Verastem, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on discovering and developing drugs for the treatment of cancer. Its programs target the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/mTOR signaling pathways. Its lead FAK inhibitor is defactinib (VS-6063), an orally available candidate for combination therapy with immuno-oncology agents and other anti-cancer compounds. The company's defactinib is in Phase 1b study for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, as well as in Phase 1/2 clinical trial for the treatment of ovarian cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, mesothelioma, and pancreatic cancer. It also engages in developing duvelisib, an investigational oral therapy that targets the PI3K signaling pathway, as well as attacks malignant B-cells and T-cells and disrupt the tumor microenvironment to help thwart their growth and proliferation for patients with lymphatic cancers through the dual inhibition of PI3K delta and gamma. The company's duvelisib is in Phase 3 randomized and two-arm trial for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma, as well as completed the Phase 2 study for the treatment of patients with refractory indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The company has license agreement with Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; The Scripps Research Institute; and Pfizer, Inc. Verastem, Inc. was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Needham, Massachusetts.
Verastem's blood cancer drug succeeds in late-stage trial Sept 6 (Reuters) - U.S. drug developer Verastem Inc said on Wednesday its drug to treat some types of blood cancer met the main goal in a late-stage study by prolonging the time patients lived without their disease worsening. Shares of Verastem rose 30 percent to $5.00 in premarket trading.
Verastem claims Q1'18 was a strong quarter, highlighted by the acceptance of the duvelisib New Drug Application (NDA) by the FDA. This drug treats patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma and follicular lymphoma. The upcoming FDA review decision for duvelisib is due by the end of the year, and the company is building U.S. commercial capabilities for the drug's potential product launch in 2018.
The shares of small oncology company rallied over 50% since mid-May, because the company's first product is likely to be approved by the FDA in October. The stock has garnered analyst interest as of lately.
