Verastem Oncology reports positive RAMP 205 data in front-line pancreatic cancer

• Verastem Oncology (NASDAQ:VSTM) announced updated Phase 1b/2a data evaluating avutometinib and defactinib combined with standard chemotherapy.
• Following the release, Verastem shares traded up 3% at $4.12.
• The combination therapy achieved a 6-month overall survival (OS) rate of 86% and a 52% confirmed objective response rate (ORR) in first-line metastatic PDAC.

Verastem Oncology (NASDAQ:VSTM) today announced positive updated safety and efficacy results from the RAMP 205 Phase 1b/2a Recommended Phase 2 Dose (RP2D) cohort of 29 patients evaluating its investigational combination regimen in first-line metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

The trial evaluated the RAF/MEK inhibitor avutometinib and the FAK inhibitor defactinib in combination with standard-of-care chemotherapy (gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel).

Because KRAS is mutated in more than 90% of pancreatic cancers, the regimen was designed to simultaneously inhibit KRAS-driven signaling and FAK-mediated resistance pathways.

The clinical data was evaluated as of a June 5, 2026 data cutoff, reflecting a median follow-up period of 9.8 months.

At the time of diagnosis, 90% of the 29 enrolled patients presented with metastatic disease.

Verastem's clinical development program for front-line metastatic pancreatic cancer received early validation in May 2022 when it was selected for the inaugural Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) Therapeutic Accelerator Award.

The competitive award provided Verastem with $3.8 million in funding and established a dedicated scientific working group alongside academic communities to advance the development of the combination platform.

Looking forward, the company plans to explore strategic collaborations and future development paths based on mature overall survival numbers from RAMP 205.

Verastem is also expanding its pancreatic pipeline with VS-7375, an oral KRAS G12D (ON/OFF) inhibitor currently in clinical evaluation as both a monotherapy and in combination regimens.