But in May, oncologists stood and applauded for 42 seconds at a conference in Chicago after seeing the results of a new pancreatic cancer drug. That drug — daraxonrasib, now branded Rasonque — has just been approved in the US.
And here’s why doctors were so excited.
Pancreatic cancer is one of medicine’s toughest fights. It’s usually detected late, spreads quickly, and the five-year survival rate is just 13%. And here’s the staggering part: more than 9 out of 10 pancreatic tumours have a mutation in KRAS — a gene in the RAS family that helps control cell growth.
So what exactly are RAS and KRAS?
RAS is a family of proteins that act like switches, telling cells when to grow and divide. KRAS is one specific member of that family, and it is the one most commonly mutated in pancreatic cancer.
When KRAS is mutated, the switch can get stuck in the “on” position, causing cells to grow uncontrollably. The cell keeps getting the message to grow and multiply — and that can drive cancer.
For decades, scientists knew KRAS was one of the biggest drivers of pancreatic cancer, but it was extremely difficult to target with a drug.
That’s where Rasonque could change the game.
In a trial of around 500 patients, those taking Rasonque lived almost twice as long, and the treatment cut the risk of death by around 60%.
This is also the same drug that made headlines through former US Senator Ben Sasse.
Sasse was diagnosed with stage-four pancreatic cancer last December and was initially given just three to four months to live. He gained access to the drug through a clinical trial.
On 60 Minutes, he revealed that his tumours had shrunk by 76% and that he was living with significantly less pain.
He called it a “miracle drug” — while also being clear that it isn’t a cure and comes with difficult side effects, including a skin rash.
His story brought enormous public attention to the drug and to the need for faster access to promising cancer treatments.
But there’s a catch — the price
Rasonque comes with a staggering US list price of about $39,800 for a month’s supply. That’s roughly ₹38 lakh a month. Now, India is no stranger to expensive imported cancer drugs, but one will need to see the eventual cost of the drug.
If and when the drug comes to India, the final price could be different depending on negotiations, discounts and patient-assistance programmes.
In the US too, the list price isn’t necessarily what every patient pays. Insurance can cover a significant portion of the cost, and the company has a co-pay assistance programme that can reduce out-of-pocket costs for eligible patients.
But for people without adequate insurance, the economics can still be brutal.
Lastly, the bigger story here. For years, KRAS was one of the toughest cancer targets to attack with a drug. Now, we’re seeing evidence that it may actually be possible to switch that cancer-driving signal off.
And if that approach works beyond pancreatic cancer, the opportunity could extend far beyond one drug — and potentially to several types of KRAS-driven cancers. And that’s the part worth watching.
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(Edited by : Juviraj Anchil)
