New Pancreatic Cancer Drug Shows Promise, Managing Side Effects

Researchers have reported promising results from a first-in-human trial of daraxonrasib, an experimental drug for advanced pancreatic cancer. The drug, taken daily as a pill, targets RAS mutations, which are present in about 90% of pancreatic cancers.

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest forms of cancer, with a low five-year survival rate. This new drug, however, has nearly doubled survival time for patients in clinical trials when compared to standard second-line chemotherapy.

In the early trial involving 168 patients, 96% experienced treatment-related side effects, with 30% reporting severe or life-threatening events. Common side effects included rash, mouth inflammation, nausea, and diarrhea. Senior researcher Dr. David Hong noted that while almost all patients experience some adverse effects, these are generally manageable, and the benefits significantly outweigh the risks.

An ongoing late-stage trial involving 500 patients is comparing daraxonrasib to standard chemotherapy. Interim results show a median overall survival of 13.2 months with daraxonrasib, compared to 6.7 months with standard treatment. This is a notable improvement from typical survival rates of 5 to 7 months for previously treated metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Daraxonrasib targets common KRAS tumor gene mutations that drive cancer cell division. While similar drugs exist for lung and colorectal cancers, they are less effective against the specific mutations common in pancreatic cancer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized early access to daraxonrasib for patients outside of clinical trials.

“It genuinely feels like a new day is dawning for pancreatic cancer treatment,” stated study leader Dr. Brian Wolpin, suggesting daraxonrasib could be the first of many new medicines to broadly target mutant RAS.

Source: The Daily Monitor (Uganda)