Pancreatic Cancer Patient in Clinical Trial Plans to Seek Expanded Access to Daraxonrasib if Needed

Amy Johnston, a 35-year-old office administrator and mother of three, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year. She has completed chemotherapy and surgery and is now enrolled in a clinical trial intended to slow disease progression. Johnston expects results by the end of this month.

If the trial treatment shows no benefit, she and her physician intend to apply for daraxonrasib through an expanded access program. Daraxonrasib was developed by Revolution Medicines. In a prior clinical trial the drug nearly doubled overall survival among pancreatic cancer patients.

The expanded access program permits critically ill individuals to receive the medicine outside a formal study. The company plans to seek approval of daraxonrasib as a second-line therapy. Johnston said demand already exceeds supply concerns for the small firm.

“This is such a small company, and I worry their production is not able to keep up with the need,” Johnston said. “Who receives it first? Will it be for those who the drug is the last resort? ” Johnston lives in Gilbertsville, Pa.

She described herself as “grasping at straws” while awaiting the trial readout.