US FDA approves new pancreatic cancer drug that may extend survival

A new once daily pill has been approved for some patients with advanced pancreatic cancer after promising clinical trial results. The treatment targets RAS proteins, which play a major role in the growth of several pancreatic cancers.

In Short

• FDA approves Rasonque for advanced pancreatic cancer patients in India
• Rasonque targets multiple RAS proteins to slow cancer growth
• Pancreatic cancer has low 5-year survival rate of around 13%

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to treat, often being diagnosed only after the disease has already spread to other parts of the body. Now, a new treatment option has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), raising hopes for patients with advanced disease.

The drug, developed by Revolution Medicines, is a once-daily pill designed to block several forms of the RAS protein. RAS proteins are involved in signals that help cancer cells grow and survive. By targeting these proteins, the treatment aims to slow or stop the progression of certain pancreatic cancers.

The FDA has approved the drug, called Rasonque, for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer who have already received treatment or cannot receive combination chemotherapy.

WHY PANCREATIC CANCER IS SO DEADLY

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest forms of cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, its five-year survival rate is around 13 per cent.

One of the major challenges is that early pancreatic cancer may not cause clear symptoms. By the time symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain, jaundice or digestive problems appear, the cancer may already have spread.

Metastatic pancreatic cancer is particularly difficult to manage because it has travelled to other parts of the body. Treatment often involves chemotherapy, targeted treatment or other approaches depending on the patient's condition and the characteristics of the tumour.

HOW THE NEW DRUG WORKS

Rasonque works by targeting RAS proteins, which are important drivers of tumour growth in many pancreatic cancers.

RAS has long been considered an important but difficult target in cancer treatment. Researchers have been working on ways to block abnormal RAS signalling and prevent cancer cells from continuing to multiply.

The new drug is designed to target multiple forms of RAS, potentially giving doctors another option for patients whose cancer has progressed despite earlier treatment.

WHAT THE CLINICAL TRIAL SHOWED

The approval follows results from a large clinical trial that showed a significant survival benefit in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

The results generated considerable interest when they were announced earlier this year. The drug was subsequently made available to some seriously ill patients through an expanded access programme before formal approval.

More than 2,000 patients had already enrolled in the expanded access programme, according to analysts cited by Reuters.

The approval provides another treatment option for people with metastatic pancreatic cancer who have limited choices after previous treatment.

However, the drug is not a cure for pancreatic cancer and is not intended for every patient. Doctors will need to determine whether an individual patient is suitable for the treatment based on factors such as previous therapies, overall health and the characteristics of the cancer.

The approval also highlights the growing importance of targeted cancer therapies. As researchers better understand the genetic and molecular changes that drive tumours, treatments are increasingly being designed to attack specific mechanisms involved in cancer growth.

For patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, where treatment options can be limited, the availability of a new targeted therapy could mark an important step forward.

- Ends