FDA expands access to pancreatic cancer drug helping patients like Ben Sasse
CBS News • • health
Key Points:
- The FDA has authorized expanded access to daraxonrasib, an investigational drug for metastatic pancreatic cancer patients with no other treatment options, allowing use prior to official approval.
- Daraxonrasib, a daily 300 mg pill, inhibits a cancer growth signal and has shown promising results in clinical trials, doubling median survival to 13 months compared to chemotherapy's six months.
- Former Senator Ben Sasse, diagnosed with stage-four pancreatic cancer, credited daraxonrasib with significantly reducing his tumor size by 76% and alleviating pain.
- The FDA approved the expanded access request within two days, demonstrating its commitment to facilitating early availability of treatments for life-threatening conditions.
- Pancreatic cancer remains highly lethal, with a predicted 67,530 new cases and 52,740 deaths in 2026, and a low five-year survival rate of approximately 13.7%, underscoring the urgent need for effective therapies.
