The Amgen Carmot Collaboration, KRAS G12C, and AMG 510 in Cancer Therapy

By culbreath Editorial · 2026-10-16 · 3 min read

The Amgen Carmot Collaboration, KRAS G12C, and AMG 510 in Cancer Therapy

The Amgen–Carmot deal concerns metabolic disease, including obesity and diabetes. It is separate from Amgen’s oncology work on KRAS G12C and AMG 510, the development name for sotorasib. The programs address different diseases and targets, and involve different medicines.

A company’s work in one therapeutic area does not mean its other deals support that program. Carmot’s assets are not KRAS G12C cancer drugs. Sotorasib was developed to target a specific cancer-related mutation. Amgen’s pipeline shows how the company groups its programs.

The Carmot deal and the KRAS program

The Amgen–Carmot transaction brought Amgen together with a biotechnology company focused on metabolic disease. It relates to areas such as obesity and diabetes, not to KRAS-driven tumours.

KRAS G12C is an oncology target. The name refers to a change at a specific position in the KRAS protein: glycine is replaced by cysteine at codon 12. KRAS mutations can drive cancer growth, but the presence of a KRAS mutation alone does not make a tumour eligible for a drug designed specifically for G12C. The National Cancer Institute’s overview of KRAS provides broader context on the gene’s role in cancer.

AMG 510 is the development name for sotorasib, a targeted medicine designed for tumours with the KRAS G12C mutation. It is not a Carmot asset. The Carmot deal did not create or explain the sotorasib program.

What sotorasib targets

KRAS proteins help regulate cell growth. The G12C change creates a cysteine to which sotorasib can bind. This gives the drug a specific molecular target, so its use depends on identifying the mutation in a tumour.

Sotorasib is not a general treatment for every KRAS mutation. A tumour with another KRAS variant, such as G12D or G12V, does not have the same G12C target. The drug’s rationale therefore depends on the tumour’s molecular test results.

The FDA approved sotorasib for a defined group of patients with KRAS G12C-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The FDA approval information sets out the indication and its limits. Approval for this population does not mean sotorasib is approved for every cancer type or every KRAS alteration.

Evidence and clinical context

The CodeBreaK 100 study evaluated sotorasib in patients with KRAS p.G12C-mutated lung cancer. Its results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). The study is part of the clinical evidence for the drug. Consult the FDA’s approval information for its approved use.

When reading about a cancer drug, keep the study population separate from the approved indication. A clinical trial may study a particular group of patients, while a regulator’s label defines the population for whom the drug is approved. Neither supports a claim that the medicine works for all tumours involving the same gene.

One example: separating the programs

Suppose a person with NSCLC has a tumour tested for genetic changes. If the report identifies KRAS p.G12C, sotorasib may be considered in line with its approved indication and the person’s clinical circumstances. If the report identifies a different KRAS mutation, the G12C-specific target for sotorasib is absent.

That example concerns the oncology program. It does not connect the patient’s treatment to the Amgen–Carmot deal, which concerns metabolic disease. Treatment choices require advice from an oncology professional familiar with the patient’s diagnosis and medical history.

Key Takeaways

  • The Amgen–Carmot deal concerns metabolic disease, including obesity and diabetes. It is separate from Amgen’s KRAS G12C oncology work.
  • AMG 510 is the development name for sotorasib, a drug designed to target the KRAS G12C mutation.
  • Sotorasib’s use depends on the tumour carrying that specific mutation. It does not target all KRAS variants.
  • The FDA approval applies to a defined population with KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC. Check the FDA information for the approved indication.
  • CodeBreaK 100 evaluated sotorasib in KRAS p.G12C-mutated lung cancer (NEJM).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Amgen Carmot collaboration about?
Amgen acquired Carmot Therapeutics in 2024 for up to $2.7 billion to gain access to Carmot's obesity and metabolic disease drug candidates, including the clinical-stage asset CT-996. The deal is not related to KRAS G12C or AMG 510.
What is AMG 510 and how does it work?
AMG 510 is the investigational drug code for sotorasib, a KRAS G12C inhibitor developed by Amgen. It works by covalently binding to the mutant cysteine in KRAS G12C and locking the protein in its inactive state, blocking tumor growth signals.
Is sotorasib (AMG 510) FDA approved for KRAS G12C?
Yes, sotorasib (Lumakras) received FDA accelerated approval in 2021 for adults with KRAS G12C-mutated locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer after at least one prior systemic therapy. It was the first approved KRAS G12C inhibitor.
Did the Amgen Carmot collaboration involve KRAS G12C or AMG 510?
No. The Amgen-Carmot collaboration concerned obesity and metabolic disease programs such as CT-996, not KRAS G12C or AMG 510. AMG 510 (sotorasib) is a separate Amgen oncology program.
What is the connection between AMG 510 and KRAS G12C?
AMG 510 is a selective inhibitor of the KRAS G12C mutation, which creates a druggable pocket. It targets this specific mutant form of KRAS found in some lung, colorectal, and other cancers.
amgencarmotkras g12camg 510oncology

References

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