Verastem Oncology

Verastem Oncology is a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the development and commercialization of drugs to treat cancer. The company was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.

History

Verastem Oncology was founded by three scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): Robert Weinberg, Eric Lander, and Piyush Gupta. The company was established with the goal of developing new therapies for the treatment of cancer, specifically focusing on cancer stem cells.

Research and Development

Verastem Oncology's research and development efforts are primarily focused on the discovery and development of small molecule drugs that target cancer stem cells. These cells are believed to be responsible for the growth and spread of cancer, and are often resistant to traditional cancer treatments. Verastem Oncology's approach aims to target and kill these cells, potentially leading to more effective treatments for cancer.

The company's lead product candidate is defactinib, a small molecule inhibitor of the FAK and PYK2 signaling pathways, which are believed to play a critical role in the survival and proliferation of cancer stem cells. Defactinib is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of several types of cancer, including mesothelioma, non-small cell lung cancer, and pancreatic cancer.

Partnerships and Collaborations

Verastem Oncology has entered into several partnerships and collaborations to advance its research and development efforts. These include collaborations with Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, and the Cancer Research UK.

Financials

As a publicly traded company, Verastem Oncology's financial performance is reported on a quarterly and annual basis. The company's revenue primarily comes from the sale of its approved drugs, as well as from partnerships and collaborations.

See Also

• Cancer stem cell
• Biopharmaceutical
• Clinical trial
• Defactinib