Daraxonrasib KRAS inhibitor extends survival in pancreatic cancer patients

Daraxonrasib, a drug developed by Revolution Medicines, targets the KRAS protein that drives most pancreatic tumors and also appears in lung and colon cancers. The FDA has placed the molecule under accelerated review and may grant approval later this year. In a late‑stage trial of patients with metastatic disease who had exhausted standard chemotherapy, the drug raised median overall survival to more than 13 months, compared with historical outcomes of under five years for a small fraction of patients.

Researchers note that KRAS was once deemed “undruggable.” "Almost everyone thought it would be impossible to make drugs against KRAS," said Marina Pasca di Magliano of the University of Michigan. The breakthrough builds on decades of public‑ and private‑funded research, including contributions from Argentine scientists who helped identify the novel binding approach. Side effects such as skin rash, diarrhea and fatigue have been observed, and the drug is not a cure, but it represents the first therapy to substantially prolong life for pancreatic cancer patients.

The FDA has also authorized an early‑access program for daraxonrasib, allowing some patients to receive the pill three times daily while additional KRAS‑targeting candidates are being evaluated by multiple companies.