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New Oral Drug Nearly Doubles Survival for Treated Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

Targeting mutant KRAS through cyclophilin A, the pill has been made available under an FDA expanded access pathway pending formal review.

Overview

  • The Phase 3 trial presented May 31 showed daraxonrasib extended median overall survival from about 6.7 months to roughly 13.2 months and cut the risk of death by about 60% compared with standard chemotherapy.
  • Daraxonrasib is a once‑daily oral drug that works by binding cyclophilin A to disable active mutant KRAS, a driver in more than 90% of pancreatic tumors.
  • Common side effects include a prominent rash in most patients plus mouth sores, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting yet patients stopped treatment less often than those on chemotherapy and reported lower pain.
  • The FDA issued a 'safe to proceed' expanded access pathway and signaled expedited review while Revolution Medicines prepares formal approval filings, creating strong patient demand before full authorization.
  • Hospitals and specialty pharmacies face operational strain because the expanded access program requires case‑by‑case institutional applications and a manufacturer‑designated distributor, raising concerns about supply, equity and next‑step trials in earlier disease and combinations.