FDA approves ‘game-changing’ pancreatic cancer drug

In a late-stage trial, people who got Revolution Medicines’ Rasonque, or daraxonrasib, lived about twice as long as people who got standard care.

The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved a groundbreaking pancreatic cancer drug that experts predict will transform treatment for the notoriously deadly disease.

The drug, Revolution Medicines’ Rasonque, or daraxonrasib, was approved for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who have already tried a prior treatment, such as chemotherapy, the agency said.

In a late-stage clinical trial of 500 patients, people who got the drug lived about twice as long — 13.2 months, on average — compared with people who got chemotherapy.

Dr. Rachna Shroff, chief of the division of hematology and oncology at the University of Arizona Cancer Center in Tucson, previously told NBC News that she “started crying tears of joy” when she saw the trial’s preliminary findings in April.

“It’s that big of a game changer for those of us who treat pancreatic cancer,” Shroff said. “It’s unprecedented.”