Industry Odisha Bureau, Aug 27: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Rasonque, for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. The once-daily pill has been developed by Revolution Medicines.
Notably, the drug is intended for patients whose cancer has progressed after previous treatment or who cannot receive combination chemotherapy. It works by targeting RAS proteins. These proteins play an important role in signals that help cancer cells grow and survive.
Pancreatic cancer is among the most difficult cancers to treat. This is partly because it often causes few noticeable symptoms in its early stages. By the time symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain, jaundice or digestive problems appear, the disease may have already spread.
According to the American Cancer Society, pancreatic cancer has a five year survival rate of around 13 percent.
The FDA approval follows results from a clinical trial that showed a survival benefit among patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. More than 2,000 patients had also enrolled in an expanded access programme before the drug received formal approval, according to analysts.
It is important to note that Rasonque is not a cure for pancreatic cancer. It will not be suitable for every patient either. Doctors will assess factors including previous treatments, overall health and the characteristics of the tumor before prescribing it.
