Veru advances oral sabizabulin toward Phase 2 in daraxonrasib-resistant pancreatic cancer
New preclinical data show sabizabulin overcomes resistance to Revolution Medicines' daraxonrasib, prompting Veru to drop a cardiovascular indication and pursue an FDA preIND meeting in Q4 2026.
Veru Inc. announced on September 8, 2026 that new preclinical studies show sabizabulin can overcome drug resistance to daraxonrasib with potent anticancer efficacy (IC50=18.2nM) in a daraxonrasib resistant human pancreatic cancer cell line, at a drug concentration achievable with current sabizabulin human dosing with good safety.1
In the studies, daraxonrasib resistant cell lines were resistant to daraxonrasib with a resistance index of 68 for pancreatic cancer and over 128 for colon cancer, while the daraxonrasib resistant pancreatic cancer cells became more sensitive to sabizabulin with a resistance index of 0.25, and the resistant colon cell line retained sensitivity with a resistance index of 1.1 The company said the reactivation of the KRAS signaling pathway was confirmed as the reason for daraxonrasib resistance in both pancreatic and colon resistant cell lines.1
CEO Mitchell Steiner noted that the median time to cancer progression was 7.2 months in patients receiving daraxonrasib.1 Based on the findings, the company said it has made the strategic decision to advance sabizabulin into a Phase 2b clinical trial and will no longer explore sabizabulin for chronic inflammation related to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.1
Supporting data come from a prior study: in patients treated with at least one continuous 21-day cycle of 63 mg or higher, Kaplan-Meier median radiographic progression-free survival was estimated at 11.4 months, with durable responses over 12 months in 14.5% of 55 patients, and an objective response rate of 20.7% in patients with measurable disease.1
Next, Veru said it will first seek regulatory clarity from the FDA through a preIND meeting in calendar Q4 2026 to better understand the scope of the clinical trial.1 Separately, the company said its enobosarm obesity program remains on track, with the Phase 2b PLATEAU clinical trial fully enrolled and an interim analysis expected in calendar Q1 2027.1
Written by readthrough’s AI from the linked primary sources and fact-checked against them automatically before publishing. Not investment advice.