Erasca Shifts Focus to Early-Stage RAS-Targeting Candidates, Seeks Partner for Advanced Asset

Erasca, a San Diego-based cancer-focused biotech company, has announced a strategic pivot in its drug development pipeline, opting to seek a partner for its most advanced asset while redirecting resources to two early-stage RAS-targeting candidates. This move aims to extend the company's cash runway and capitalize on the potential of its newer assets in the competitive oncology landscape.

Naporafenib Partnership Sought as Erasca Realigns Priorities

Erasca is actively seeking a partner for naporafenib, a pan-RAF inhibitor currently in phase 3 trials for melanoma and phase 1b studies for solid tumors. The company acquired this asset from Novartis in 2022 for $20 million. Naporafenib has received FDA fast-track designation for use in combination with trametinib in patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma harboring NRAS mutations (NRASm).

The decision to end further internal development of naporafenib is expected to extend Erasca's cash runway from the second half of 2027 to the second half of 2028. CEO and co-founder Jonathan Lim, M.D., emphasized the importance of this financial cushion, stating, "Having more than three years of cash despite no new infusion of capital in this volatile macroenvironment bolsters our ability to focus on successfully executing our ambitious clinical development plans for ERAS-0015 and ERAS-4001."

Focus Shifts to Early-Stage RAS-Targeting Programs

With the strategic realignment, Erasca will concentrate its efforts on two early-stage RAS-targeting candidates:

1. ERAS-0015: A pan-RAS molecular glue with potential for treating RAS-mutant (RASm) solid tumors. The FDA has recently cleared Erasca to begin clinical trials for this asset.

2. ERAS-4001: A pan-KRAS inhibitor for which Erasca has submitted a request for FDA approval to initiate human studies.

Both programs were in-licensed from other biotechs in May 2024, with Erasca investing a total of $22.5 million to acquire the candidates. ERAS-4001 was obtained from Medshine Discovery, while the ex-China rights for ERAS-0015 were secured from Joyo Pharmatech.

Dr. Lim expressed optimism about these programs, stating, "We believe that the broad clinical application of these validated RAS targets, the robust excitement for our competitive candidates, and the tremendous progress we have made across both programs since their in-licensing last May strongly position us for success as we aim to help treat the millions of patients with RASm solid tumors."

Erasca anticipates phase 1 monotherapy data for both ERAS-0015 and ERAS-4001 by 2026, marking important milestones in the company's refocused pipeline strategy.