies to patients as efficiently as possible."

Recent Pipeline Progress and Anticipated Milestones

ROS1 Program

•
Nuvalent presented new preclinical data at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting demonstrating that zidesamtinib, its novel ROS1-selective inhibitor, was effective at suppressing on-target ROS1 resistance mutations in preclinical mutagenesis screens.
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The company expects to share updated data from the ARROS-1 Phase 1/2 trial at a medical meeting in the second half of 2024. Enrollment is ongoing in the global Phase 2 portion of the study.
ALK Program

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Enrollment is ongoing in the global Phase 2 portion of the ALKOVE-1 trial of NVL-655 for patients with advanced ALK-positive NSCLC and other solid tumors. The Phase 2 cohorts are designed with registrational intent for TKI pre-treated patients with ALK-positive NSCLC and to enable preliminary evaluation in patients with ALK-positive NSCLC who are TKI naïve.
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The company expects to share updated data from the ALKOVE-1 trial at a medical meeting in the second half of 2024. Additionally, Nuvalent plans to outline its broader front-line development strategy for its ALK program in 2024.
HER2 Program

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Nuvalent presented new preclinical data at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) supporting the broad activity against HER2 oncogenic alterations, selectivity over wild-type EGFR, and differentiated brain-penetrant profile of its novel HER2-selective inhibitor, NVL-330.
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The company expects to initiate the Phase 1 trial for its HER2 program in 2024.

Upcoming Events

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TD Cowen 5th Annual Oncology Innovation Summit:Management will be participating in a virtual fireside chat on May 29, 2024 at 9:30 am ET. A live webcast will be available in the Investors section of Nuvalent’s website at www.nuvalent.com, and will be archived for 30 days following the conference.

First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

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Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $691.8 million as of March 31, 2024. Nuvalent believes these existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities to be sufficient to fund its current operating plan into 2027.
•
R&D Expenses: Research and development (R&D) expenses were $38.6 million for the first quarter of 2024.
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G&A Expenses: General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $14.0 million for the first quarter of 2024.
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Net Loss: Net loss was $44.5 million for the first quarter of 2024.

About OnTarget 2026

OnTarget 2026 delineates Nuvalent’s 3-year operating plan towards bringing new, potential best-in-class medicines to patients with cancer. As part of this plan announced in January 2024, Nuvalent outlined the following anticipated milestones throughout 2024, leading to the company’s first potential pivotal data in 2025 and first potential approved product in 2026:

•
2024: Execute on Global Registrational Strategies
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Progress the Phase 2 portion of its ARROS-1 trial of zidesamtinib in patients with advanced ROS1-positive NSCLC with registrational intent;
o
Initiate the Phase 2 portion of its ALKOVE-1 trial of NVL-655 in patients with advanced ALK-positive NSCLC with registrational intent;
o
Launch the front-line development strategy for its ALK program;
o
Present interim data from its ongoing ARROS-1 and ALKOVE-1 clinical trials at medical meetings; and,
o
Initiate the Phase 1 trial for its HER2 program.
•
2025: First Pivotal Data
•
2026: First Approved Product

On May 9, 2024 Verastem Oncology (Nasdaq: VSTM), a biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing new medicines for patients with cancer, reported business updates and reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 (Press release, Verastem, MAY 9, 2024, View Source [SID1234643042]).

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"In the first quarter of 2024, we received FDA Orphan Drug Designation for avutometinib and defactinib combination in recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer, which recognizes this rare cancer as different and distinct from other forms of ovarian cancer and reinforces the need for new treatment options," said Dan Paterson, president and chief executive officer of Verastem Oncology. "We look forward to starting our planned rolling NDA submission and sharing topline data for avutometinib and defactinib combination in recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer. We also plan to announce initial data from the RAMP 205 trial in first-line metastatic pancreatic cancer at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) and plan to provide updates across our other clinical programs in the second half of 2024."

First Quarter 2024 and Recent Updates

Avutometinib and Defactinib Combination in Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer (LGSOC)

