Verastem’s KRAS‑G12D Drug Shows Early Promise in Small Trial
Early data from a Phase 1/2 study of Verastem’s VS‑7375 suggest it may reduce tumor growth in patients with pancreatic, colorectal and lung cancers carrying the G12D mutation.
15 Oct 2026 0 reads Compiled with AI
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Verastem Oncology’s experimental drug, VS‑7375, targets the KRAS G12D mutation, the most common form of KRAS that drives several cancers. The drug is designed to bind both the active (on) and inactive (off) states of the mutation, which may help suppress tumor growth more fully than treatments that target only one state. The mutation is found in pancreatic, colorectal and lung cancers, among others.
In a small Phase 1/2 trial, patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, metastatic colorectal cancer and advanced non‑small cell lung cancer were treated with VS‑7375. Objective response rates ranged from 36% to 50% in the pancreatic group, depending on how many prior lines of therapy patients had received. The colorectal cohort had a 33% response rate and the lung group a 43% response rate. These rates were at or above expectations from analysts.
Shares of Verastem rose 18% after the data were released, giving the company an early boost in a field that has seen high expectations. The announcement came amid news that Revolution Medicines’ Rasonque received FDA approval for pancreatic cancer patients with KRAS G12 mutations, and FDA documents suggesting the benefit for G12D may be more modest. Verastem also announced a $250 million stock offering and a new CEO transition plan on the same day.
Future Trials
The company plans to launch three Phase 3 trials before the end of June, one of which will study VS‑7375 as a first‑line treatment in pancreatic cancer. Enrollment for colorectal and lung cancer Phase 3 trials is expected to begin in the first half of next year, following FDA alignment on the pancreatic study.
Other developers are also targeting KRAS G12D, including Revolution Medicines, Eli Lilly, Roche, Tango Therapeutics, Erasca and BridgeBio Oncology. Verastem has partnered with China‑based GenFleet, which is conducting a registrational trial of VS‑7375 that began late last year. The collaboration aims to support the drug’s global development.