FDA approves new drug for advanced pancreatic cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted expedited approval to daraxonrasib, a novel daily pill offering a new treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer. This groundbreaking medication, to be sold under the brand name Rasonque by Revolution Medicines, targets a mutated protein that drives tumor growth in over 90% of pancreatic cancer cases, a mechanism that has long eluded drug developers.

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Most patients get the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer quite late, at which point its already metastatic, it's already spread... This is a pill that blocks a protein called RAS, and mutations in RAS drive around 90% of all pancreatic cancers. Scientists have been calling RAS 'undruggable' for the last 40 years, and now finally, we have a drug for it.

Clinical studies demonstrated a significant improvement in patient outcomes. Individuals receiving daraxonrasib lived for a median of 13.2 months, nearly double the 6.7 months experienced by those undergoing traditional chemotherapy. The drug also presented fewer severe side effects, though common issues included skin rash, mouth sores, and digestive problems. The monthly supply of Rasonque is priced at approximately $39,800.

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This is one of the most anticipated approvals I can think of. This medicine is not a cure but a significant improvement.

Pancreatic cancer is notoriously deadly, largely due to late detection and its tendency to spread. The American Cancer Society projects around 67,000 new cases and over 52,000 deaths in the U.S. this year, with a five-year survival rate of only 13%. Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News medical correspondent, highlighted the drug's significance, noting that scientists have called the targeted RAS protein "undruggable" for decades.

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I have much, much less pain than I had four months ago when I was diagnosed, and I have a massive 76% reduction in tumor volume over the last four months.

Former Senator Ben Sasse, who is undergoing treatment for stage-four pancreatic cancer, participated in the clinical trial for daraxonrasib. He described the drug as a "miracle drug," reporting a substantial reduction in tumor volume and significantly less pain since his diagnosis. Sasse stated that he had been given a three-to-four-month life expectancy upon his diagnosis in December, indicating he is already on "extended time."

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I am on extended time already.