Roche reminds the markets that it’s a Kras player

A low-key footnote to Roche’s first-quarter financials today revealed that the group had put RG6433, a Shp2 inhibitor, into a phase 1 trial. This pharmacology is becoming an important mechanism in targeting Kras-driven cancers, as the Shp2 enzyme is thought to play a role in cycling Kras between its “on” and “off” states. It appears that RG6433 is Roche’s new code for RLY-1971, a project the company licensed from Relay Therapeutics for $75m up front last December. Relay had started its own phase 1 study of RLY-1971 over a year ago, but no data are available. The most advanced Shp2 player is Novartis with TNO155, a project being combined with Mirati’s Kras G12C inhibitor adagrasib, while Merck & Co did an early Shp2 deal with Otsuka in January. Revolution Medicine/Sanofi’s RMC-4630, meanwhile, disappointed at an AACR late-breaker, at least as monotherapy. Mirroring the actions of Novartis/Mirati, Roche’s plan includes combining Shp2 inhibition with its early-stage Kras G12C inhibitor GDC-6036, which is separately in phase 1. Given the growing interest in Kras it seems unlikely that these assets will remain under the radar for long.

This story has been updated to add the Shanghai Etern asset.