Pancreatic cancer patients received a daily pill that doubled survival, a trial of 500 patients showed. The drug, daraxonrasib, targets the KRAS protein, a driver in most pancreatic tumors. Researchers from Dana‑Farber led the study and presented findings at ASCO in Chicago for advanced cases today and their families.

Patients treated with the drug averaged 13.2 months of life, versus 6.6 to 6.7 months under standard chemotherapy. Side‑effects were milder, and clinicians noted the pill’s ability to shut down KRAS regardless of mutation variant. This marks a substantial step beyond previous limited options for affected individuals and their families.

Experts hailed the results as a breakthrough, with oncologist Dr. Rachna Shroff describing the study as unprecedented. The drug’s mechanism—gluing molecules to block KRAS—could translate to other cancers driven by Ras family genes. Similar agents are already in trials for lung and colon malignancies in the US and Europe this.

Patient advocates praise the pill’s promise, noting that half of pancreatic cases die within three months of diagnosis. The next hurdle is ensuring timely access; regulatory approval and cost coverage will determine how quickly survivors can benefit. Availability will depend on insurance negotiations and health‑system uptake across the country today.