Pancreatic cancer patients face limited trial access in UK and Canada

A poll of 1,117 people affected by pancreatic cancer in the United Kingdom found that only 12% of patients are offered the chance to join a clinical trial. The survey highlighted low rates of genetic testing, long travel distances and difficulty finding trial information, with 70% of patients receiving no treatment at all. Pancreatic Cancer UK is urging the UK government to fast‑track trial infrastructure and expand genomic testing to improve patient access.

In Canada, Dr. Jennifer Knox, head of pancreatic cancer at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, said she plans to open trials of the experimental drug daraxonrasib, a pill that doubled median survival in a phase‑3 study to over a year. The drug targets the RAS protein, mutated in more than 90% of pancreatic cancers. Health Canada has not yet received a licensing application, but Knox hopes to enroll patients quickly to provide the therapy before formal approval.