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Verastem Oncology Announces Encouraging Preliminary Data from Ongoing Phase 1/2a Dose Escalation Trial of VS-7375, an Oral KRAS G12D (ON/OFF) Inhibitor, in Patients with KRAS G12D Mutant Solid Tumors

On October 23, 2025 Verastem Oncology (Nasdaq: VSTM), a biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing new medicines for patients with RAS/MAPK-pathway-driven cancers, reported encouraging preliminary data from the first two dose levels in its ongoing Phase 1/2a clinical trial evaluating VS-7375, a potential best-in-class oral KRAS G12D (ON/OFF) inhibitor, in patients with previously-treated advanced KRAS G12D mutant solid tumors. In addition, while monotherapy dose escalation continues, the Company announced it has initiated patient enrollment for the first dose escalation combination cohort evaluating VS-7375 with cetuximab.

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"Preliminary safety and tolerability data from our ongoing Phase 1/2a trial indicate that VS-7375, a potential best-in-class oral KRAS G12D (ON/OFF) inhibitor, can be administered at efficacious doses while effectively managing gastrointestinal side effects," said Dan Paterson, president and chief executive officer of Verastem Oncology. "While still early, we are pleased to see anti-tumor activity among pre-treated patients with advanced pancreatic cancer and other solid tumors. As we continue monotherapy dose escalation, we are excited to open the combination cohort evaluating VS-7375 with cetuximab just months after trial initiation. By starting this combination cohort at a dose of VS-7375 that has previously demonstrated monotherapy efficacy, we expect to accelerate our clinical development program with other standard-of-care combination cohorts."

VS-7375-101 is a Phase 1/2a study being conducted in the U.S., with plans underway to expand globally, and is evaluating the safety and efficacy of VS-7375 in patients with previously-treated advanced KRAS G12D mutant solid tumors, including advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), both as monotherapy and in combination with other standard of care treatments.

In the study, VS-7375 cleared both the 400 mg daily (QD) and 600 mg QD monotherapy doses with no dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) observed. In addition, no new safety signals have been observed relative to earlier data presentations in both PDAC and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by our partner, GenFleet Therapeutics, in its ongoing Phase 1 /2 clinical study in China evaluating VS-7375 (known as GFH375). Specifically, at the two dose levels evaluated in the U.S. cohorts, no nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea greater than Grade 1 were reported. Monotherapy dose escalation in the VS-7375-101 study started at the efficacious doses identified in GenFleet’s study, 400 mg QD and 600 mg QD. GenFleet chose 600 mg QD as their recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) in China.

Of the five efficacy evaluable patients in the VS-7375-101 study with at least one scan, four out of five patients have had a tumor reduction and are still on treatment. The remaining patients receiving either the 400 mg QD or 600 mg QD doses have not yet reached their first response assessment. The study’s dose escalation continues with evaluating 900 mg QD monotherapy and the combination cohort evaluating VS-7375 with cetuximab is now open and enrolling patients. The cohort will enroll patients with advanced solid tumors, including colorectal cancer.

"We’re encouraged by the early safety experience in this study, including the GI tolerability we’ve seen to date and absence of cutaneous toxicities, along with the early signs of anti-tumor activity. These preliminary findings are promising, and we look forward to the continued evaluation of VS-7375 both as monotherapy and now in combination with cetuximab as there remains a significant unmet need for treatments specifically targeting KRAS G12D-mutant cancers," said John Hayslip, M.D., chief medical officer of Verastem Oncology.

Subject to the results of the Phase 1 dose escalation combination of VS-7375 and cetuximab, Verastem plans to initiate a combination expansion cohort in colorectal cancer. Following the ongoing monotherapy dose escalation to 900 mg QD, the Company expects to select the recommended Phase 2 dose and advance subsequent efficacy and safety analysis of monotherapy VS-7375 in patient expansion cohorts with advanced PDAC and NSCLC. The Company plans to report an interim safety and efficacy update on the Phase 1/2a trial of VS-7375 in the first half of 2026.

About KRAS G12D

KRAS G12D represents 26% of all KRAS mutations, making it the most prevalent KRAS mutation in human cancers. The KRAS G12D mutation occurs most commonly in pancreatic (37%), colorectal (12.5%), endometrial (8%), and non-small cell lung (5%) cancers. Currently, no therapies are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specifically targeting KRAS G12D mutations in cancer.

