The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week approved daraxonrasib, a new pill for treating metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. This drug, which nearly doubles the standard survival rate for eligible patients, is part of a class of drugs called RAS molecular glues that target a common genetic alteration in pancreatic cancer.
Dr. Erminia Massarelli, an oncologist at UT Health East Texas Hope Cancer Center, discussed the approval, stating the drug prolongs survival from a standard 6.7 months to 13.2 months for patients who have undergone at least one prior treatment. She noted that researchers have spent more than 30 years attempting to target the RAS mutation, which is responsible for 90% or more of pancreatic adenocarcinoma cases. The drugs work by degrading a complex that RAS forms in cells, which continuously activates cancer cells.
In Tyler, UT Health East Texas has been administering a similar drug, ERAS-0015, as part of a clinical trial known as Aurora 1, which launched in June 2025. Malin Walrod, a patient from Palo Alto, California, participating in the Tyler trial, reported significant positive outcomes since taking the once-daily pill beginning in May. Walrod had previously achieved remission from stage four pancreatic cancer through chemotherapy but sought a different approach when her cancer returned due to concerns about neuropathy from prior treatments.
Walrod stated the trial drug has been a “miracle” in controlling her symptoms with minimal side effects. She reported her tumors shrank significantly within the first six weeks of treatment, and recent tests, Signatera and CA-19-9, returned results of zero detectable cancer and near-normal levels, respectively. Walrod, who travels from California, indicated her symptoms improved to the point she can now live a normal life, including participating in Pilates, swimming, hiking, and traveling.
UT Health East Texas was one of only five sites in the United States to open the Aurora 1 trial, enrolling approximately 19 patients across different cancer types, with the majority from East Texas. The trial drug, also a once-daily pill that requires refrigeration, has also shown benefit in non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and bile duct cancers with RAS mutations. Massarelli noted that patients often feel better and pain immediately resolves with these treatments. The most frequent side effects observed with daraxonrasib and this class of drugs are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and skin rash, which is managed by dermatologists.
Massarelli, a professor with the UT Tyler School of Medicine, shared that UT Health East Texas currently has about 30 clinical trials open across various cancer types. The initial results from the Aurora 1 trial are expected to be presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology meeting in Madrid in October. Patients interested in discussing trial options, including a cohort for newly diagnosed patients, are encouraged to contact the center to determine eligibility.
