Ten Intermountain Health hospitals across Utah, Colorado, and Montana are participating in a national Expanded Access Protocol to provide eligible patients with advanced pancreatic cancer access to a new drug, according to an August 11 statement. Intermountain Health oncologists said the drug, daraxonrasib, appears to be a breakthrough in treating one of the deadliest and most difficult-to-treat forms of cancer.
The investigational targeted therapy is an oral medication designed to address specific genetic mutations that drive tumor growth. Specifically, daraxonrasib targets Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) mutations, which are present in more than 90% of pancreatic cancers. Researchers found the drug can shut down growth signals generated by these mutations, potentially stopping cancer cells from growing and spreading.
Clinical trial results presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual conference in May showed that as a second line of treatment, daraxonrasib doubled survival time for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, increasing it from 6.7 months to 13.2 months. The drug is currently used in clinical trials for localized disease or for patients in the upfront/first-line setting.
Dr. Mark Lewis, director of gastrointestinal oncology at Intermountain Health, described the treatment as a paradigm shift and a game changer for the disease. Dr. Alicia Swink, regional oncology senior medical director for Intermountain Health, added that the advancement provides patients with more time and more options.
The FDA has approved Intermountain Health oncologists to treat eligible patients with advanced pancreatic cancer using daraxonrasib through the national Expanded Access Protocol at 10 specific hospitals. These sites include:
Intermountain Alta View Hospital in Sandy, Utah
Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah
Intermountain Layton Hospital in Layton, Utah
Intermountain LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah
Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden, Utah
Intermountain Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver, Colorado
Intermountain St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado
Intermountain Lutheran Hospital in Wheat Ridge, Colorado
Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital in St. George, Utah
Intermountain St. Vincent Regional Hospital in Billings, Montana
Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 67,000 Americans are diagnosed with the disease annually, and more than 52,000 die from it. Because the disease often lacks noticeable symptoms, it is frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage when it is typically incurable.
