Pancreatic cancer: New drug extends lives but isn't a cure
Key takeaways
- The newly developed treatment daraxonrasib can double the years left to live for patients with pancreatic cancer — but it doesn't cure the disease and only works if the cancer is treated early.
- https://p.dw.com/p/5Erm KPancreatic cancer often develops without any noticeable symptoms — by the time it is diagnosed, it is often too late Image: Gladden W.
- Compared with patients who underwent chemotherapy, those treated with daraxonrasib not only lived longer, but also reported a better quality of life.
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The newly developed treatment daraxonrasib can double the years left to live for patients with pancreatic cancer — but it doesn't cure the disease and only works if the cancer is treated early.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Erm KPancreatic cancer often develops without any noticeable symptoms — by the time it is diagnosed, it is often too late Image: Gladden W. Willis/OKAPIA KG/picture alliance Advertisement Pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to treat — and in many cases leads to death just months after diagnosis. So it is no surprise that this headline created a stir: In a recent study, a new drug, daraxonrasib, was able to double the survival time of patients with pancreatic cancer.
Compared with patients who underwent chemotherapy, those treated with daraxonrasib not only lived longer, but also reported a better quality of life. The treatment also appeared to cause fewer severe side effects.