Experimental pancreatic cancer pill doubled survival compared with chemotherapy

Añadido: 2026-06-06

[00:00:01]It's being called a landmark breakthrough in fighting pancreatic cancer and it could open the door to other cancer treatments. It's called Duraxonal Rasib and according to the results of a clinical trial, it can double a patient's survival time.

[00:00:14]>> This is a targeted therapy that is um taking advantage of the biology of pancreatic cancer. The cancer has these little um genetic mutations. They're like little light switches. They're turned on and the cancer is growing, it's um spreading.

[00:00:28]And this drug, it turns off the lights, shrinking the cancer, helping the patients live better and longer.

[00:00:35]>> In a trial of 500 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, the drug reduced the overall risk of death by 60% compared to patients who had only chemotherapy. And those who took the drug lived substantially longer for an average of 13 months compared to about six and a half months for those who only had chemo. Another benefit, it's a daily pill instead with fewer side effects reported. More than 85% of patients did experience a rash including former Senator Ben Sasse.

[00:01:02]>> It causes crazy stuff like my body can't grow skin and so I bleed all out of a whole bunch of parts of me that shouldn't be bleeding.

[00:01:10]>> He says it's a small price to pay.

[00:01:12]>> My tumors this week are down 76% from December 29th and I'd say my pain is you know, 80% reduced from where I started.

[00:01:22]>> Experts say the drug could pave the way for a revolution in overall cancer treatment.

[00:01:27]>> There's a lot of excitement and enthusiasm not just for pancreatic cancer, but for cancers like lung cancer which are also really challenging.

[00:01:35]>> Sophie Flay, ABC News, New York.