Researchers have reported encouraging results from the use of daraxonrasib, a drug that attacks a protein mutated in more than 90% of pancreatic cancer cases. It represents a significant advance in the treatment of this form of cancer.

“While it does not cure cancer, it represents a great advance,” said Dr. Zev Wainberg of the University of California, Los Angeles, who helped lead the study, reported the Associated Press (AP).

The randomized clinical trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago, showed that patients who received daraxonrasib achieved a median survival of 13.2 months, compared with 6.7 months for those treated with chemotherapy.

Participants in the daraxonrasib group experienced fewer severe side effects and an improvement in their quality of life.

Future implications

Experts suggest that the drug could become a new standard of treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer.

“Having treated pancreatic cancer for 16 years, I was moved to tears when I saw the results of the study,” Dr. Rachna Shroff of the University of Arizona Cancer Center, who was not involved in the research, said during the ASCO meeting. He was struck by how “patients continued with this treatment because it provided them with a lasting and significant benefit.”

Research will continue to evaluate its effectiveness in earlier stages of the disease, as well as its potential to benefit more patients.

Maker Revolution Medicines funded the study and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to accelerate its review of the drug, reports AP. The agency is even allowing what is called “expanded access” to the experimental drug for patients who meet certain criteria.

Reaction from the medical community

The oncology community reacts with optimism to these findings, considering them a possible turning point in the search for effective treatments for this devastating disease.

Specialists highlight the importance of this advance in the fight against pancreatic cancer, known for its high mortality and difficulty in detecting in the early stages.

Pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers, largely because it is difficult to detect before it spreads to other organs.

The American Cancer Society estimates that this year around 67,000 new cases will be diagnosed in the United States and that more than 52,000 people will die from it. The overall five-year survival rate is 13%.

What would FDA approval mean?

The FDA's recent approval of an expanded access protocol for the experimental drug daraxonrasib would have a significant impact on pancreatic cancer research, primarily by:

Accelerate data collection on real patients

The protocol allows larger populations of patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma to access the drug before its final commercial approval. This generates efficacy and safety data in real-world conditions that complement traditional clinical trials.

Offer hope with promising results

In clinical trials, daraxonrasib showed a median survival of 13 months compared to 6 months for conventional chemotherapy, which represents almost double the survival. These types of results encourage investment in research into therapies targeting specific mutations (such as KRAS G12C).

Facilitate access to patients without options

Expanded access is vital for patients who do not qualify for traditional clinical trials but need last-line options. This allows research to continue in populations that would otherwise be excluded.

Accelerate final regulatory approval

The drug has already received a National Priority Voucher in October 2025, which accelerates regulatory review times. The FDA noted that this rapidity underscores its commitment to providing early access to therapies for life-threatening conditions.