THE CHALLENGE

in KRAS Drug Development

Selective G12D and G12C inhibitors have shown substantial monotherapy activity in pancreatic and lung cancer patients but markedly lower response rates in colorectal cancer patients, where only a minority show sensitivity. Combination strategies targeting the EGFR and PI3Kα axis are currently adopted for colorectal cancer patients, but resistance emerges within 6-12 months.

The development of a next-generation inhibitor that can hold up as a monotherapy where the first generation could not, and the identification of a more effective combination partner requires preclinical systems that retain the complex mutation background, tissue context, and adaptive signaling capacity of patients, which underly these clinical challenges. Conventional 2D cell lines do not preserve these features, and allele- and indication-specific questions require sufficient model depth within a single mutation.

Two Approaches to the KRASi Testing

PRESET – FOR BREADTH OF COVERAGE

PAN-KRAS(ON) PDO Screen

A recurrent, high-throughput screening platform of 25 PDOs spanning clinically relevant KRAS mutations, designed for rapid, cost-effective evaluation of pan-KRAS inhibitors with standardized, comparable output across indications.

explore the PAN-KRAS(ON) PDO Screen

CUSTOM SELECTION – FOR DEPTH WITHIN ALLELE

Mutation-specific panels

Allele-resolved panels providing model depth within a single mutation across the indications in which it occurs, designed for programs anchored to a defined mutation that require combination optimization, responder stratification, or resistance characterization.

explore Mutation-specific panels

PROOF OF CONCEPT

From Early Discovery to Clinical Trials

HUB Organoids’ KRASmut models supported development of the first clinical candidate advanced using organoid technology, in head & neck cancer.

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Our Panels

Studies may be configured using the preset KRASmut PDO Screen, a single mutation-specific panel, or a combination of both. Model selection is defined in consultation with our scientific team.

G12D — 20 PDOs

Colorectal 13 · Pancreatic 6 · Ovarian 1

Your translational question: Can G12D inhibition be extended beyond pancreatic cancer, and which combination partner enables it?

Study types HUB Organoids can execute in this panel:

  • Combination screening across all 20 PDOs — compound as monotherapy and in combination with EGFR or PI3Kα inhibition, at model number sufficient to resolve the interaction
  • Colorectal responder stratification — 13 colorectal PDOs enable identification of the sensitive subset and its associated co-mutation background
  • Cross-indication efficacy comparison — colorectal, pancreatic, and ovarian models profiled under identical assay conditions
  • Pancreatic benchmarking against the reported activity profile of clinical-stage G12D inhibitors

Data delivered: 10-point dose-response curves per compound per model, IC50 determination, IC50 heatmaps, and underlying image-based viability data, with per-model sequencing data available for interpretation.

Best for: combination strategy development, stratification hypothesis generation, indication selection.

discuss a G12D study

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G12C — 7 PDOs, colorectal

Induced resistance model included with studies exceeding 4 PDOs

Your translational question: Can my next-generation compound achieve monotherapy activity in colorectal cancer, and which combination partner is justified?

Study types HUB Organoids can execute in this panel:

  • Anti-EGFR combination screening across all 7 colorectal PDOs — compound as monotherapy and in combination with cetuximab or panitumumab, resolving combination dependence at model level
  • Comparative efficacy analysis against sotorasib and adagrasib, as monotherapy and in anti-EGFR combination
  • Post-progression activity assessment in Induced Resistance Models generated by progressive exposure to approved G12C inhibitors
  • Responder stratification against co-mutation background rather than aggregate response

Data delivered: 10-point dose-response curves per compound per model, IC50 determination, IC50 heatmaps, and underlying image-based viability data.

Best for: next-generation G12C inhibitor positioning, colorectal combination rationale, comparative differentiation packages.

discuss a G12C study

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G12V — 11 PDOs

Colorectal 7 · Pancreatic 2 · Ovarian 2 · Lung 1

Your translational question: In which indication does a G12V-directed or pan-RAS agent demonstrate the widest therapeutic window?

G12V accounts for approximately 30% of KRAS-mutant pancreatic cancer and is the second most prevalent KRAS allele, with no selective inhibitor currently approved. Development activity is concentrated in pan-RAS, PROTAC, active-state, and immunotherapeutic approaches. G12V has additionally been reported as an acquired resistance allele in patients progressing on G12C inhibitors, extending the relevance of these models to G12C programs.

Study types HUB Organoids can execute in this panel:

  • Four-indication efficacy profiling — colorectal, pancreatic, ovarian, and lung G12V PDOs under identical assay conditions
  • Resistance-coverage assessment — evaluation of compound activity against G12V as an emergent resistance allele in G12C-treated disease
  • Ovarian cancer data generation — an indication with limited representation in commercially available KRAS panels
  • Combination screening with EGFR, MEK, or alternative partners where monotherapy activity is modest

Data delivered: 10-point dose-response curves per compound per model, IC50 determination, IC50 heatmaps, underlying image-based viability data, and cross-indication comparison across all four tumor types.

