Pancreatic cancer
Pent-up demand for the new pancreatic cancer therapy Rasonque helped RevMed soar past analysts’ sales expectations and reach 5,000 patients in the third quarter.
In a Phase 1 study, treatment with Incyte’s KRAS G12D inhibitor in combination with standard-of-care chemotherapy elicited an 89% confirmed objective response rate in patients with a type of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, leading analysts to draw comparisons with Revolution Medicines’ zoldonrasib.
A combination of Tango Therapeutics’ vopimetostat and Revolution Medicines’ recently approved Rasonque led to a response rate of 82% in an ongoing Phase 1/2 trial—a drop from 92% that was reported in June in fewer patients.
At the European Society of Medical Oncology meeting in Madrid this weekend, analysts will be watching for detailed data on Merck and Moderna’s personalized cancer vaccine, Summit and Akeso’s PD-1xVEGF bispecific therapy, and a host of antibody-drug conjugates.
Revolution Medicines’ recently approved drug showed a 24% overall response rate and a high rate of side effects in patients whose cancer has a G12D mutation, reinforcing Mizuho’s view that a more specific agent such as Verastem Oncology’s VS-7375 “should come first for G12D patients.”
Data released by the FDA show that Revolution Medicine’s newly approved pancreatic cancer drug underperformed in a large subgroup of patients, but analysts say the biotech still has a clear winner.
A future expansion of Rasonque into first-line pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma could set Revolution Medicines up to hit $2.3 billion in sales by 2028, according to Truist Securities.
The FDA granted the approval of Revolution Medicines’ daraxonrasib, now to be known as Rasonque, in pancreatic adenocarcinoma 6.5 months ahead of deadline.
Encouraging data for combination regimens of Revolution Medicines’ zoldonrasib “reinforce the path to leadership in PDAC” for the biotech, according to Truist Securities.
Following the mid-stage readout, Verastem Oncology has decided to move away from its investigational pancreatic cancer drug combo, instead putting resources behind its KRAS inhibitor pill for solid tumors.
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