Pancreatic Cancer Drug Daraxonrasib Shows Double Survival, Canada to Launch Trials

Dr. Jennifer Knox, head of pancreatic cancer at Toronto’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, said a Phase 3 trial of the experimental pill daraxonrasib doubled median survival for patients with pancreatic cancer – more than a year versus about six months with chemotherapy alone. The study of 500 patients, published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the American Society for Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago, showed the drug shuts down the RAS protein that drives most pancreatic tumours. Participants also reported better quality of life, less pain, and common side‑effects of rash and mouth sores.

Revolution Medicines has applied to the U.S. FDA for approval, but Health Canada has not yet received a licence request. Knox plans to open Canadian clinical trials soon so patients can access the treatment before a formal licence is granted.