A new experimental drug, daraxonrasib, has nearly doubled the survival rate of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, according to the results of a study published on May 31.
This drug blocks the KRAS protein, which promotes tumor growth in more than 90% of pancreatic cancer cases.
The research team found that taking the drug daily reduced the risk of death by 60% in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Patients taking daraxonrasib lived an average of 13.2 months compared with 6.7 months for those receiving chemotherapy. Many patients were still taking the drug when the data was analyzed, meaning the survival gap could widen further.
Pancreatic cancer is among the deadliest forms of cancer.
The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 67,000 new cases will be diagnosed in the United States this year and that more than 52,000 people will die from the disease. The overall five-year survival rate is 13%.
Globally, pancreatic cancer is the 12th most common cancer, but it is the second leading cause of cancer-related death after lung cancer, with 132,000 deaths in 2020 for 140,000 new cases.
Sources:
– Pancreatic Cancer Epidemiology – Infocancer
– A Drug Offers New Hope Against Pancreatic Cancer | MSN
– This Drug Doubles Survival Rates | CBS News
– Pancreatic Cancer Drugs | CBS News
