Addressing an audience of 150 attendees at its first clinical-stage R&D day on July 11, Verastem Inc. put forward its new senior executive team, as well as an eminent authority in cancer stem cell biology, to describe its clinical progress thus far, and its future plans.

Epigenetic modifiers are targeting a widening range of indications as growing knowledge of the underlying biology enables improved agents and therapeutic strategies. Nonetheless, issues of selectivity, toxicity, and finding adequate biomarkers still prevent the field from reaching its full potential.

With more than a dozen candidates in the clinic and a range of indications expanding outside oncology, the histone deacetylase inhibitor class could be poised to make major inroads. But much remains to be learned about the activity, and companies are scrambling to find biomarkers.