About VS-7375, an Oral KRAS G12D (ON/OFF) Inhibitor

VS-7375 is a potential best-in-class, potent, and selective oral KRAS G12D (ON/OFF) inhibitor. VS-7375 is the lead program from the Verastem Oncology discovery and development collaboration with GenFleet Therapeutics. Verastem announced in April 2025 that the U.S. Investigational New Drug (IND) application for VS-7375 was cleared and initiated a Phase 1/2a clinical trial in June 2025. GenFleet’s IND for VS-7375 (known as GFH375 in China) was approved in China in June 2024, and the first patient was dosed in a Phase 1/2 study in July 2024. Verastem selected VS-7375 as its lead program in December 2023 and the license for VS-7375 that was exercised in January 2025 is the first one from this collaboration. This license gives Verastem development and commercialization rights outside the GenFleet markets of mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

About the Phase 1/2a Study of VS-7375

VS-7375-101 is a Phase 1/2a clinical trial being conducted in the U.S., with the potential to expand globally, and will evaluate the safety and efficacy of VS-7375 in patients with advanced KRAS G12D mutant solid tumors. The starting dose for the Phase 1 study of 400 mg is based on the dose identified in the initial data from the GenFleet study to accelerate the trial’s progress. Verastem plans to dose escalate across levels where responses were observed in GenFleet’s study and will assess in the Phase 2a portion the efficacy and safety of VS-7375, both as monotherapy and in combination, in patients with advanced solid tumors, such as pancreatic, colorectal, and non-small cell lung cancers.

(Press release, Verastem, OCT 23, 2025, View Source [SID1234656952])

Moleculin Announces New Investigator-Initiated Study of Annamycin for Treating Pancreatic Cancer

On October 23, 2025 Moleculin Biotech, Inc., (Nasdaq: MBRX) ("Moleculin" or the "Company"), a late-stage pharmaceutical company with a broad portfolio of drug candidates targeting hard-to-treat cancers and viral infections, reported it is working with Atlantic Health on an investigator-initiated Phase 1B/2 single-arm study evaluating Annamycin for third-line ("3L") treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer continues to present significant treatment challenges, being the cancer with the highest mortality rate globally and the seventh leading cause of cancer death. However, recent preclinical studies indicate that Annamycin may target critical factors associated with this disease, showcasing its potential as a novel therapeutic option.

Walter Klemp, Chairman and CEO of Moleculin, commented, "We are excited to work with Atlantic Health to advance the development of Annamycin for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Their interest in funding and conducting this study stems from the compelling preclinical data presented at several American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) conferences showing a high level of activity by Annamycin against pancreatic cancer and associated liver metastases in preclinical studies. We believe this may be related to Annamycin’s demonstrated high affinity for and ability to concentrate in the pancreas, especially considering the well-documented challenge of achieving adequate drug uptake to the pancreas with existing therapies. In addition, recent published data1 now reveal that the upregulation of topoisomerase II, the primary target of Annamycin, is highly correlated with poor survival in pancreatic cancer patients, so we have a highly validated target with pancreatic cancer. Coupled with Annamycin’s demonstrated lack of cardiotoxicity, which could enable, for the first time ever, the use of an anthracycline in chronic or maintenance therapies, we believe pancreatic cancer could be an important additional opportunity for Annamycin. Such maintenance therapy demonstrated promising results in a recently concluded clinical study with Annamycin for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma metastasized to the lungs (MB-107)."

"This study further bolsters our efforts to advance and develop Annamycin through multiple investigator-initiated studies to unlock its potential as a treatment option for many other types of cancers," Mr. Klemp continued. "We continue to be encouraged by the preliminary preclinical data seen to date and believe Annamycin is a highly promising candidate for patients where there remains significant unmet need, such as pancreatic cancer."

"Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most devastating and difficult-to-treat malignancies, with limited options once patients progress beyond first- and second-line therapy," commented Dr. Angela Alistar, MD, Atlantic Health, the study’s principal investigator. "In particular, for the treatment options in the third-line setting, where survival rates are poor, no approved standard of care exists. We are committed to driving innovation in this space and based on the consistent safety and efficacy data, both clinically and preclinically, seen with Annamycin across a broad range of cancers, we believe this represents a great opportunity to address this high unmet need."

In connection with the planned study, Moleculin will supply Annamycin and be responsible for submitting and maintaining an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Dr. Alistar of Atlantic Health will be responsible for conducting the Phase 1B/2 study. Moleculin estimates the additional cost to run this trial from 2026 into 2030 (for long-term follow-up) will be approximately $1 million, mainly for drug supply and outside laboratory testing.

