A daily pill can double survival time in patients with the world's deadliest cancer, according to the results of a clinical trial that experts are calling a gamechanger and one of the biggest breakthroughs in decades. The drug, daraxonrasib, targets a specific mutation in pancreatic cancer, often deemed 'undruggable' until now.
How Daraxonrasib Works
Daraxonrasib is a targeted therapy that inhibits the KRAS G12D mutation, which is present in about 30% of pancreatic cancer cases. By blocking this mutated protein, the drug effectively halts cancer growth. In the trial, patients taking the pill lived twice as long as those on standard treatment, with some experiencing significant tumor shrinkage.
Expert Reactions
Prof Naureen Starling, consultant medical oncologist at the Royal Marsden hospital, described the findings as 'extraordinary'. She noted that for decades, pancreatic cancer had no effective targeted therapies, making this a historic moment. 'The undruggable became druggable,' she said.
Patients in the trial reported improved quality of life, with fewer side effects compared to chemotherapy. The pill is taken orally, allowing patients to avoid frequent hospital visits.
Impact on Patients
Pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to treat, with a five-year survival rate of only 10%. This breakthrough offers hope for thousands of patients worldwide. However, experts caution that the drug is not a cure but a significant step forward in extending life and improving outcomes.
The next phase will involve testing daraxonrasib in combination with other therapies and expanding access to patients who can benefit from it.
