Abstract A088: NST-628 is a potent, best-in-class MAPK pathway molecular glue that inhibits RAS- and RAF-driven cancers
Authors: Ryan Meagan B , Schenk Natasha , Zingg Marshall , Koehler Matthew , Swalm Brooke , Quade Bradley , Ye Chaoyang , Dar Arvin C , Han Yongxin , Hoeflich Klaus P , Hale Michael R , Hagel Margit 
Published: December 2023

Alterations in the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling cascade are common across multiple solid tumor types and aberrant signaling of the pathway is a driver for RAS- and RAF-driven cancers. Apart from approved mutation selective inhibitors for BRAF Class I and KRAS G12C mutations, other mutations of RAS and RAF are not directly addressable by currently approved inhibitors and there is a need for inhibitors with superior efficacy, durability and tolerability for the MAPK pathway in RAS- and RAF-driven cancers.  NST-628 is a potent pan-RAF-MEK molecular glue that prevents phosphorylation and activation of MEK by RAF, leading to deep durable inhibition of MEK kinase activity and downstream ERK signaling.  In a MEK1 immunoprecipitation assay, NST-628 treatment glues ARAF, BRAF, and CRAF with unphosphorylated MEK1, stabilizing an inactive RAF-MEK complex and deeply inhibiting phospho-ERK signaling.  In an unbiased cell line panel screen (550 models), NST-628 demonstrates efficacy across multiple tumor types with RAS-MAPK alterations, including melanoma, lung, and pancreatic models. NST-628 is broadly efficacious in models with BRAF Class II/III mutations, KRAS-mutations (G12C, G12D, G12V, G12R, Q61H), and NRAS-mutations (Q61x, G12x) as well as showing anti-proliferative effects in NF1-mutant/deficient models. Cell lines with NRAS Q61 mutations were particularly sensitive to NST-628 inhibition (GI50 average=150 nM).  In vivo, NST-628 has a balanced metabolic profile and predicted half-life and exposure in humans is compatible with low dose daily dosing. NST-628 (3-5 mg/kg QD treatment) led to tumor regressions in HCT116 (KRAS G13D colorectal) and IPC-298 (NRAS Q61L melanoma) xenograft models, 53% and 38% respectively, correlating to inhibition of both phospho-MEK and phospho-ERK in tumors. In comparison to the MEK inhibitor trametinib, NST-628 led to deeper tumor responses and on target pathway inhibition in both models as well as significantly greater tolerability as measured by body weight. In a mini-mouse trial utilizing patient derive xenograft (PDX) tumors harboring NF1, KRAS G12D/R, BRAF Class II/III, and NRAS Q61x mutations, NST-628 (3 mg/kg QD) dosing demonstrates broad anti-tumor responses across melanoma, lung, pancreatic, glioma, and ovarian models.  These data collectively, together with the predicted effective human half-life of NST-628 being consistent with daily dosing, support best-in-class potential for NST-628 and initiation of clinical trials in patients with solid tumors harboring RAS- and RAF-mutations is planned.

Citation Format: Meagan B Ryan, Natasha Schenk, Marshall Zingg, Matthew Koehler, Brooke Swalm, Bradley Quade, Chaoyang Ye, Arvin C Dar, Yongxin Han, Klaus P Hoeflich, Michael R Hale, Margit Hagel. NST-628 is a potent, best-in-class MAPK pathway molecular glue that inhibits RAS- and RAF-driven cancers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC Virtual International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2023 Oct 11-15; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2023;22(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A088.