Annamycin, also known by its non-proprietary name of naxtarubicin, currently has Fast Track Status and Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for the treatment of relapsed or refractory AML, in addition to Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of STS lung mets. Furthermore, Annamycin has Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of relapsed or refractory AML from the EMA.

Moleculin is currently conducting pivotal Phase 2B/3, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, adaptive design study of Annamycin in combination with cytarabine (also known as "Ara-C" and for which the combination of Annamycin and Ara-C is referred to as "AnnAraC") for the treatment of adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who are refractory to or relapsed (R/R) after induction therapy (R/R AML). This Phase 3 "MIRACLE" trial (derived from Moleculin R/R AML AnnAraC Clinical Evaluation) is a global approval trial, including sites in the US, Europe and the Middle East.

For more information about the MIRACLE trial, visit clinicaltrials.gov and reference identifier NCT06788756. Additionally, the clinical trial in the EU is on euclinicaltrials.eu and the reference identifier there is 2024-518359-47-00.

(Press release, Moleculin, OCT 23, 2025, View Source [SID1234656950])

FDA Grants Priority Review for KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) and KEYTRUDA QLEX™ (pembrolizumab and berahyaluronidase alfa-pmph), Each in Combination with Padcev® (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv), for Certain Patients with Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

On October 23, 2025 Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted priority review for two supplemental Biologics License Applications (sBLA) for KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) and KEYTRUDA QLEX (pembrolizumab and berahyaluronidase alfa-pmph), each in combination with Padcev (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv), for the treatment of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) who are ineligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The FDA set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), or target action, date of April 7, 2026, marking the first concurrent review of both KEYTRUDA and KEYTRUDA QLEX for the same novel indication.

"New options for muscle-invasive bladder cancer are vital — patients who are ineligible for chemotherapy have not seen a treatment advance beyond surgery in decades," said Dr. Marjorie Green, senior vice president and head of oncology, global clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories. "With the FDA’s priority review, we are one step closer to offering KEYTRUDA or KEYTRUDA QLEX plus Padcev as a potential treatment option to these patients with MIBC who are ineligible for cisplatin-containing chemotherapy and have such high unmet medical need."

The sBLAs are based on data from the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-905 trial (also known as EV-303), which was conducted in collaboration with Pfizer and Astellas. Results, which were presented at the recent European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress, showed that after a median follow-up of 25.6 months, KEYTRUDA plus Padcev, as perioperative treatment, demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in event-free survival (EFS), the trial’s primary endpoint, reducing the risk of EFS events by 60% (HR=0.40 [95% CI, 0.28-0.57]; p<0.0001) versus surgery (radical cystectomy) alone in patients with MIBC who are not eligible for or declined cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Median EFS was not reached [NR] (95% CI, 37.3-NR) for the KEYTRUDA plus Padcev regimen versus 15.7 months (95% CI, 10.3-20.5) for surgery alone.

KEYTRUDA plus Padcev also demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in key secondary endpoints of overall survival (OS) and pathologic complete response (pCR) rate. KEYTRUDA plus Padcev reduced the risk of death by 50% (HR=0.50 [95% CI, 0.33-0.74]; p=0.0002) versus surgery. The pCR rate increased from 8.6% in patients treated with surgery alone (n=15/174) to 57.1% in patients treated with perioperative KEYTRUDA plus Padcev (n=97/170), an estimated increase of 48.3 percentage points (95% CI, 39.5-56.5; p<0.000001).

KEYTRUDA plus Padcev is currently approved for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer (la/mUC) in the U.S., the European Union (EU), Japan and several other countries around the world based on results from the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-A39 trial, also known as EV-302. KEYTRUDA as a monotherapy is also approved in the U.S., EU, Japan and other countries for the treatment of certain patients with la/mUC or a type of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

Four additional Phase 3 studies are currently evaluating KEYTRUDA across all stages of bladder cancer, including non-muscle-invasive, muscle-invasive and metastatic disease. Three of these studies are in MIBC including KEYNOTE-B15 (NCT04700124), which is also known as EV-304 and is being conducted in collaboration with Pfizer and Astellas, KEYNOTE-866 (NCT03924856) and KEYNOTE-992 (NCT04241185). KEYTRUDA is also being evaluated in combination with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) in patients with NMIBC in the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-676 (NCT03711032) trial.

