Verastem halts mesothelioma trial

Verastem Inc. (NASDAQ:VSTM) fell $3.82 (67%) to $1.85 on Monday after it halted enrollment of the Phase II COMMAND study of defactinib ( VS-6063) to treat mesothelioma due to futility. A DSMB found no difference in progression-free survival between defactinib and placebo in a pre-planned interim analysis, in both the intent-to-treat population and in patients with tumors low in neurofibromin 2 ( NF2; Merlin).

Defactinib was being evaluated as a maintenance treatment following chemotherapy in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Verastem said the candidate was generally well tolerated. ...