Enrollment and site activations are underway in the U.S., Australia, and the UK, for the international confirmatory Phase 3 RAMP 301 trial evaluating the avutometinib and defactinib combination versus standard of care chemotherapy or hormonal therapy for the treatment of recurrent LGSOC.
Granted Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for avutometinib alone or in combination with defactinib for the treatment of all patients with recurrent LGSOC, in March 2024.
Multiple abstracts were selected for oral and poster presentations at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) 2024 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer on March 16-18 in San Diego. These presentations included a late-breaking oral presentation on a planned subgroup analysis of Part A of the Phase 2 RAMP 201 trial of avutometinib and defactinib combination of heavily pretreated patients with LGSOC and a plenary oral presentation of preclinical efficacy data of avutometinib in combination with a focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibitor in recurrent LGSOC as well as a trials-in-progress poster about the Phase 3 RAMP 301 trial.
Plan to announce updated topline data from the RAMP 201 trial in LGSOC to coincide with the start of our planned rolling New Drug Application (NDA) submission for Accelerated Approval for the avutometinib and defactinib combination in recurrent LGSOC in Q2 2024.
Preparations for a potential U.S. commercial launch in 2025 are ongoing and plans to initiate discussions with European and Japanese regulatory authorities to address patient needs outside the U.S. continue to advance.
Avutometinib in Combination with KRAS G12C Inhibitors in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Verastem Oncology announced today it has received Fast Track Designation from the FDA for avutometinib in combination with Mirati’s (BMS) G12C inhibitor, KRAZATI (adagrasib) for the treatment of patients with KRAS G12C-mutated metastatic NSCLC who have received at least one prior systemic therapy and have not been previously treated with a KRAS G12C inhibitor, in April 2024.
Verastem Oncology announced today it has received Fast Track Designation from the FDA for the combination of avutometinib plus defactinib with Amgen’s G12C inhibitor, LUMAKRAS (sotorasib) for the treatment of patients with KRAS G12C-mutated metastatic NSCLC who have received at least one prior systemic therapy, in April 2024.
The FDA granted Fast Track Designation for avutometinib in combination with Amgen’s G12C inhibitor, LUMAKRAS (sotorasib), for the treatment of patients with KRAS G12C-mutant metastatic NSCLC who have received at least one prior systemic therapy and have not been previously treated with a KRAS G12C inhibitor, in January 2024.
Data updates from patients with KRAS G12C-mutant NSCLC in the Phase 1/2 RAMP 203 trial evaluating avutometinib plus defactinib and sotorasib are planned for H2 2024.
Data from patients with KRAS G12C-mutant NSCLC in the Phase 1/2 RAMP 204 trial evaluating avutometinib and adagrasib are planned for H2 2024.
Avutometinib and Defactinib Combination in First-Line Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

Verastem Oncology reported the acceptance of an abstract that will include initial safety and efficacy results from the RAMP 205 trial of avutometinib and defactinib in combination with current standard of care gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in first-line metastatic pancreatic cancer at the upcoming American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting.
GFH375 (VS-7375): Oral KRAS G12D (ON/OFF) Inhibitor

GenFleet Therapeutics investigational new drug (IND) application for GFH375 (VS-7375) was submitted in China and accepted for review. Expect to begin a Phase 1 trial in China in H2 2024.
Discovery/lead optimization continues for second and third programs with GenFleet collaboration.
Upcoming Presentations

Verastem Oncology reported the acceptance of an abstract for poster presentation at the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting being held from May 31 to June 4, 2024, in Chicago, IL.

Title: Avutometinib/defactinib and gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel combination in first-line metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Initial safety and efficacy of phase 1b/2 study (RAMP 205).
Abstract Number: 4140
Date/Time: Saturday, June 1, 2024, 1:30 to 4:30 pm CDT
Corporate Updates

Strengthened the executive leadership team with the appointment of John Hayslip, M.D., to chief medical officer in April 2024.
First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Verastem Oncology ended the first quarter of 2024 with cash, cash equivalents and investments of $110.1 million.

Total operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024 (the "2024 Quarter") were $28.1 million, compared to $19.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 (the "2023 Quarter").

Research & development expenses for the 2024 Quarter were $17.7 million, compared to $12.0 million for the 2023 Quarter. The increase of $5.7 million, or 47.5%, was primarily related to increased contract research organization costs, increased investigator fees and increased personnel costs, including non-cash stock compensation.

Selling, general & administrative expenses for the 2024 Quarter were $10.4 million, compared to $7.3 million for the 2023 Quarter. The increase of $3.1 million, or 42.5%, was primarily related to additional costs in anticipation of a potential launch of avutometinib and defactinib in LGSOC, increased personnel costs, including non-cash stock compensation, and increased consulting and professional fees.

Net loss for the 2024 Quarter was $33.9 million, or $1.26 per share (basic and diluted), compared to $15.7 million, or $0.94 per share (basic and diluted, each as adjusted for the Company’s reverse stock split) for the 2023 Quarter.

For the 2024 Quarter, non-GAAP adjusted net loss was $26.2 million, or $0.98 per share (diluted) compared to non-GAAP adjusted net loss of $17.8 million, or $1.07 per share (diluted, as adjusted for the Company’s reverse stock split), for the 2023 Quarter. Please refer to the GAAP to non-GAAP Reconciliation attached to this press release.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement Verastem Oncology’s condensed consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP), the Company uses the following non-GAAP financial measures in this press release: non-GAAP adjusted net loss and non-GAAP net loss per share. These non-GAAP financial measures exclude certain amounts or expenses from the corresponding financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. Management believes this non-GAAP information is useful for investors, taken in conjunction with the Company’s GAAP financial statements, because it provides greater transparency and period-over- period comparability with respect to the Company’s operating performance and can enhance investors’ ability to identify operating trends in the Company’s business. Management uses these measures, among other factors, to assess and analyze operational results and trends and to make financial and operational decisions. Non-GAAP information is not prepared under a comprehensive set of accounting rules and should only be used to supplement an understanding of the Company’s operating results as reported under GAAP, not in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures are unlikely to be comparable with non-GAAP information provided by other companies. The determination of the amounts that are excluded from non-GAAP financial measures is a matter of management judgment and depends upon, among other factors, the nature of the underlying expense or income amounts. Reconciliations between these non-GAAP financial measures and the most comparable GAAP financial measures for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 are included in the tables accompanying this press release after the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