Best for: G12V-selective, pan-RAS, PROTAC, and active-state inhibitor programs; first-in-class indication strategy.

discuss a G12V study

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Rare G12 Variants — 6 PDOs

Colorectal 4 · Pancreatic 1 · Head & neck 1

Your translational question: Does compound coverage extend beyond the three dominant G12 variants?

Rare G12 alleles including G12A, G12S, and G12R are individually infrequent but collectively substantial, and constitute the test of pan-KRAS and pan-RAS coverage claims. G12R exhibits distinct biochemical behavior relative to other G12 variants. These alleles are commonly excluded from commercially available panels.

Study types HUB Organoids can execute in this panel:

  • Allele-coverage profiling across G12A, G12S, G12R, and additional variants, generating the breadth data required to substantiate pan-KRAS claims
  • G12R-specific characterization, establishing whether compound mechanism generalizes across biochemically divergent G12 variants
  • Head & neck cancer data — the sole head & neck model in the KRAS collection, and the indication underlying the first clinical candidate developed using organoid technology
  • Coverage gap identification in advance of partnering or regulatory review

Data delivered: 10-point dose-response curves per compound per model, IC50 determination, IC50 heatmaps, underlying image-based viability data, and an allele-resolved coverage profile.

Best for: pan-KRAS and pan-RAS breadth substantiation, partnering and regulatory documentation, rare-allele inclusion criteria.

discuss a rare G12 study

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G13 — 3 PDOs

G13D 2 · G13C 1 · colorectal

Your translational question: Is compound activity dependent on mutation position within the P-loop?

G13D occurs predominantly in colorectal cancer and has a long-examined relationship to anti-EGFR benefit. Codon 13 mutants occupy a distinct biochemical regime from codon 12, with altered intrinsic nucleotide exchange and GAP sensitivity. G13C, as a cysteine mutant at an alternative position, is of specific interest for covalent chemistry developed against G12C. Patient-derived organoids carrying G13 alterations are scarce commercially.

Study types HUB Organoids can execute in this panel:

  • Covalent selectivity assessment — determination of whether a G12C-directed warhead engages cysteine at codon 13
  • Codon 12 versus codon 13 comparison — identical compound profiling across G13 and G12 PDOs to establish positional dependence
  • Anti-EGFR combination screening with cetuximab or panitumumab in the indication in which the G13D question originated
  • Activity profiling in alleles without approved or clinical-stage selective inhibitors

Data delivered: 10-point dose-response curves per compound per model, IC50 determination, IC50 heatmaps, underlying image-based viability data, and direct comparison against codon 12 models on request.

Best for: covalent selectivity characterization, undrugged allele exploration, colorectal anti-EGFR combination rationale.

discuss a G13 study

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Q61 Variants — 6 PDOs

Colorectal 3 · Pancreatic 2 · Ovarian 1

Your translational question: Does compound mechanism retain activity outside the switch-II pocket?

Q61 mutations reside in the catalytic machinery rather than the switch-II pocket targeted by the majority of approved and clinical-stage KRAS inhibitors, impairing GTP hydrolysis through a distinct mechanism. Activity in Q61 models therefore constitutes direct evidence of pocket independence. Codon 61 alterations have additionally been reported among acquired resistance events in patients treated with G12C inhibitors.

Study types HUB Organoids can execute in this panel:

  • Pocket-independence assessment — compound activity in an allele class outside the switch-II binding site
  • Pan-RAS coverage validation beyond codon 12, across three tumor indications
  • Mechanism-of-action characterization for active-state and allosteric agents against an alternative hydrolysis-impairment mechanism
  • Forward-looking resistance profiling relevant to G12C programs anticipating codon 61 emergence

Data delivered: 10-point dose-response curves per compound per model, IC50 determination, IC50 heatmaps, underlying image-based viability data, and three-indication comparison separating allele from tissue effects.

Best for: pan-RAS and active-state inhibitor validation, mechanism characterization, breadth assessment beyond the switch-II pocket.

discuss a Q61 study

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KRASmut PDO Biobank Composition

Mutation Total PDOs Colorectal Pancreatic Head & neck Lung Ovarian
G12D 20 13 6 1
G12V 12 7 2 1 2
G12C 7 7
Other G12 variants 6 4 1 1
Q61 variants 6 3 2 1
G13D 2 2
G13C 1 1

Platform Specifications

  • Model characterization: RNA and DNA sequencing data available, including co-mutation status
  • Tumor origin: primary and metastatic models
  • Controls: genetically matched normal organoids for off-tumor toxicity assessment
  • Viability readout: direct image-based measurement
  • Assay format: high-throughput 3D
  • Dose-response: 10-point curves per compound per model
  • Analysis: IC50 determination and IC50 heatmap generation
  • Compound number: unrestricted

Design your screen

Share your allele, indication, and screening parameters. Our scientific team will propose a panel configuration.
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