Verastem Oncology Presents Two-Year Follow-Up Data on AVMAPKI Combination Therapy
Verastem Oncology announced two-year median follow-up data from the Phase 2 RAMP 201 clinical trial that evaluated AVMAPKI FAKZYNJA combination therapy in patients with recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer will be presented today during an oral plenary session at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology 2026 Annual Meeting on Women's Cancers taking place in San Juan, Puerto Rico, April 10-13. "Patients who remained on treatment with avutometinib plus defactinib for two years were able to maintain the same level of response and duration of therapy as seen in the primary analysis, suggesting that patients can stay on the combination for a long period of time, derive benefit and have manageable toxicity during long-term administration of these medications," said Rachel Grisham, RAMP 201 Presenting Investigator, Section Head, Ovarian Cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Global Lead Principal Investigator of GOG-3097/ENGOT-ov81/GTG-UK/RAMP 301. "As we approach the one-year FDA approval anniversary of avutometinib in combination with defactinib, this analysis reinforces progress in bringing a durable and clinically meaningful option to patients." In the updated analysis, with ongoing patients presenting a median follow-up of 24.9 months, efficacy measures, including median duration of response and median progression free survival, and safety, are consistent with the primary analysis, which was conducted more than 13 months prior. Fifty percent of patients with KRAS-mutated and 30 percent with KRAS wild-type LGSOC remained on therapy for more than one year. Adverse events were consistent with the primary analysis with no new safety signals observed, and a 12 percent discontinuation rate due to adverse events. Efficacy analyses included patients with LGSOC from the FRAME and RAMP 201 studies, while safety analyses included a broader population from the FRAME, RAMP 201, and RAMP 202 studies. All efficacy endpoints, including overall response rates, duration of response, and best target lesion response, suggest the best therapeutic effect is achieved with the FDA approved dose of avutometinib 3.2 mg twice weekly plus defactinib 200 mg twice daily. While a lower avutometinib dose may mitigate treatment emergent adverse events, it may also compromise the efficacy. Importantly, these analyses demonstrated that TEAEs can be monitored and managed with dose interruptions, and subsequently resume treatment at the approved dose level, to allow patients to stay on treatment.
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- Sustained Efficacy: In the RAMP 201 clinical trial, after a median follow-up of two years, 52% of patients with KRAS mutations and 30% of KRAS wild-type patients remained on therapy for over one year, indicating the durability and effectiveness of the treatment, potentially offering long-term options for patients.
- Good Safety Profile: The combination therapy demonstrated no new safety signals during the two-year follow-up, with only a 12% discontinuation rate due to adverse events, suggesting that the treatment regimen is well-tolerated over extended periods, thereby enhancing patient confidence in the therapy.
- Optimal Efficacy Analysis: Recent exposure-response analysis indicates that the best therapeutic effect of the combination therapy with avutometinib and defactinib is achieved at the approved doses, emphasizing the importance of dosing and scheduling, which provides guidance for clinical practice.
- Clinical Significance: The findings reveal that approximately one-third of patients without KRAS mutations continued treatment after one year, highlighting the importance of this combination therapy in a patient population with limited treatment options, potentially paving the way for new therapeutic strategies in the future.
- Significant Tumor Regression: In KRAS G12D pancreatic cancer models, the combination of VS-7375 with PRMT5 inhibitors demonstrated strong durable tumor regressions, indicating its potential as a new treatment option for patients with this cancer type.
- Preclinical Research Findings: Compared to ON-only G12D inhibitors, VS-7375 showed deeper and more sustained tumor regression in pancreatic, lung, and colorectal cancer models, highlighting its advantages in clinical applications and the potential to change existing treatment protocols.
- AACR Conference Presentation: Verastem Oncology will present multiple studies on VS-7375 at the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, enhancing its visibility in the oncology field and attracting investor interest.
- FDA Fast Track Designation: The FDA granted Fast Track Designation to VS-7375 for treating KRAS G12D-mutated patients, indicating its therapeutic potential and possibly accelerating its market entry, thereby strengthening the company's competitive position in the biopharmaceutical market.
- Clinical Trial Data Presentation: Verastem Oncology will present long-term data from the RAMP 201 clinical trial at the 2026 Annual Meeting on Women's Cancers, further validating the efficacy and safety of the combination therapy of avutometinib and defactinib for recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer, which is expected to enhance the clinical evidence base.
- Exhibition Details: Verastem will have a booth (#608) at the meeting to showcase its approved therapies and ongoing cancer research, aiming to increase the company's visibility and influence in the oncology treatment space while attracting potential investors and partners.
- Study Background: The RAMP 201 trial is a multicenter, randomized, open-label Phase 2 registration-directed trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of the combination of avutometinib and defactinib, with results providing critical insights for future treatment strategies, particularly in patients with KRAS mutations.
- Patient Demographics: Low-grade serous ovarian cancer affects approximately 6,000 to 8,000 women in the U.S., with about 70% of patients exhibiting RAS pathway-associated mutations, highlighting the urgent need for developing new therapies targeting this specific cancer type to improve patient survival and treatment outcomes.
- Earnings Highlights: Verastem reported a Q4 adjusted loss of $0.48 per share, slightly above analysts' expectations of a $0.50 loss, while revenue of $17.5 million exceeded the consensus estimate of $16.84 million, indicating strong market performance post-drug launch.
- Sales Growth: The Avmapki Fakzynja co-pack generated $17.5 million in Q4 revenue, with projections of $30.9 million for 2025, marking the company's first commercial success in the KRAS-mutated recurrent ovarian cancer market, enhancing its competitive position.
- Clinical Trial Progress: The VS-7375 cancer drug cleared multiple dose levels in early trials without safety issues, with plans to pursue Phase 2 registration-directed studies across several cancer indications, showcasing its potential in oncology treatment.
- Positive Investor Sentiment: Despite a 25% decline in VSTM stock year-to-date, shares rose nearly 3% in after-hours trading, reflecting investor optimism regarding the new therapy's early traction and upcoming clinical milestones.
- Financial Performance: Verastem reported $17.5 million in net product revenue for Q4 2025 and $30.9 million for the full year, indicating strong market acceptance and early commercial success, with expectations for the LGSOC franchise to become self-sustaining in H2 2026.
- Clinical Progress: The company made advancements in the RAMP 205 trial, achieving a 57% overall response rate in KRAS mutant patients, suggesting that VS-7375 has significant potential in treating KRAS G12D-driven cancers, thereby reinforcing its strategic position in oncology.
- Market Adoption: By February, nearly 300 prescribers had adopted CO-PACK, with over 75% of target institutions implementing the therapy, demonstrating effective outreach to healthcare providers and robust patient support strategies.
- Future Outlook: Management reiterated a focus on maximizing CO-PACK adoption and plans to share updates on the RAMP 205 expansion cohort in Q2 2026, further driving clinical data generation and market penetration.
- Earnings Highlights: Verastem reported a Q4 GAAP EPS of -$0.50, beating expectations by $0.02, indicating a slight improvement in financial performance despite remaining in a loss position.
- Revenue Growth: The company achieved Q4 revenue of $17.54 million, exceeding market expectations by $0.7 million, suggesting an increase in product acceptance in the market, which could lay the groundwork for future growth.
- Clinical Developments: Verastem plans clinical updates in 2026, and despite setbacks with RAMP-203 targeting KRAS G12C NSCLC, the commitment to ongoing R&D may influence investor confidence positively.
- Rating Adjustment: Following the RAMP-203 setback, Verastem's rating has been downgraded to “Buy,” which may impact short-term stock performance but could also present an entry opportunity for long-term investors.