About KEYNOTE-905/EV-303
KEYNOTE-905, also known as EV-303, is an open-label, randomized, multi-arm, controlled Phase 3 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03924895) evaluating perioperative KEYTRUDA, with or without Padcev, versus surgery alone in patients with MIBC who are either not eligible for or declined cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The trial enrolled 595 patients who were randomized to receive either:

Arm A: Three cycles of neoadjuvant KEYTRUDA, followed by surgery to remove the bladder (radical cystectomy), followed by 14 cycles of adjuvant KEYTRUDA;
Arm B: Surgery alone;
Arm C: Three cycles of neoadjuvant KEYTRUDA plus enfortumab vedotin, followed by surgery to remove the bladder (radical cystectomy), followed adjuvantly by six cycles of KEYTRUDA plus enfortumab vedotin and then eight cycles of KEYTRUDA alone.
The primary objective of this trial is to compare EFS between arm C and arm B, defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of any of the following events: progression of disease that precludes RC surgery or failure to undergo RC surgery in participants with residual disease, gross residual disease left behind at the time of surgery, local or distant recurrence as assessed by imaging and/or biopsy or death due to any cause. The key secondary objectives are to compare OS and the difference in pCR rate between arm C and arm B, as well as EFS, OS and the difference in pCR rate between arm A and arm B. The study remains ongoing to test hypotheses between arm A and arm B.

About bladder cancer
Bladder cancer is the ninth most common cancer worldwide, diagnosed in more than 614,000 patients each year globally. Muscle-invasive bladder cancer represents approximately 30% of all bladder cancer cases. The standard of care for patients with MIBC has been neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy followed by surgery, which is shown to prolong survival. However, up to half of patients with MIBC are not eligible to receive cisplatin and face limited treatment options, typically undergoing surgery alone.

(Press release, Merck & Co, OCT 23, 2025, View Source [SID1234656949])

INOVIO to Participate in the Stephens Biotechnology Virtual Fireside Chat Conference

On October 23, 2025 INOVIO (NASDAQ: INO), a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing DNA medicines to help treat and protect people from HPV-associated diseases, cancer and infectious diseases, reported that it will participate in a virtual fireside chat at the upcoming Stephens Biotechnology Virtual Fireside Chat Conference. During the conference, members of INOVIO’s management team will also be conducting one-on-one meetings with investors.

Date: November 4, 2025
Time: 3:00-3:50pm ET
Format: Virtual fireside chat

There will not be a replay or transcript of the call(s). To join the meetings or to obtain more information, please contact your Stephens representative.

(Press release, Inovio, OCT 23, 2025, View Source [SID1234656948])

IMUNON to Present New Translational Data from Phase 2 OVATION 2 Study of IMNN-001 at SITC 40th Annual Meeting

On October 23, 2025 IMUNON, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMNN), a clinical-stage company in Phase 3 development with its DNA-mediated immunotherapy, reported that new translational data from the Phase 2 OVATION 2 clinical trial of IMNN-001, its investigational therapy for the treatment of women with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer, will be presented at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) 40th Annual Meeting, being held November 5-9, 2025 in National Harbor, Maryland.

IMNN-001, based on IMUNON’s proprietary TheraPlas technology platform, is an interleukin-12 (IL-12) DNA plasmid vector encased in a nanoparticle delivery system, enabling cell transfection followed by durable, local production and secretion of the IL-12 protein in the tumor microenvironment. IL-12 is a powerful pluripotent cytokine known for inducing strong anti-cancer immunity by promoting T-lymphocyte and natural killer cell proliferation while inhibiting tumor-mediated immune suppression. IMNN-001 is the first therapy to achieve a clinically effective response in advanced (stage IIIC/IV) ovarian cancer including benefits in both progression-free survival and overall survival in a first-line treatment setting when used with standard of care chemotherapy.

Details of the SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper) poster presentation are as follows:

Abstract Title: IMNN-001, IL-12 gene therapy, added to Neo/Adjuvant chemotherapy safely turns the tumor microenvironment cold-to-hot in newly diagnosed epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC)

Presenting Author: Douglas V. Faller, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer, IMUNON

Date: Friday, November 7, 2025

Time: 12:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. ET

Poster Number: 1165

In September 2025, the Company presented positive translational data from the OVATION 2 Study at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Special Conference in Cancer Research: Advances in Ovarian Cancer Research reinforcing the favorable safety profile and efficacy benefits of IMNN-001 observed in the clinic, including increases in key anti-cancer immune cytokines and modulation of relevant anti-tumor immune cell populations, such as CD8+ T cells and myeloid dendritic cells, in the tumor and tumor microenvironment in study participants post-treatment.

