STAT+: FDA approves new pancreatic cancer drug expected to usher in new era of treatment

The therapy, Rasonque from Revolution Medicines, nearly doubled overall survival in a clinical trial Revolution Medicines Adam Feuerstein is a senior writer and biotech columnist, reporting on the crossroads of drug development, business, Wall Street, and biotechnology. He is also a co-host of the weekly biotech podcast The Readout Loud and author of the newsletter Adam’s Biotech Scorecard. You can reach Adam on Signal at stataf.54.Angus reports on the basic research, clinical science, and drug development that may transform survival and quality of life for patients, as well as developments affecting the cancer community. You can reach Angus on Signal at angus.08. The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved a life-extending treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer — a medicine made by the biotech company Revolution Medicines that is the first to attack a genetic cause of the aggressive, highly lethal malignancy. The drug, called daraxonrasib, will be sold under the brand name Rasonque. The FDA’s approval was supported by a practice-changing clinical trial that read out earlier this year. Patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who received Rasonque as a second-line treatment achieved a median overall survival of 13.2 months, compared to 6.7 months for patients offered standard chemotherapy. “It will be transformative in the way we treat pancreas cancer. It’s the biggest development we’ve had in pancreas cancer in decades,” said Andrew Ko, a medical oncologist specializing in gastrointestinal cancers at the University of California, San Francisco. “I’m so thankful for this as an advance for our patients.” STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts. Already have an account? Log in View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Adam Feuerstein is a senior writer and biotech columnist, reporting on the crossroads of drug development, business, Wall Street, and biotechnology. He is also a co-host of the weekly biotech podcast The Readout Loud and author of the newsletter Adam’s Biotech Scorecard. You can reach Adam on Signal at stataf.54. Angus reports on the basic research, clinical science, and drug development that may transform survival and quality of life for patients, as well as developments affecting the cancer community. You can reach Angus on Signal at angus.08.