Verastem (VSTM) said late Tuesday that preliminary data from its ongoing Phase 1/2 TARGET-D 101 trial showed encouraging anti-tumor activity and a manageable safety profile for VS-7375, its investigational KRAS G12D inhibitor, in patients with advanced KRAS G12D-mutated solid tumors, including pancreatic, colorectal, and non-small cell lung cancers.

In heavily pretreated patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer receiving a 900 mg daily dose, 93% achieved a reduction of more than 50% in a key tumor marker known as CA19-9. Verastem also reported promising early data when combining the drug with standard chemotherapies and other targeted treatments.

The drug was well-tolerated by patients, according to the data cutoff, and no unexpected adverse events or significant liver function abnormalities were reported, the biopharmaceutical company said.

Verastem also announced plans to collaborate with Erasca (ERAS) to evaluate VS-7375 in combination with Erasca's pan-RAS molecular glue, ERAS-0015, in preclinical models. The companies said they intend to explore future clinical trials for the combination therapy if the initial evaluations are successful, Verastem said.