Another ‘undruggable’ title could be at risk

There’s a prevalent little protein called KRAS, whose mutant forms are implicated in roughly 25% of cancers. That makes it an alluring target for drug developers, but KRAS’s physical properties have thwarted all attempts to craft a drug against it, stymying research for decades.

Now, as STAT’s Adam Feuerstein reports, there’s hope that could change. A KRAS-targeting drug from Amgen showed some positive results in a small, early trial involving heavily pre-treated patients. Two out 10 patients saw their tumors shrink, while six achieved stable disease.

The question now is whether Amgen can demonstrate a long-term benefit in a larger group of patients. But the early results suggest oncologists may finally be turning the tide on KRAS.

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