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Verastem to Present Data at the 2014 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting
In total, five abstracts describing new preclinical data relating to the Company’s ongoing research and development programs will be presented. Two of Verastem’s drug candidates, VS-6063 and VS-4718, target cancer stem cells through potent inhibition of focal adhesion kinase (FAK). The FAK family consists of the closely related kinases FAK and proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (PYK2). FAK and PYK2 are the only two members of the FAK family. The effect of PYK2 inhibition by VS-4718 was described in a recently published study in the journal Blood where the anti-cancer activities of VS-4718 in preclinical models of hematological malignancy were explored.
Details for the data presentations are as follows:
Oral Presentation
Title: Focal Adhesion Kinase Inhibitors Reverse the
Stromal Adhesion Phenotype of Ikaros-Mutant B-ALL, Induce Apopotosis,
and Synergize with ABL1 Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: A New Paradigm for
Pathogenesis and Therapy of High-Risk B-ALL
Abstract #: 285
Session:
618. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Preclinical Models
Date and
Time:
Location:
Poster Presentations
Title: VS-4718, a Potent Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK)
Inhibitor, Exhibits Anticancer Activity in Leukemia Models in Vitro and
in Vivo
Abstract #: 982
Session: 616. Acute
Myeloid Leukemia: Novel Therapy, excluding Transplantation: Poster I
Date
and Time:
Location:
Title: Proline-Rich Tyrosine Kinase (PYK2) Promotes Tumor
Progression in Multiple Myeloma (MM) and Represents a Novel Target for
Therapy in MM
Abstract #: 2101
Session: 652.
Myeloma: Pathophysiology and Pre-Clinical Studies, excluding Therapy:
Poster I
Date and Time:
Location:
Title: Targeting PYK2 Mediates Microenvironment-Specific
Myeloma Cell Death
Abstract #: 2081
Session:
652. Myeloma: Pathophysiology and Pre-Clinical Studies, excluding
Therapy: Poster I
Date and Time:
Location:
Title: PYK2 Inhibitors Sensitize Hypoxia-Induced Drug
Resistant Multiple Myeloma Cell
Abstract #: 4704
Session:
652. Myeloma: Pathophysiology and Pre-Clinical Studies, excluding
Therapy: Poster III
Date and Time:
Location:
The accepted abstracts listed above are now available online on the ASH conference website: www.hematology.org/Annual-Meeting/Abstracts/
About VS-6063
VS-6063 (defactinib) is an orally available compound designed to target
cancer stem cells through the potent inhibition of focal adhesion kinase
(FAK). Cancer stem cells are an underlying cause of tumor resistance to
chemotherapy, recurrence and ultimate disease progression. Research by
About VS-4718
VS-4718 is an orally available compound designed to target cancer stem cells through the potent inhibition of focal adhesion kinase (FAK). VS-4718 is currently being studied in a Phase 1 dose escalation study in patients with advanced cancers.
About
Forward-looking statements:
This press release includes forward-looking statements about the
Company’s strategy, future plans and prospects, including statements
regarding the development and activity of the Company’s product
candidates, including VS-6063, or defactinib, and VS-4718, and the
Company’s FAK and PI3K/mTOR programs generally, the timeline for
clinical development and regulatory approval of the Company’s compound,
and the structure of the Company’s planned or pending clinical trials.
The words “anticipate,” “appear,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,”
“intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “potential,”
“will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “continue,” and similar expressions
are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all
forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Each
forward-looking statement is subject to risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or
implied in such statement. Applicable risks and uncertainties include
the risks that the preclinical testing of the Company’s product
candidates and preliminary or interim data from clinical trials may not
be predictive of the results or success of ongoing or later clinical
trials, that data may not be available when we expect it to be, that the
Company will be unable to successfully complete the clinical development
of its product candidates, including VS-6063 and VS-4718, that the
development of the Company’s product candidates will take longer or cost
more than planned, and that the Company’s product candidates will not
receive regulatory approval or become commercially successful products.
Other risks and uncertainties include those identified under the heading
“Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended
Source:
Verastem, Inc.
Brian Sullivan, 617-252-9314
bsullivan@verastem.com
