Abstract 3318: GFH375 (VS-7375): An oral, selective KRAS G12D (ON/OFF) inhibitor with potent anti-tumor efficacy
Authors: Yan Feng , Jiang Tao , Liang Tao , Cai Lijian , Zhang Leitao , Xu Xiaoming , Zhao Yanhui , Lan Xiaoling , Zhang Xiaohui , Liu Meng , Liu Qiang , Gao Jinting , Xie Fubo , Gao Xueyan , Wang Li , Zhang Jingyang , Ren Hongcan , Liu Dong , Le Siyuan , Tang Lili , Coma Silvia , Cheng Yaofeng , Sanburn Nathan , Pachter Jonathan A. , Zhou Fusheng , Lan Jiong , Lu Qiang 
Published: March 2024

Background: KRAS is the best-known oncogene but had long been considered ‘undruggable’ until the approval of the first KRAS G12C inhibitor sotorasib in 2021. However, most current clinical-stage KRAS inhibitors target the KRAS G12C mutation. Inhibitors of other KRAS mutants such as KRAS G12D, the most frequent KRAS mutation in human cancer, are needed for patients. We have developed GFH375 (VS-7375), an oral, selective KRAS G12D inhibitor targeting both “ON” (GTP-bound) and “OFF” (GDP-bound) states of KRAS proteins. The in vitro potency, selectivity, and in vivo efficacy of monotherapy and combination therapy with avutometinib, a unique RAF/MEK clamp, were evaluated in preclinical studies.

Methods: Biochemical and cellular assays were used to investigate inhibition to KRAS cycling and signaling. CellTiter-Glo assay was performed to determine the effects on proliferation of tumor cell lines. Several KRAS G12D CDX tumor models were employed to study the in vivo pharmacodynamic and anti-tumor effects.

Results: GFH375 inhibited both nucleotide exchange on GDP-bound KRAS G12D and interaction between GMPPNP-bound KRAS G12D with RAF1 with single-digit nanomolar IC50 values. GFH375 suppressed phosho-ERK1/2 (p-ERK) level with sub-nanomolar IC50 values and potently inhibited cell proliferation across a panel of KRAS G12D tumor cell lines. GFH375 showed high selectivity for KRAS G12D relative to non-G12D KRAS variants, KRAS wild type cells, and NRAS, HRAS, or BRAF mutated cells. Following a single oral dose, GFH375 produced deep and durable inhibition of p-ERK in KRAS G12D CDX tumors. GFH375 demonstrated dose-dependent anti-tumor activity with tumor regressions at 10 or 30 mg/kg given orally twice daily in multiple KRAS G12D PDAC and CRC CDX tumor models. GFH375 also showed strong anti-tumor efficacy in an intracranial KRAS G12D tumor model starting as low as 10 mg/kg orally twice daily. Strong synergy between GFH375 and avutometinib was observed in vitro and was validated in vivo as anti-tumor activity of GFH375 was further enhanced by avutometinib.

Conclusions: GFH375 is a highly potent and selective orally active inhibitor of KRAS G12D (ON/OFF) and demonstrated promising anti-tumor activity in multiple KRAS G12D tumor models. GFH375 was also effective in an intracranial tumor model. GFH375 showed strong synergy with avutometinib in vitro and in vivo. GFH375 is currently in IND-enabling development in preparation for clinical studies of monotherapy and potentially in combination with other agents for patients with KRAS G12D mutant tumors.

Citation Format: Feng Yan, Tao Jiang, Tao Liang, Lijian Cai, Leitao Zhang, Xiaoming Xu, Yanhui Zhao, Xiaoling Lan, Xiaohui Zhang, Meng Liu, Qiang Liu, Jinting Gao, Fubo Xie, Xueyan Gao, Li Wang, Jingyang Zhang, Hongcan Ren, Dong Liu, Siyuan Le, Lili Tang, Silvia Coma, Yaofeng Cheng, Nathan Sanburn, Jonathan A. Pachter, Fusheng Zhou, Jiong Lan, Qiang Lu. GFH375 (VS-7375): An oral, selective KRAS G12D (ON/OFF) inhibitor with potent anti-tumor efficacy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3318.