About the Avutometinib and Defactinib Combination

Avutometinib is a RAF/MEK clamp that induces inactive complexes of MEK with ARAF, BRAF and CRAF potentially creating a more complete and durable anti-tumor response through maximal RAS/MAPK pathway inhibition. In contrast to currently available MEK-only inhibitors, avutometinib blocks both MEK kinase activity and the ability of RAF to phosphorylate MEK. This unique mechanism allows avutometinib to block MEK signaling without the compensatory activation of MEK that appears to limit the efficacy of other MEK-only inhibitors. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation of the investigational combination of avutometinib and defactinib, a selective FAK inhibitor, for the treatment of all patients with recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC) regardless of KRAS status after one or more prior lines of therapy, including platinum-based chemotherapy. Avutometinib alone or in combination with defactinib was also granted Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA for the treatment of LGSOC.

Verastem Oncology is currently conducting clinical trials with avutometinib in RAS/MAPK driven tumors as part of its Raf And Mek Program or RAMP. RAMP 301 (NCT06072781) is an international Phase 3 confirmatory trial evaluating the combination of avutometinib and defactinib versus standard chemotherapy or hormonal therapy for the treatment of recurrent LGSOC. RAMP 201 (NCT04625270) is a Phase 2 registration-directed trial of avutometinib in combination with defactinib in patients with recurrent LGSOC and enrollment has been completed in each of the dose optimization and expansion phases and the low-dose evaluation.

Verastem Oncology has established clinical collaborations with Amgen and Mirati to evaluate LUMAKRAS (sotorasib) in combination with avutometinib and defactinib and KRAZATI (adagrasib) in combination with avutometinib in KRAS G12C mutant NSCLC as part of the RAMP 203 (NCT05074810) and RAMP 204 (NCT05375994) trials, respectively. The RAMP 205 (NCT05669482), a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial evaluating avutometinib and defactinib with gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel in patients with front-line metastatic pancreatic cancer, is supported by the PanCAN Therapeutic Accelerator Award.

About GFH375 (VS-7375)

GFH375 (VS-7375) is a potential best-in-class, potent and selective oral KRAS G12D (ON/OFF) inhibitor, identified as the lead program from the Verastem Oncology discovery and development collaboration with GenFleet Therapeutics. Upon approval of the investigational new drug (IND) application in China (which is currently under review), GenFleet is expected to initiate a Phase 1 trial in China in the second half of 2024. The collaboration includes three discovery programs, the first being the KRAS G12D inhibitor, and will provide Verastem Oncology with exclusive options to obtain licenses to each of the three compounds in the collaboration after successful completion of pre-determined milestones in Phase 1 trials. The licenses would give Verastem Oncology development and commercialization rights outside of the GenFleet territories of mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

On May 9, 2024 The Jackson Laboratory (JAX), an independent, nonprofit biomedical research organization, and AbTherx, an innovator in biotechnology, reported a strategic partnership to develop and commercialize cutting-edge tools to expedite antibody discovery and derisk the development of vital new therapies (Press release, AbTherx, MAY 9, 2024, View Source [SID1234644017]). This collaboration will include co-development activities and leverages JAX’s extensive experience in model research and AbTherx’s Atlas Mouse platform to address critical challenges facing drug developers of all sizes.

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The Atlas Mouse technologies are engineered to leverage in vivo antibody selection and maturation processes for the creation of human antibodies and are specifically designed to overcome the limitations of historical antibody discovery technologies by offering enhanced speed, diversity, developability, and affinity. Such traits are essential for developing viable lead candidates more swiftly than traditional methods currently allow.

JAX will also become the exclusive distributor of select AtlasTM Mouse models, including AbTherx’s Full Human Diversity Mouse for monoclonal antibody development as well as the Binary Fixed Light Chain Mouse for bispecific and multispecific antibody development. JAX and AbTherx are additionally exploring opportunities to develop and distribute future models to expand on this existing suite of innovative tools.

"By combining JAX’s expertise in high-quality mouse models with the innovative capabilities of our Atlas Mouse platform, we are setting new industry standards," said Justin Mika, CEO of AbTherx. "This collaboration not only enhances our ability to create additional impactful technologies but also ensures that these advancements are within reach of researchers and developers globally, fostering a new era of medical innovation."

"Providing access to high-quality research tools is paramount at The Jackson Laboratory, and we are thrilled to extend our capabilities with innovative models that are pivotal for the creation of new therapeutics," said Mitchell Kennedy, Executive Vice President of The Jackson Laboratory and President of JAX Mice, Clinical & Research Services. "Our partnership with AbTherx is a natural synergy, combining our decades of expertise in mouse model development with their deep knowledge in antibody discovery. Together, we are not only enhancing the tools available to researchers but also accelerating the pace at which impactful treatments can reach patients worldwide."

An early access program is set to launch in the second half of the year, during which time drug developers are invited to test and evaluate these groundbreaking platforms. For more details or to participate in the early access program, please contact JAX at [email protected].