The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of a new cancer treatment pill Wednesday
FDA approves once-daily pill for deadly cancer after patients’ survival rates nearly double
Patients taking the Rasonque pill achieved median survival of 13.2 months, nearly double the chemo group.
Rasonque, manufactured by Revolution Medicines in California, is an inhibitor for the most common type of pancreatic cancer. The tablet, which is taken once daily, targets multiple forms of a protein called RAS that drives tumor growth.
In a press release, the FDA called Rasonque a “new treatment option for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer,” noting the agency approved it more than six months ahead of its review deadline.
“Today’s approval provides a critical new option for patients facing an extraordinarily difficult and historically hard-to-treat cancer. It is our fundamental duty to deliver more cures and meaningful treatments to patients as quickly as possible,” acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas said in a press release.
“I am immensely proud of the dedicated FDA scientists whose fast, thorough review and relentless commitment made this groundbreaking milestone a reality.”
Pancreatic cancer is one of the hardest cancers to treat.
Clinical trials show that this drug helps patients live nearly twice as long as standard chemotherapy.
It generally causes fewer harsh side effects than traditional IV chemotherapy.
