A first-in-class EGFR-directed KRAS G12V selective inhibitor.

Despite KRAS^G12V being the second most common KRAS mutation in cancer, no direct inhibitors targeting KRAS^G12V have been approved. RNA interference (RNAi) has faced numerous obstacles as cancer therapeutic, including the lack of cancer-specific tissue targeting, rapid oligonucleotide nuclease degradation, and clearance from circulation. Recently, the use of targetable ligands conjugated to chemically modified siRNAs have shown remarkable promise in circumventing these barriers. In this study, we demonstrate that an EGFR-directed RNAi molecule (EFTX-G12V) is highly selective for KRAS^G12V and exhibits improved therapeutic activity over pan-KRAS targeting, including enhanced inhibition of several cancer hallmarks. Using a targeted RNAi delivery platform, we achieve effective tumor silencing of KRAS^G12V and significant anti-tumor activity across several cancer models. Our findings represent a technological advance in oncogene targeting using RNAi and provide new biologic insights in KRAS targeting with potential implications for safety and efficacy.

Duke Scholars

Author Katherine Zhou