In a major groundbreaking feat in the health industry, the US Food and Drug Administration has given clearance for the treatment of one of the deadliest types of cancer, the one that affects the pancreas.
FDA officials granted expedited approval to the first-of-its-kind pill, daraxonrasib, offering an effective treatment option for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer months ahead of schedule.
How does this new pancreatic cancer drug work?
The drug blocks a mutated protein called RAS that fuels tumor growth in more than 90 per cent of pancreatic cancer cases. Rasonque ( brand name for daraxonrasib).
The pill is supposed to be taken daily and aims to reduce unnecessary delays by targeting a key driver of tumor growth in most patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, which arises from cells lining the ducts of the pancreas.
According to the FDA, the approval is for the treatment of adults with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma who have received at least one prior systemic therapy or are not candidates for multiagent systemic therapy. In a randomised, open-label, multicenter clinical trial involving 500 adults with previously treated metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, experts observed that Rasonque improved median overall survival to 13.2 months compared to 6.7 months for standard chemotherapy.
What is pancreatic cancer?
The pancreas is a gland in the abdomen that aids in digestion and the diagnosis is often delayed because symptoms are not usually noticeable until the cancer is in the advanced stages. Medical experts opine that this cancer is hard to treat and survival rates are low.
What are the symptoms?
Cleveland Clinic lists the following as the symptoms of pancreatic cancer:
- Pain in your upper abdomen, mid-back or side
- Signs of jaundice
- Upset stomach and nausea
- Weight loss and loss of appetite
- Constipation and/or diarrhoea
- Dark urine and/or pale poop (stools)
- Itchy skin
- Fatigue