About the OVATION 3 Study

OVATION 3 is IMUNON’s pivotal Phase 3 study of IMMN-001, an IL-12 gene-mediated immunotherapy, in women with advanced stage epithelial ovarian cancer. The study is supported with unprecedented overall survival (OS) data from a large, 112-patient, randomized Phase 2 OVATION 2 study showing the following:

Median 13-month increase in OS (HR 0.70) and median 3-month increase in PFS (HR 0.79) in IMNN-001 treatment arm compared to standard of care alone.
Better therapeutic effect observed with IMNN-001 treatment compared to the control arm (p=0.0375), as shown by mean 6.5-month extension of time free of progression or death (PFS + OS) captured in totality of treatment effect.
Use of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors as part of maintenance therapy further enhanced outcomes, with median OS not yet reached in the IMNN-001 treatment arm as patients surpass 5 years since randomization in the trial compared to median OS of 37 months on standard of care (HR 0.42).

The results from the OVATION 2 Study have resulted in invitations to present data from the Phase 2 Study at both the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) and ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) annual meetings and in the peer-reviewed journal Gynecologic Oncology.

The OVATION 3 trial is a robustly designed clinical study with at least 95% statistical power on the primary endpoint of overall survival. The trial design includes two planned interim analyses of the primary endpoint, designed to allow for an accelerated timeline for FDA submission of an IMNN-001 BLA if the primary endpoint reaches statistical significance. OVATION 3 is currently enrolling patients at four clinical sites with up to 46 additional sites being considered for activation.

About the Phase 2 OVATION 2 Study

OVATION 2 evaluated the dosing, safety, efficacy and biological activity of intraperitoneal administration of IMNN-001 in combination with neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy (N/ACT) of paclitaxel and carboplatin in patients newly diagnosed with advanced epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer. Treatment in the neoadjuvant period is designed to shrink the tumors as much as possible for optimal surgical removal after three cycles of chemotherapy. Following N/ACT, patients undergo interval debulking surgery, followed by three additional cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy to treat any residual tumor. This open-label study enrolled 112 patients who were randomized 1:1 and evaluated for safety and efficacy to compare N/ACT plus IMNN-001 versus standard-of-care N/ACT. In accordance with the study protocol, patients randomized to the IMNN-001 treatment arm could receive up to 17 weekly doses of 100 mg/m2 in addition to N/ACT. As a Phase 2 study, OVATION 2 was not powered for statistical significance. Additional endpoints included objective response rate, chemotherapy response score and surgical response score.

About IMNN-001 Immunotherapy

Designed using IMUNON’s proprietary TheraPlas platform technology, IMNN-001 is an IL-12 DNA plasmid vector encased in a nanoparticle delivery system that enables cell transfection followed by durable, local secretion of the IL-12 protein. IL-12 is one of the most active cytokines for the induction of potent anticancer immunity acting through the induction of T-lymphocyte and natural killer cell activation and proliferation. IMUNON previously reported positive safety and encouraging Phase 1 results with IMNN-001 administered as monotherapy or as combination therapy in patients with advanced peritoneally metastasized primary or recurrent ovarian cancer and completed a Phase 1b dose-escalation trial (the OVATION 1 Study) of IMNN-001 in combination with neoadjuvant carboplatin and paclitaxel in patients with newly diagnosed ovarian cancer. IMUNON previously reported positive results from the recently completed Phase 2 OVATION 2 Study, which assessed IMNN-001 (100 mg/m2 administered intraperitoneally weekly) plus neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy (N/ACT) of paclitaxel and carboplatin compared to standard-of-care N/ACT alone in 112 patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer.

About Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer is the sixth deadliest malignancy among women in the U.S. There are approximately 20,000 new cases of ovarian cancer every year and approximately 70% are diagnosed in advanced stage III/IV. Epithelial ovarian cancer is characterized by dissemination of tumors in the peritoneal cavity with a high risk of recurrence (75%, stage III/IV) after surgery and chemotherapy. Since the five-year survival rates of patients with stage III/IV disease at diagnosis are poor (41% and 20%, respectively), there remains a need for a therapy that not only reduces the recurrence rate but also improves overall survival. The peritoneal cavity of advanced ovarian cancer patients contains the primary tumor environment and is an attractive target for a regional approach to immune modulation.

(Press release, IMUNON, OCT 23, 2025, View Source [SID1234656947])