Avutometinib and Defactinib: First Approval
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Establishing Dual Resistance to EGFR-TKI and MET-TKI in Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells In Vitro with a 2-step Dose-escalation Procedure
Published on: August 11, 2017
1Springer Nature, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, Auckland, 0754, New Zealand. dru@adis.com.
Abstract:
Avutometinib and defactinib (AVMAPKI™ FAKZYNJA™ CO-PACK) is a co-packaged rapidly accelerating fibrosarcoma (RAF)/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor (avutometinib) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/proline-rich tyrosine kinase-2 (Pyk2) inhibitor (defactinib) being developed by Verastem Oncology for the treatment of RAS/MAPK pathway-driven cancers. In May 2025, avutometinib and defactinib was approved in the USA for the treatment of adult patients with KRAS-mutated recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC) who have received prior systemic therapy. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of avutometinib and defactinib leading to this first approval for KRAS-mutated recurrent LGSOC.
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