Pancreatic cancer drug shows doubled survival in trials
Dr. Jennifer Knox, head of pancreatic cancer at Princess Margaret, plans to open clinical trials for daraxonrasib, which helped patients survive over a year versus six months with chemotherapy alone.
A pancreatic cancer drug that doubled survival time in clinical trials could soon reach Canadian patients. Dr. Jennifer Knox, head of pancreatic cancer at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, plans to launch trials for daraxonrasib, an experimental pill that targets a protein mutation found in over 90 per cent of pancreatic cases.
A U.S.-led Phase 3 trial of 500 patients found those taking the daily pill survived more than a year, compared to just over six months for those on chemotherapy alone. Patients also reported better quality of life and less pain. The most common side effects were rashes and mouth soreness.
Knox called the results "amazing." In pancreatic cancer, where survival gains are rare, doubling it represents a breakthrough. The disease is aggressive and often undiagnosed until it spreads to other organs.
Daraxonrasib works by shutting down the RAS protein, which drives cancer cell division. For decades, RAS was considered "undruggable" because drugs couldn't attach to it. This pill bypasses that by binding to cyclophilin A, allowing the two molecules to lock the RAS protein in place.
Manufacturer Revolution Medicines has applied to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approval. Health Canada has not yet received an application. Knox presented her independent review of the study at the American Society for Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago on Sunday. She also plans to offer other RAS inhibitors through trials and hopes to test the drug earlier in treatment cycles for even better results.