Press release
Verastem Oncology Names Preeminent Oncology Researcher Channing Der, PhD, to its Scientific Advisory Board
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Verastem Oncology (Nasdaq:VSTM), a biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing new medicines for patients battling cancer,
About this update from Verastem, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":" BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nVerastem Oncology (Nasdaq:VSTM), a biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing new medicines for patients battling cancer, today announced that Channing Der, PhD, has been appointed to its Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Der, a preeminent researcher in the science of RAS pathway signaling and rational drug combinations, will provide expert guidance as Verastem advances its work in RAS pathway-driven cancers, including lead compound, RAF/MEK clamp VS-6766.\n\nDr. Der is the Sarah Graham Kenan Distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Since his initial discovery of RAS oncogenes in human cancer in the early 1980s, his research has centered on the study of RAS and RHO oncoproteins in cancer. In particular, Dr. Der’s research has shown the importance of vertical blockade of more than one node in the RAS pathway for deeper and more durable antitumor response. His work has been funded by grants from the National Cancer Institute, Department of Defense, Lustgarten Foundation, and Pancreatic Cancer Action Network/AACR.\n\n“The ability of the RAF/MEK clamp, VS-6766, to induce inactive complexes of MEK with ARAF, BRAF and CRAF is unique and opens up broad opportunities for research that could have a significant impact on the treatment of RAS pathway-driven cancers,” said Dr. Der. “By joining Verastem’s Scientific Advisory Board, I look forward to contributing to the Company’s efforts toward scientifically-driven breakthroughs for patients.”\n\n“We are delighted that Dr. Der has joined our Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Der has made tremendous contributions to therapeutic development of cell signaling inhibitors going back to early work on farnesyl transferase inhibitors in the 1990s,” said Jonathan Pachter, Chief Scientific Officer of Verastem Oncology. “His deep understanding of cancer cell signaling combined with the passion to translate these concepts into therapeutic strategies for treatment of patients with cancer will continue to bring valuable insights into our work to establish VS-6766 as a backbone of therapy for treatment of RAS pathway-driven solid tumors.”\n\nDr. Der joins current Scientific Advisory Board members Robert Weinberg, PhD and Mario Sznol, MD.\n\nAbout VS-6766\n\nVS-6766 (formerly known as CH5126766 and RO5126766) is a RAF/MEK clamp that induces inac...