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Nebraska Medicine gains access to experimental drug for pancreatic cancer
OMAHA, Neb. —
Back in December, we learned former Nebraska U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer.
READ MORE: ‘It’s a death sentence’: Former Nebraska senator Ben Sasse announces stage 4 cancer diagnosis
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Dr. Kelsey Klute with the Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center says pancreatic cancer patients rarely have treatment options beyond chemotherapy.
“Those chemotherapy drugs actually don’t work very well. They control the cancer for some time, but most people, it only controls the cancer on an order of months,” said Dr. Klute.
Now, there’s a new experimental drug in the spotlight, with patients like former Sen. Ben Sasse helping it gain traction nationally.
“As he said in many of his interviews, his cancer has responded really well,” said Dr. Klute.
The drug is called daraxonrasib, and it targets genetic alterations that cause most pancreatic cancers to grow.
“It’s really the first thing in a long time that has shown a significant and meaningful benefit compared to chemotherapy,” said Dr. Klute.
She says in a recent study, the drug essentially doubled survival rates for patients.
“The patients who are treated with chemotherapy had an average survival of only six months, 6.5 months. The patients who were randomized to get direct sun acid had an average survival of 13 months,” said Dr. Klute.
Dr. Klute says it’ll be a few weeks before the drugs can be shipped, but right now, Nebraska Medicine is accepting patients into their expanded access program.
“This is a way for patients to access an investigational therapy before it’s FDA-approved,” said Dr. Klute.
ADDITIONAL COVERAGE: U.S. leaders react to Ben Sasse’s cancer diagnosis
She says many stage four pancreatic cancer patients will be eligible.
“They need to be in good shape. Essentially need to be able to walk into clinic. Their organs need to work. And they need to be able to tolerate a pill,” said Dr. Klute.
If you’d like to learn more about the drug, she recommends talking to your doctor,
or calling the team at Nebraska Medicine at 844-CUR-PANC.
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