Erasca Announces Trial to Evaluate ERAS-007 in Combination with KRAS G12C Inhibitor in KRAS-Driven Cancers

SAN DIEGO, June 02, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Erasca, Inc. (Nasdaq: ERAS), a clinical-stage precision oncology company singularly focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing therapies for patients with RAS/MAPK pathway-driven cancers, today announced a trial to investigate the ERK1/2 inhibitor ERAS-007 in combination with a KRAS G12C inhibitor in KRAS G12C-driven non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and colorectal cancer (CRC).

“We look forward to ERAS-007 being evaluated in this trial, based in part on ERAS-007's ability in preclinical studies to robustly shut down oncogenic signaling,” said Jonathan E. Lim, M.D., Erasca’s chairman, CEO, and co-founder. “This trial not only helps to broaden the therapeutic development of ERAS-007, but also complements the patient subgroups within our ongoing HERKULES-2 and HERKULES-3 master protocols. Additionally, it may provide proof-of-concept data supporting the addition of ERAS-007 as a treatment option to overcome RAS/MAPK resistance with KRAS G12C inhibitors. We look forward to potentially partnering with the team to explore the therapeutic potential of this combination.”

Ryan Corcoran, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Center Program at Massachusetts General Hospital and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, added, “While adaptive feedback mechanisms can overwhelm MEK inhibitors, ERK inhibitors potentially can overcome drug resistance mechanisms that involve reactivation of RAS/MAPK pathway signaling. We look forward to evaluating whether the ERK1/2 inhibitor ERAS-007 has the potential to overcome feedback mechanisms and help address the limited efficacy of single agent KRAS G12C inhibitors.”

A Phase 1b clinical proof-of-concept trial will evaluate ERAS-007 in combination with a KRAS G12C inhibitor in patients with NSCLC and CRC harboring a KRAS G12C mutation. Additional preclinical and clinical laboratory research will be conducted to further understand the activity and safety of this combination in these patient populations. The trial will be led by principal investigators Scott Kopetz, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Corcoran, and Pasi Janne, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Drs. Corcoran and Kopetz recently received a grant from Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C).

About ERAS-007
ERAS-007 is a potential best-in-class ERK1/2 inhibitor being investigated alone or in combination with different inhibitors targeting upstream nodes of the MAPK pathway as part of Erasca’s MAPKlamp strategy. The extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), ERK1 and ERK2, belong to a family of serine-threonine kinases that regulate cellular signaling and comprise the terminal node of the RAS/MAPK pathway. The broad therapeutic potential of ERAS-007 is being investigated initially across four HERKULES clinical trials that span multiple tumor types and include both monotherapy and combinations with approved and investigational agents, such as RTK, SHP2, RAS, RAF, and/or cell cycle inhibitors. HERKULES-1 is a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial for ERAS-007 as a single agent and in combination with the SHP2 inhibitor ERAS-601 in advanced solid tumors. HERKULES-2 is a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial for ERAS-007 in combination with various agents in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. HERKULES-3 is a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial for ERAS-007 in combination with various agents in patients with gastrointestinal cancers. HERKULES-4 is a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial for ERAS-007 in combination with various agents in patients with hematologic malignancies.

About Erasca
At Erasca, our name is our mission: To erase cancer. We are a clinical-stage precision oncology company singularly focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing therapies for patients with RAS/MAPK pathway-driven cancers. Our company was co-founded by leading pioneers in precision oncology and RAS targeting to create novel therapies and combination regimens designed to comprehensively shut down the RAS/MAPK pathway for the treatment of cancer. We have assembled what we believe to be the deepest RAS/MAPK pathway-focused pipeline in the industry. We believe our team’s capabilities and experience, further guided by our scientific advisory board which includes the world’s leading experts in the RAS/MAPK pathway, uniquely position us to achieve our bold mission of erasing cancer.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Erasca cautions you that statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations and include, but are not limited to: our expectations regarding the potential therapeutic benefits of our product candidates and the potential patient populations for our product candidates, including ERAS-007; the ability of the trial described in this press release to broaden the therapeutic benefit of ERAS-007, compliment patient subgroups in the HERKULES-2 and HERKULES-3 trials, and provide proof-of-concept data supporting ERAS-007 as a treatment option with KRAS G12C inhibitors to overcome RAS/MAPK resistance; and the planned advancement of our development pipeline, including the clinical development plans for the HERKULES series of trials. Actual results may differ from those set forth in this press release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in our business, including, without limitation: our approach to the discovery and development of product candidates based on our singular focus on shutting down the RAS/MAPK pathway, a novel and unproven approach; delays in our preclinical and clinical development programs; our dependence on third parties to conduct manufacturing, research, and preclinical and clinical testing; unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate efficacy of our product candidates that may limit their development, regulatory approval, and/or commercialization, or may result in recalls or product liability claims; unfavorable results from preclinical studies or clinical trials; results from preclinical studies or early clinical trials not necessarily being predictive of future results; regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries; our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for our product candidates and maintain our rights under intellectual property licenses; our ability to fund our operating plans with our current cash, cash equivalents, and investments; our ability to maintain undisrupted business operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and other risks described in our prior filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including under the heading “Risk Factors” in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 201, and any subsequent filings with the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, which is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Contact:
Joyce Allaire
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
jallaire@lifesciadvisors.com

Source: Erasca, Inc.