Experimental Pill Extended Survival for Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Patients

An experimental daily pill extended median survival to 13 months or longer for half the patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, compared with less than seven months for those receiving standard chemotherapy. The drug, called daraxonrasib, was tested in a Phase III trial of 500 patients who had already received prior therapy. All participants had disease that had spread beyond the pancreas.

How the drug works Daraxonrasib targets malfunctioning RAS proteins that drive tumor growth. It binds first to a cell protein called cyclophilin A and then attaches to RAS, blocking the protein’s growth signal. Researchers described the mechanism as a molecular glue that prevents the cancer cells from receiving constant growth instructions.

Side effects and access Fewer patients stopped treatment because of side effects with the pill than with chemotherapy: 1 percent versus 11 percent. The most common severe side effect was rash, affecting nearly 14 percent of patients. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved the drug but has allowed expanded access for eligible patients outside clinical trials.

Researchers noted that while the results mark progress, the drug does not cure pancreatic cancer.