An experimental pill has shown encouraging results in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, offering fresh hope for improved treatment of one of the world’s deadliest cancers.
Researchers reported on Sunday that the drug, called daraxonrasib, helped patients live longer by targeting a genetic mutation responsible for driving tumour growth in the vast majority of pancreatic cancer cases.
The medication works by blocking a mutated KRAS protein, which is found in more than 90 per cent of pancreatic cancer patients. Scientists have long viewed the protein as a key target for treatment, but efforts to develop effective therapies against it have faced challenges for decades.
Dr. Zev Wainberg of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), who co-led the study, described the findings as a significant advance in the fight against the disease.
“While not curing the cancer, it is a very large step forward,” Wainberg said.
Pancreatic cancer is among the most lethal forms of cancer, largely because it is often detected at an advanced stage and has limited treatment options. Researchers say the latest findings could pave the way for more effective targeted therapies and improved survival outcomes for patients.
Further clinical studies are expected to evaluate the drug’s long-term benefits and its potential role in future pancreatic cancer treatment strategies.
