Vividion Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company and subsidiary of Bayer AG, has announced the dosing of the first patient in a Phase I clinical trial evaluating VVD-159642, an investigational oral inhibitor targeting RAS-driven cancers. The trial marks a significant step forward in addressing one of oncology's most challenging targets.
The Phase I study (NCT06804824) will assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and preliminary anti-tumor activity of VVD-159642. The drug will be evaluated both as a single agent and in combination with either sotorasib or trametinib in patients with advanced solid tumors.
Targeting the Undruggable RAS Pathway
RAS mutations drive approximately 20% of all cancers, but developing effective therapies has proven exceptionally challenging. VVD-159642 is designed to selectively inhibit the RAS-PI3Kα signaling pathway, which plays a critical role in solid tumor development and progression.
"Despite being a major driver in approximately 20% of cancers, the RAS gene has proven exceptionally difficult to target with drugs, largely due to its essential role in the RAS-PI3Kα signaling pathway, which is vital for healthy cell function," explained Jenna Goldberg, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Vividion. "VVD-159642 is designed and being studied to selectively prevent RAS activation of the PI3Kα pathway, thus blocking oncogenic signaling without disrupting normal cellular function."
Preclinical studies suggest VVD-159642 may inhibit tumor growth while avoiding the on-target toxicities that have limited previous attempts to drug this target. The compound shows potential for treating a broad patient population, including those with RAS-mutant and HER2-overexpressed tumors.
Innovative Platform Technology
VVD-159642 represents Vividion's fourth clinical-stage program stemming from its proprietary chemoproteomics discovery platform. This technology enables the company to identify previously unknown functional pockets on well-validated protein targets and develop highly selective small molecule therapeutics.
"We're excited to bring our fourth innovative oncology asset into the clinic, which not only represents continued validation of Vividion's covalent-first chemoproteomics platform but also provides a potential new treatment option for patients with RAS-driven cancers," said Aleksandra Rizo M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Vividion.
Christian Rommel, Ph.D., Head of Research and Development at Bayer's Pharmaceuticals Division, added: "The team at Vividion is rapidly advancing scientific innovations into clinical development that have the potential to address multiple devastating diseases not reachable by current therapies. The initiation of this clinical trial marks a significant step forward in leveraging Vividion's innovative drug discovery approach to target a highly relevant signaling pathway."
Expanding Clinical Pipeline
Vividion, acquired by Bayer in 2021, is advancing multiple programs targeting traditionally undruggable targets in oncology and immunology. The company currently has two other Phase I trials underway: an oral KEAP1 activator for solid tumors and an oral STAT3 inhibitor for solid and hematologic malignancies.
The advancement of VVD-159642 into clinical trials represents an important milestone in Bayer's strategy to strengthen its pharmaceutical pipeline, particularly in precision oncology. The company has been actively expanding its capabilities in new therapeutic modalities through strategic acquisitions and collaborations.
For patients with RAS-driven cancers who have limited treatment options, the development of VVD-159642 offers potential hope for a more targeted and potentially more tolerable therapeutic approach. If successful in clinical development, this compound could address a significant unmet need in oncology.
Combination Potential
A key aspect of the VVD-159642 clinical program is its evaluation in combination with other RAS/MAPK pathway inhibitors. Preclinical data suggest that such combinations may deliver increased efficacy compared to monotherapy approaches.
The trial's design, which includes combination arms with sotorasib (a KRAS G12C inhibitor) and trametinib (a MEK inhibitor), reflects the growing understanding that targeting multiple nodes in oncogenic signaling pathways may be necessary to overcome resistance mechanisms and achieve durable responses in patients with advanced cancers.
As the trial progresses, oncologists and patients will be watching closely to see if VVD-159642 can overcome the challenges that have historically made RAS one of oncology's most elusive targets.
