Verastem's Pancreatic Cancer Drug Combo Shows Promising Early Results, Stock Soars

Verastem Oncology reported positive initial results from a Phase I/II trial of avutometinib combined with defactinib, gemcitabine, and nab-paclitaxel for treating metastatic pancreatic cancer, achieving an 83% overall response rate. The company will present these findings at the ASCO Annual Meeting in June 2024, leading to a 40% rise in its shares. Despite promising efficacy, the trial noted several serious adverse events.