A new oral medication, daraxonrasib, has shown significant promise in extending survival for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, according to results from an international clinical trial presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago. The drug, taken once daily, nearly doubles median survival time compared to standard chemotherapy, while also producing fewer side effects.

Pancreatic cancer is known for its poor prognosis and limited treatment options, largely due to late diagnosis and aggressive disease progression. The KRAS gene mutation, present in over 90% of pancreatic tumors, plays a critical role by driving rapid tumor growth and contributing to chemotherapy resistance. Previously considered untreatable through targeted therapies, the KRAS mutation—often termed the “death star” by researchers—has been a major obstacle in improving outcomes for this disease.

Daraxonrasib works by binding to a harmless protein that enables it to bypass cancer cell defenses and directly inhibit the KRAS mutation, effectively halting tumor growth and spread. In the trial involving 500 patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer across North America, Europe, and Asia, those treated with daraxonrasib lived an average of 13.2 months compared to 6.6 to 6.7 months for patients receiving chemotherapy. The treatment also reduced the risk of death by approximately 60% and significantly increased rates of tumor shrinkage.

Experts and patient advocates have described the outcomes as “unprecedented” and “landscape-changing.” Dr. Rachna Shroff, chief of hematology/oncology at the University of Arizona Cancer Center and an expert in gastrointestinal cancers, emphasized the importance of the findings for patients with KRAS-mutant metastatic pancreatic cancer, stating that the results are some of the most meaningful seen in previously treated cases. Similarly, Dr. Julie Gralow, chief medical officer at ASCO, called the data a “grand slam” given the historically poor survival rates, noting potential applications of the drug in other KRAS-mutated cancers such as lung and colon.

Patient advocacy groups, including Pancreatic Cancer UK, have welcomed the development, highlighting the need for rapid access to clinical trials and accelerated approval processes to bring this treatment to patients in the United Kingdom. Cancer Research UK also noted that while survival for many cancers has improved in recent decades, pancreatic cancer has lagged, emphasizing the importance of further studies to confirm daraxonrasib’s benefits and safety profile before widespread use.

While these results represent a significant leap forward, researchers caution that additional trials are needed to validate long-term outcomes and optimize treatment strategies. Nonetheless, daraxonrasib offers new hope for patients facing one of the most challenging cancer diagnoses, potentially changing the standard of care for a disease that has long resisted effective targeted therapies.