Mesothelioma: VS-5584 Received Orphan Drug Designation

Verastem. Inc, a pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of drugs directed against cancer stem cells, recently announced that VS-5584, oral inhibitor of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), has received orphan drug designation from the US Food and Drug Administration, for use in the treatment of mesothelioma.

It is an important regulatory milestone for Verastem that will facilitate the global development of the VS-5584, and that will help improve the treatment options available for patients suffering from this type of very aggressive cancer, said Robert Forrester, President Verastem.

Verastem has recently initiated a Phase 1 clinical study in order to evaluate the synergistic activity in combination with VS-5584 VS-6063, in patients with progressive or relapsed malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Moreover VS-5584 is subjected to a phase 1 further study to evaluate the use against advanced solid tumors, such as mesothelioma, in patients who have previously shown good tolerance to the drug.

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