Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), the leading organization dedicated to advancing progress against pancreatic cancer, released a statement today following U.S. Food and Administration’s (FDA) approval of Rasonque™ (daraxonrasib) for patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma who have received at least one prior systemic therapy or are not candidates for multiagent systemic therapy.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted approval for a new drug targeting the mutations that drive more than 90% of pancreatic cancer cases — a sweeping advance for a disease that has few treatment options and a five-year survival rate of just 13%. Rasonque™ (daraxonrasib) is approved for the treatment of adults with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma who have received at least one prior systemic therapy or are not candidates for multiagent systemic therapy.

Editor’s note: The “Research Spotlight” series is written by Dr. Anna Berkenblit, PanCAN’s Chief Scientific and Medical Officer. Each month, Dr. Berkenblit shares her insights into the latest news and research in pancreatic cancer. Follow Dr. Berkenblit on X and LinkedIn. I recently had the pleasure of attending the inaugural American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Drug Discovery and Development (D3) conference.

Every so often, there is a breakthrough in cancer research that changes what people believe is possible. For pancreatic cancer, that moment is now. PanCAN’s Dr. Anna Berkenblit, Cassadie Moravek and Julie Fleshman join a standing ovation after Dr. Brian Wolpin announced the positive results from the RASolute 302 clinical trial of daraxonrasib at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

For decades, pancreatic cancer research was defined by what seemed to be impossible. Researchers couldn’t target the mutations in the RAS family of proteins that drive more than 90% of cases. Often described as a “smooth ball,” the RAS protein is frustratingly free of any pockets or divots that would allow a drug to bind to it. Researchers deemed it “undruggable.” Not anymore.

All-Stars! Team Talbot at PanCAN PurpleStride. When Jane Talbot talks about pancreatic cancer, she doesn’t just speak as a volunteer or advocate. She speaks as a wife, a mother, a grandmother and someone who will do anything to end this disease. Her husband, Frank, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2008. Like so many families, they knew very little about the disease before his diagnosis. What they did know was that they would do everything possible to give him more time.

Joanne and Bill with their PurpleStride team, Team Bill, in 2019. Editor’s note: Chicago Advocacy Chair Joanne Zborowski spoke with PanCAN’s Paula Mukherjee about her personal connection to PanCAN’s mission and advice for others who have lost a loved one to pancreatic cancer. Paula: What is your connection to PanCAN’s mission? Joanne: My husband, Bill, was diagnosed with Stage 2B pancreatic cancer in 2019. Both of his parents died from pancreatic cancer.

Scientific discovery depends on a research system that is rigorous, transparent and guided by experts. Today, that system is at risk. The administration, through the Office of Management & Budget, has proposed significant changes to how federally funded research projects are reviewed and awarded.

Nota del editor: Muchos de los enlaces en esta publicación son a recursos que solamente están disponibles en inglés. Para obtener más información en español, comuníquese con el Programa de Servicios para el Paciente de PanCAN. Read this story in English.

Editor’s note: Back in 2018, PanCAN volunteer and advocate Monica Mishra shared her story with the community. Eight years later, Monica is still passionate about ending pancreatic cancer, the disease that took the lives of both of her parents. In honor of National Parents’ Day, we caught up with Monica to see what has changed in those eight years and learn about her hopes for the future.