PARIS — A new drug is offering a glimmer of hope in the fight against pancreatic cancer, a disease that currently has a dismal five-year survival rate of around 5% in France, according to government data.
Pancreatic Cancer Survival Rates See Potential Boost with Daraxonrasib
Researchers are testing a drug called daraxonrasib that has shown promise in early trials, potentially doubling survival time for some patients.
- Daraxonrasib targets the KRAS protein, a key driver of tumor growth in several cancers.
- Phase I trials showed the drug increased survival time in pancreatic cancer patients, with some living significantly longer than with chemotherapy alone.
- Combining daraxonrasib with immunotherapy may further enhance its effectiveness, according to experiments in mice.
- The most common side effect observed in trials was a rash, generally manageable.
Daraxonrasib, a KRAS inhibitor, is currently undergoing clinical trials globally. The mutant protein KRAS acts like a constantly activated accelerator, fueling uncontrolled cell growth—a hallmark of aggressive cancers. Scientists explain that these mutations are present in roughly a quarter of all human cancers, particularly those of the pancreas, lung, and colon.
Doubling Survival Time in Early Trials
The drug, administered as three tablets daily, isn’t a cure, but early results are encouraging. A phase I trial involving 38 volunteers with pancreatic cancer revealed that daraxonrasib doubled the survival time for at least half the participants compared to those receiving standard chemotherapy. Specifically, survival increased from approximately 7 months to 15.6 months. A separate study of 83 patients showed that over 90% experienced stabilization of their cancer, and around 30% saw a reduction in tumor size. At least half of the patients treated gained more than eight months of life expectancy before cancer progression resumed.
What are the side effects of daraxonrasib? According to Mark O’Hara, an oncologist at the University of Pennsylvania leading KRAS inhibitor trials, a rash is the most common side effect, experienced by 91% of patients in a phase I trial, with 8% reporting severe cases. The rash often resembles acne and appears on the face or scalp. Other common symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and canker sores, which are typically well-tolerated. “I would like to be able to prescribe KRAS inhibitors to all my patients right now,” he stated.
Immunotherapy Combination Shows Promise
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, led by gastroenterologist Ben Stanger, have found that combining daraxonrasib with immunotherapy may be even more effective than using the drug alone in experiments conducted on mice. However, Stanger cautioned, “It may still take years to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of this combination.”
