IT·Science News

FDA approves daraxonrasib, the first pill to block the RAS driver of pancreatic cancer

The US Food and Drug Administration gave expedited approval on Wednesday 26 August to daraxonrasib, a first-of-its-kind daily pill for the most common form of pancreatic cancer, The Guardian reports. The drug blocks a mutated protein that fuels tumour growth in more than 90% of pancreatic cancer cases, an approach that had eluded drugmakers for decades. It will be sold by Revolution Medicines as Rasonque.

In a company-funded study of 500 patients whose spreading cancer had stopped responding to earlier treatment, those on the drug lived a median of 13.2 months, against 6.7 months on chemotherapy, with fewer severe side effects. The FDA approved it more than six months ahead of its target date.

“This drug showed unprecedented results in an area of high unmet need.” — Dr Angelo de Claro, FDA Oncology Center of Excellence, via ABC7 New York

How each outlet framed it

• The Guardian — the science: Kras mutations were long seen as “undruggable”, and the drug uses what is essentially a molecular glue to bind several subtypes. The paper also noted public interest after former senator Ben Sasse described taking it on 60 Minutes, and that the five-year survival rate is 13%.
• ABC7 New York — the process: approval for adults with metastatic disease after at least one prior therapy, a review shortened from 12 to 10 months under the Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher programme, and Dana-Farber’s Dr Brian Wolpin speaking of “new hope” for patients.

What we don't know yet: the price, which neither outlet reported, and whether the approach will work in other cancers; Revolution Medicines is also studying it in lung cancer.