Germany-based Boehringer Ingelheim has revealed promising preclinical data from its pan-KRAS program including the novel, oral inhibitor BI 1701963 at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Boston, USA, it was reported yesterday.

The compound has advanced to phase one clinical testing alone and in combination with trametinib in patients with different types of advanced solid tumours with KRAS mutations, based on these results.

Norbert Kraut, PhD, head of Global Cancer Research at Boehringer Ingelheim, said, 'Our pan-KRAS inhibitor has been designed to target a broad range of oncogenic KRAS variants, including all major G12 and G13 oncoproteins. Effective targeting of the most prevalent KRAS mutant alleles that have so far proved elusive could enable us to develop much needed new therapy regimens for patients with gastrointestinal and lung cancers who have limited treatment options available.'

BI 1701963 will be further developed in combination with LNP3794 a MEK inhibitor compound in-licensed from Lupin.