New pill doubles survival in pancreatic cancer
A phase 3 trial found daraxonrasib extended survival in advanced pancreatic cancer. The results have raised cautious hope, even as approvals, side effects and access remain under watch.
For decades, pancreatic cancer has been one of the deadliest diagnoses. It is often found late, spreads quickly and leaves patients with very few treatment options. Now, a new experimental drug is raising cautious optimism among doctors and patients alike.
The drug, called daraxonrasib, is being described by researchers as a potential breakthrough after results from a large global clinical trial showed it can significantly extend life for patients with advanced disease.
Recently, a former US senator, Ben Sasse, spoke about being on medicine. He had last year announced that he had been diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer and was given 3–4 months to live.
Days ago, the drug’s maker, Revolution Medicines, announced results from daraxonrasib’s phase 3 trial.
The findings showed that patients who took daraxonrasib lived a median of 13.2 months, compared to just 6.7 months for those receiving standard chemotherapy.
In simple terms, the new treatment nearly doubled survival time – something rarely seen in pancreatic cancer research.
For a disease where even small improvements are considered meaningful, this jump is being called “unprecedented” by scientists involved in the trial.
The drug works differently from chemotherapy. Instead of broadly attacking fast-growing cells, it targets a specific mutation known as RAS, which is found in more than 90 percent of pancreatic cancer cases and plays a key role in tumour growth.
Because of this targeted approach, daraxonrasib is seen as part of a new generation of “precision medicines” – treatments designed to attack cancer at its genetic roots.
HOPE AGAINST HOPE
Pancreatic cancer is known to be amongst the deadliest malignancies – with a five-year survival rate of just 13 percent.
In recent times, some drugs and vaccines, however, have offered hope.
In the case of daraxonrasib, some patients in trials have seen their tumours shrink significantly and reported reduced pain, although such outcomes can vary widely. Doctors also note that the drug delayed disease progression, meaning patients not only lived longer but also spent more time without their cancer worsening.
Equally important, the treatment is taken as a daily pill, making it less physically demanding than intravenous chemotherapy, which often requires hospital visits.
Still, experts urge restraint. “The drug is not a cure, and like many cancer treatments, it comes with side effects. Some patients have reported issues such as skin reactions and other complications, though these are generally considered manageable,” said a Delhi-based oncologist.
There are also unanswered questions. Will the benefits last longer over time? Can the drug work in earlier stages of the disease? And how accessible will it be, especially in countries like India where cost and availability often limit new therapies?
Regulatory approvals are still pending, though expectations are high that the drug could reach patients within the next year if further reviews go smoothly.
But the oncologist said, while caution remains, daraxonrasib may also open the door to combination therapies, where it could be used alongside other drugs to improve outcomes further.
For decades, pancreatic cancer has been one of the deadliest diagnoses. It is often found late, spreads quickly and leaves patients with very few treatment options. Now, a new experimental drug is raising cautious optimism among doctors and patients alike.
The drug, called daraxonrasib, is being described by researchers as a potential breakthrough after results from a large global clinical trial showed it can significantly extend life for patients with advanced disease.
Recently, a former US senator, Ben Sasse, spoke about being on medicine. He had last year announced that he had been diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer and was given 3–4 months to live.
Days ago, the drug’s maker, Revolution Medicines, announced results from daraxonrasib’s phase 3 trial.
The findings showed that patients who took daraxonrasib lived a median of 13.2 months, compared to just 6.7 months for those receiving standard chemotherapy.
In simple terms, the new treatment nearly doubled survival time – something rarely seen in pancreatic cancer research.
For a disease where even small improvements are considered meaningful, this jump is being called “unprecedented” by scientists involved in the trial.
The drug works differently from chemotherapy. Instead of broadly attacking fast-growing cells, it targets a specific mutation known as RAS, which is found in more than 90 percent of pancreatic cancer cases and plays a key role in tumour growth.
Because of this targeted approach, daraxonrasib is seen as part of a new generation of “precision medicines” – treatments designed to attack cancer at its genetic roots.
HOPE AGAINST HOPE
Pancreatic cancer is known to be amongst the deadliest malignancies – with a five-year survival rate of just 13 percent.
In recent times, some drugs and vaccines, however, have offered hope.
In the case of daraxonrasib, some patients in trials have seen their tumours shrink significantly and reported reduced pain, although such outcomes can vary widely. Doctors also note that the drug delayed disease progression, meaning patients not only lived longer but also spent more time without their cancer worsening.
Equally important, the treatment is taken as a daily pill, making it less physically demanding than intravenous chemotherapy, which often requires hospital visits.
Still, experts urge restraint. “The drug is not a cure, and like many cancer treatments, it comes with side effects. Some patients have reported issues such as skin reactions and other complications, though these are generally considered manageable,” said a Delhi-based oncologist.
There are also unanswered questions. Will the benefits last longer over time? Can the drug work in earlier stages of the disease? And how accessible will it be, especially in countries like India where cost and availability often limit new therapies?
Regulatory approvals are still pending, though expectations are high that the drug could reach patients within the next year if further reviews go smoothly.
But the oncologist said, while caution remains, daraxonrasib may also open the door to combination therapies, where it could be used alongside other drugs to improve outcomes further.
