Breakthrough pancreatic cancer drug nearly doubles survival in trial

Key Points:

• A new experimental drug, daraxonrasib, has shown promising results for pancreatic cancer patients, extending median survival to 13.2 months compared to 6.7 months with chemotherapy, according to a phase 3 clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
• Pancreatic cancer often develops due to genetic mutations, particularly in RAS proteins, which act like molecular switches controlling cell growth; mutated RAS proteins become stuck "on," leading to uncontrolled cancer cell division.
• Daraxonrasib works by binding to the active RAS protein, blocking signals that promote cancer cell growth, and has reduced the risk of death by 60% in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, marking a significant advancement in treatment.
• The drug is also being investigated for treating other RAS-mutant cancers, including lung, colorectal, ovarian, endometrial cancers, and cholangiocarcinoma.
• The FDA has approved an early access program for daraxonrasib as of April 30, with potential full approval expected by late 2026 if further evaluations are favorable.