Key Takeaways:
A combination of Tango Therapeutics' vopimetostat and Revolution Medicines' daraxonrasib shrank tumors in 11 of 12 pancreatic cancer patients, sending Tango shares to a record high.
Tango Therapeutics Inc. said a combination of its experimental drug vopimetostat with Revolution Medicines Inc.'s daraxonrasib produced a 92% objective response rate in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, sending its shares up 53% to a record close of $30.93.
"The results from our ongoing combination trial dramatically exceeded our expectations," Malte Peters, chief executive officer of Tango, said on a conference call Monday.
Of the 12 patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who received the combination, 11 saw their tumors shrink, the company said. Six-month data showed 90% of patients remained progression-free, and the regimen achieved 100% disease control. Confirmation scans were still pending for two of the responding patients. A separate arm testing vopimetostat with a different Revolution drug, zoldonrasib, showed a 52% response rate and 74% six-month progression-free survival.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest malignancies, with a five-year survival rate of about 13%, creating intense demand for effective therapies. Revolution's daraxonrasib had already generated excitement at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in May, and the combination data suggest vopimetostat could extend the drug's durability by targeting a separate genetic pathway.
Vopimetostat targets tumors missing the MTAP gene, a common feature in pancreatic and other cancers. Daraxonrasib blocks mutations in the RAS family of genes that drive cancer growth. Because resistance to daraxonrasib tends to emerge over time, drugmakers have been searching for partner therapies that can prolong its benefit. The vopimetostat-daraxonrasib pairing addresses two distinct vulnerabilities in the same tumor.
In a small group of non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with the same combination, the response rate reached 100%, though the company did not disclose patient numbers for that arm.
Tango plans to launch a large-scale Phase 3 trial evaluating the combination as an initial therapy for patients newly diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer, with enrollment targeted to begin before the end of 2026. The company did not disclose the planned trial size or primary endpoint.
Brian Wolpin of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, who served as a senior author on Revolution's Phase 3 daraxonrasib trial, described the pairing as "clearly promising" on the conference call.
Tango shares have gained 254% year to date. The company's cash position and cash runway were not disclosed in the announcement. Revolution Medicines shares also rose on the news, though the company was not the primary beneficiary of Monday's rally.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
