IDEAYA partners with Roche on targeted pancreatic cancer drug trial

IDEAYA Biosciences (NASDAQ:IDYA) has entered into a clinical collaboration agreement with Swiss healthcare giant Roche to evaluate a novel combination therapy aimed at a genetically distinct and difficult-to-treat form of pancreatic cancer.

The partnership will combine early-stage candidates from both companies' pipelines to target a specific molecular vulnerability where there are currently no approved targeted therapies.

The clinical trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of IDE892, IDEAYA’s investigational, Phase 1 MTA-cooperative PRMT5 inhibitor, alongside Roche’s experimental pan-RAS inhibitor, designated as RG6505.

The study is specifically designed for patients with MTAP-deleted, RAS-mutant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, which represents the most common form of pancreatic cancer.

Corporate estimates indicate that MTAP deletions occur in up to 40% of all pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cases, establishing a sizeable target patient population within an oncology sector defined by significant unmet medical need.

Under the framework of the deal, the South San Francisco-based precision medicine company will serve as the sponsor for the clinical trial, handling operational execution.

Roche will supply its pan-RAS compound for the duration of the study.

Both companies are set to maintain joint governance to oversee the trial's progress, and both entities will retain all future commercial rights to their respective proprietary therapeutic compounds.

The agreement also establishes a path forward for potential therapeutic escalation.

Depending on early clinical outcomes and mutual consent, the companies hold an option to expand the study into a triplet treatment regimen.

This pivot would introduce IDE397, IDEAYA’s MAT2A inhibitor that is currently being evaluated in separate Phase 2 clinical trials, to see if a three-pronged mechanical approach yields deeper or more durable anti-tumor responses.