Pancreatic Cancer Drug Daraxonrasib Shows Promise in Early Trial

An early‑phase (Phase 1/2) study evaluated the oral drug daraxonrasib (RMC‑6236), which inhibits the activated form of the KRAS protein, in patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma carrying KRAS mutations. The trial, led by doctors at the Therapeutic Clinic of the Alexandra Hospital (EKPA) in Greece, enrolled 168 previously treated patients, most with metastatic disease to the liver or lungs.

In patients with KRAS G12 mutations, the objective response rate reached 35% and disease control was achieved in 92% of participants. Median progression‑free survival was 8.5 months and median overall survival was 13.1 months, notably exceeding historical outcomes of 5–7 months with standard second‑line therapies. Responses were also observed across KRAS G12D, G12V and G12R subtypes, for which no targeted options previously existed. The most common adverse events were skin rash, diarrhea, nausea, stomatitis and fatigue; they were generally mild to moderate and no treatment‑related deaths were reported.

These results, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, suggest that daraxonrasib could become a new targeted option for KRAS‑mutated pancreatic cancer, pending larger randomized trials.