# Defactinib

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**Defactinib** ([INN](/source/International_Nonproprietary_Name), codenamed **VS-6063**) is an [inhibitor](/source/Protein_kinase_inhibitor) of [PTK2, also known as focal adhesion kinase (FAK)](/source/PTK2), [Pyk2](/source/PTK2B), and [MELK](/source/MELK) which was developed by [Pfizer](/source/Pfizer) and licensed to [Verastem Oncology](/source/Verastem_Oncology) as a potential treatment for [solid tumors](/source/Neoplasm).

Development for [mesothelioma](/source/Mesothelioma) was discontinued in 2015 due to lack of efficacy in a placebo-controlled phase II trial.[1][2] Subsequent research in patients with specific [NF2](/source/Merlin_(protein)) mutations also found limited activity.[3]

The co-packaged medication [avutometinib/defactinib](/source/Avutometinib/defactinib) was approved for medical use in the United States in May 2025.[4][5]

## References

1. Nathan VL (28 September 2015). ["Verastem stops cancer therapy development; shares plunge"](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-verastem-study-idUSKCN0RS1DR20150928). Reuters. Retrieved 5 June 2022.

1. Fennell DA, Baas P, Taylor P, Nowak AK, Gilligan D, Nakano T, Pachter JA, Weaver DT, Scherpereel A, Pavlakis N, van Meerbeeck JP, Cedrés S, Nolan L, Kindler H, Aerts JG (April 2019). "Maintenance Defactinib Versus Placebo After First-Line Chemotherapy in Patients With Merlin-Stratified Pleural Mesothelioma: COMMAND-A Double-Blind, Randomized, Phase II Study". *Journal of Clinical Oncology*. **37** (10): 790–798. [doi:10.1200/JCO.2018.79.0543](https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2018.79.0543). [PMID 30785827](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30785827). [S2CID 73478275](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:73478275)

1. Jackman DM, Jegede O, Zauderer MG, Mitchell EP, Zwiebel J, Gray RJ, Li S, McShane L, Rubinstein L, Patton DR, Williams PM (20 May 2021). "A phase 2 study of defactinib (VS-6063) in patients with NF2 altered tumors: Results from NCI-match (EAY131) subprotocol U.". *Journal of Clinical Oncology*. **39** (15_suppl): 3087. American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). [doi:10.1200/jco.2021.39.15_suppl.3087](https://doi.org/10.1200/jco.2021.39.15_suppl.3087). [ISSN 0732-183X](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0732-183X). [S2CID 236401789](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:236401789)

1. ["FDA grants accelerated approval to the combination of avutometinib and defactinib for KRAS-mutated recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer"](https://web.archive.org/web/20250508225200/https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-grants-accelerated-approval-combination-avutometinib-and-defactinib-kras-mutated-recurrent-low). *U.S. [Food and Drug Administration](/source/Food_and_Drug_Administration)*. 8 May 2025. Archived from [the original](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-grants-accelerated-approval-combination-avutometinib-and-defactinib-kras-mutated-recurrent-low) on 8 May 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2025.

1. ["FDA Approves the Avmapki Fakzynja Combination Therapy as the First-Ever Treatment for Adult Patients with KRAS-mutated Recurrent Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer"](https://investor.verastem.com/news-releases/news-release-details/fda-approves-avmapkitm-fakzynjatm-combination-therapy-first-ever). *Verastem*. Retrieved 16 May 2025.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Defactinib](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defactinib) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defactinib?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.