The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug for advanced pancreatic cancer, Revolution Medicines’ Rasonque, known as daraxonrasib. This approval marks a significant development in treating the deadly disease.
Rasonque is intended for patients who have undergone previous treatments like chemotherapy. Clinical trials involving 500 participants demonstrated that those receiving Rasonque with standard chemotherapy lived, on average, 13.2 months, which is approximately twice as long as those treated with chemotherapy alone.
Dr. Rachna Shroff, head of hematology and oncology at the University of Arizona Cancer Center, expressed considerable excitement upon learning of the trial results, stating, “It’s unprecedented.”
Despite its potential, Rasonque carries possible side effects, including a severe rash, mouth and throat sores, vomiting, and diarrhea. Former Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska, who participated in a clinical trial, described the rash’s severity vividly in a podcast.
Rasonque focuses on a gene mutation known as KRAS, prevalent in nearly all pancreatic cancers, and several other cancers like lung and colorectal. KRAS mutations result in an uncontrollable cell growth due to the gene’s persistent activation.
Efforts to target KRAS, a gene acting as a growth switch, have faced challenges until Rasonque. Scientists knew the mutation could be manipulated to halt excessive cell growth, but past attempts were unsuccessful.
Revolution Medicines’ approval signifies a major advancement in pancreatic cancer treatment, a leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S.
Channing Der, a pharmacologist from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, noted the profound importance of this approval, highlighting pancreatic cancer’s high fatality rate.
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma, the most typical form, sees only an 8% survival rate past five years. Early detection remains problematic due to vague symptoms, emphasizing the need for advanced treatments like Rasonque.
The American Cancer Society projects over 67,000 pancreatic cancer diagnoses in the U.S. in 2023. Revolution Medicines has made Rasonque available to over 2,000 patients through an expanded access initiative started earlier this year.
Future expectations for Rasonque focus on its potential impact, although the company has yet to disclose its pricing.