Breakthrough treatment for pancreatic cancer

Added: 2026-06-03

[00:00:00]It is the drug-giving former Senator Ben Sasse extra time as he lives with pancreatic cancer that spread.

[00:00:07]>> Tumor volume in my torso is down 76%.

[00:00:11]>> Driven down, he says, by the experimental drug adagrasib.

[00:00:16]A new study shows the pill taken daily doubled survival time for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer from 6.6 months with chemotherapy to 13.2 months with adagrasib.

[00:00:31]Results that earned a rare standing ovation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting over the weekend.

[00:00:39]Dr. Brian Wolpin led the research targeting a gene called KRAS. When mutated, it causes cancer cells to grow out of control. Adagrasib turns it off.

[00:00:50]>> It stops it, puts it in the off position, and then the cancer can't grow anymore. And that's why it works in patients.

[00:00:57]>> And maybe in more cancers, including colon, ovarian, and non-small cell lung cancer.

[00:01:04]There are side effects, including the rash on Sasse's face, but it's the benefits that has the drug on the fast track for approval.

[00:01:13]Debbie Orcutt is still alive 2 years after her diagnosis of pancreatic cancer that spread to her liver.

[00:01:20]>> This is just a little bump along the way, and I fully intend on fighting it every inch of the way.

[00:01:26]>> Good boy.

[00:01:27]>> Savoring each extra day living with one of the most lethal cancers.

[00:01:33]>> And with that, Anne joins us live in studio. So, Anne, you mentioned the drug being fast-tracked, but what about people that don't have time to wait?

[00:01:39]>> Well, Tom, in fact, the FDA has addressed that, and it is okay making adagrasib available to metastatic pancreatic cancer patients outside of the clinical trial. A request must be made by a doctor to Revolution Medicines, which is the maker of the drug. And this is truly a dramatic improvement.

[00:02:00]>> Yeah, it sounds like an incredible breakthrough. All right, and we thank you We thank you for watching. And remember, stay updated on breaking news and top stories on the NBC News app or watch live on our YouTube channel.