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US approves new pancreatic cancer pill that doubles survival rates
🇬🇷 Greece /Health & Science

US approves new pancreatic cancer pill that doubles survival rates

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Approved/passed
  • The US FDA has approved Rasonque, a new daily pill for advanced pancreatic cancer that has shown to double patient survival rates in clinical trials.
  • The treatment targets RAS proteins, which are critical for tumor development, and is intended for patients who have already undergone prior therapy or cannot tolerate combination chemotherapy.
  • The drug's approval follows encouraging trial results and has generated significant investor interest, with Revolution Medicines' stock rising substantially.

A new daily pill, Rasonque, has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, offering a significant new hope for patients battling advanced pancreatic cancer. In a major clinical trial, the treatment demonstrated the ability to double survival rates for those with the disease.

Rasonque, developed by Revolution Medicines, targets proteins that play a critical role in tumor development. It is specifically approved for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer who have either received prior treatment or are unable to undergo combination chemotherapy. The drug works by inhibiting multiple forms of the RAS protein, a common contributor to pancreatic cancer growth.

The FDA's decision comes after highly encouraging results from a large clinical trial where the drug doubled the survival rate for patients with advanced disease. Following the announcement of these results in April, there was a surge in demand for access to the treatment. The FDA expedited its availability through an expanded access program, allowing over 2,000 patients to receive the experimental therapy before its official approval.

For patients and families facing metastatic pancreatic cancer, this approval represents a long-awaited and absolutely necessary step forward.

— Brian WolpinDirector of the Hale Family Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, commenting on the FDA approval.

For some early recipients, Rasonque has also meant a significant reduction in the burden of chemotherapy. Barbara Andes, an 88-year-old from California, began taking the pill in July after a year of chemotherapy. She told Reuters that the treatment allowed her to return to daily activities with considerably less nausea and fatigue.

"For patients and families facing metastatic pancreatic cancer, this approval represents a long-awaited and absolutely necessary step forward," said Brian Wolpin, director of the Hale Family Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Rasonque is now available in the US, priced at $39,800 for a 30-day supply, though financial assistance programs may reduce out-of-pocket costs for eligible patients. The drug's potential has also fueled strong investor interest, with Revolution Medicines' stock increasing by 166% this year.

The treatment allowed her to return to daily activities, with considerably less nausea and fatigue.

— Barbara AndesAn 88-year-old patient from California describing the impact of Rasonque.
About this summary

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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