VS-7375, a non-covalent dual ON/OFF KRASG12D inhibitor, displays superior activity to ON-only KRASG12D inhibitors in preclinical models of pancreatic cancer
Presenter: Brandon Mouery, BS;PhD Session: Late-Breaking Research: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics 2 Time: 4/20/2026 2:00:00 PM → 4/20/2026 5:00:00 PM
Authors
Brandon L. Mouery 1 , Clint A. Stalnecker 1 , Adrienne D. Cox 1 , Silvia Coma 2 , Jonathan A. Pachter 2 , Channing J. Der 1 1 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 2 Verastem Oncology, Needham, MA
Abstract
The FDA approval of two selective OFF-state KRAS G12C inhibitors has stimulated comprehensive development of mechanistically distinct inhibitors of additional KRAS mutations. In particular, approximately 20 selective KRAS G12D inhibitors are currently in clinical evaluation. Their mechanisms of action include both ON- and OFF-state inhibitors and both covalent and non-covalent inhibitors. Here we compared the activity of VS-7375 (GFH375), a non-covalent dual ON/OFF KRAS G12D inhibitor, with the covalent ON-only KRAS G12D inhibitor zoldonrasib (RMC-9805). We found that VS-7375 exhibited greater anti-proliferative potency than RMC-9805 in a panel of KRAS G12D -mutant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cell lines. VS-7375 was 40-fold less potent in the KRAS G12C cell line MIA PaCa-2, indicating high selectivity for KRAS G12D . Furthermore, VS-7375 showed near complete inhibition of phosphorylated ERK (pERK) at concentrations as low as 1 nM by 4 hours, which persisted for up to 48 hours, whereas incomplete suppression of pERK was observed with as high as 30 nM of RMC-9805 by 4 hours. RMC-9805 suppressed pERK by 24 hours but required concentrations 10-30x higher than VS-7375 and rebounded by 48 hours. Similarly, we found that VS-7375 exhibited greater potency than RMC-9805 in suppressing phosphorylated AKT and S6, and MYC expression levels. To further compare the durability of inhibition, we performed washout experiments monitoring signaling inhibition after removal of drug. We found that the non-covalent inhibitor VS-7375 exhibited more prolonged signaling inhibition compared with the covalent inhibitor RMC-9805. pERK reduction persisted for up to 48 hours after washout of VS-7375. In contrast, following washout of RMC-9805, pERK rebound was seen by 8 hours with near complete rebound by 48 hours despite retention of covalently modified KRAS. This durable effect of VS-7375 may be explained by the long residence time of VS-7375 (18-24 hours). To delineate mechanisms of resistance to VS-7375, we cultured cells at 100-fold the GI 50 concentration until subpopulations arose with acquired resistance. Initial evaluation of the resistant cells revealed cross-resistance to other mechanistically distinct RAS inhibitors including the tricomplex inhibitors RMC-9805 and RMC-6236 (daraxonrasib), supporting a mechanism where resistant cells had developed RAS-independent growth. Ongoing studies are aimed at extending our comparison of VS-7375 to other ON-only RAS inhibitors (e.g., RMC-6236). In summary, we reveal superior preclinical activity of VS-7375 compared to RMC-9805. These results suggest that targeting both the ON- and OFF-states of mutant KRAS may provide more clinical benefit than covalent modification of the ON-state only.
Disclosure
B. L. Mouery, None. C. A. Stalnecker, Reactive Biosciences Independent Contractor. A. D. Cox, Eli Lilly and Company Independent Contractor. Mirati Therapeutics, Inc., a Bristol Myers Squibb company Independent Contractor. S. Coma, Verastem Oncology Employment, Stock. J. A. Pachter, Verastem Oncology Employment, Stock. C. J. Der, AskY Therapeutics Independent Contractor. Cullgen Independent Contractor. Deciphera Pharmaceuticals Independent Contractor, Gift. Kestrel Therapeutics Independent Contractor. Merck Independent Contractor. Mirati Therapeutics, a Bristol Myers Squibb company Independent Contractor, Gift. Reactive Biosciences Independent Contractor, Gift. Revolution Medicines Independent Contractor, Gift. SHY Therapeutics Independent Contractor. SpringWorks Therapeutics Gift.
Cited in
Control: 10591 · Presentation Id: 11448 · Meeting 21436