Verastem Issued U.S. Patent Covering VS-4718 Composition of Matter

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Verastem, Inc.
VSTM
, focused on discovering and developing drugs to treat cancer by the targeted killing of cancer stem cells, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued U.S. Patent No. 8,501,763 claiming composition of matter for VS-4718, the Company's novel, small molecule inhibitor of cancer stem cells through blockade of focal adhesion kinase (FAK). The U.S. patent grants coverage of VS-4718 into 2029. Corresponding patent applications are pending in major markets throughout the world including Europe, Japan, Australia and Canada. Preclinical models of multiple tumor types have established the FAK pathway as critical for the growth and survival of cancer stem cells, which are an underlying cause of tumor metastasis and recurrence. Verastem recently initiated a Phase 1 open-label, multicenter, dose-escalation study of VS-4718 in patients with advanced cancer. The study is expected to enroll up to 40 patients at three U.S. locations. “This patent is the cornerstone of our intellectual property estate for VS-4718, a potent inhibitor of FAK which we believe holds significant potential in the treatment of a variety of cancers,” said Robert Forrester, Verastem President and Chief Executive Officer. “VS-4718 is our second drug candidate targeting cancer stem cells to enter the clinic, following defactinib (VS-6063), which is entering a registration-directed clinical trial in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. We believe treatments targeting cancer stem cells will be critical to achieving durable clinical benefit in cancer.” About Verastem, Inc. Verastem, Inc.
VSTM
is discovering and developing drugs to treat cancer by the targeted killing of cancer stem cells. Cancer stem cells are an underlying cause of tumor recurrence and metastasis. Verastem is developing small molecule inhibitors of signaling pathways that are critical to cancer stem cell survival and proliferation: FAK, PI3K/mTOR and Wnt. For more information, please visit www.verastem.com.
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