Central Oregon residents now have a new lifeline in the fight against advanced pancreatic cancer. On August 26, the Food and Drug Administration granted approval for daraxonrasib, a medication that early research shows can double the average life expectancy for patients with stage 4 metastatic disease—from roughly six months to about 13 months.
Local patients enrolled through expanded‑access program
Seven patients at the St. Charles Cancer Institute have already started treatment under an expanded‑access program that allows individuals with life‑threatening conditions to receive promising drugs before they receive full market approval. While daraxonrasib is not a cure, doctors say it offers a meaningful extension of life for those who have exhausted standard therapies.
Dr. Christina Fitzmaurice, medical director for research at St. Charles, emphasized the significance of the new option. “This is the first time in many years that we have a completely new treatment that really makes a noticeable difference in how long those patients live,” she said. “For metastatic pancreatic cancer we often run out of options quickly; the only thing we could offer was hospice. This medication can extend life by an extra year, which is pretty meaningful.”
Patient story: hope for a longer life
John Johnson, a 78‑year‑old resident of La Pine, is one of the first to benefit. After more than a year battling pancreatic cancer and exhausting all other treatments, Johnson described the drug as “a new breath of life.” He hopes the medication will give him another year or two to spend with his wife, Barb, working in his shop and tending his garden. “All you’ve got to do is keep your chin up and not sit in a chair too much,” he added.
Team effort behind early access
Securing the expanded‑access pathway required months of coordination by caregivers across multiple departments at the institute. Clinical researcher Kat Brookhart expressed pride in the effort, saying, “I love getting to be a part of something this meaningful, which is so important to patients and their families to get precious extra time.”
Dr. Linyee Chang, executive medical director for St. Charles, reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to bringing emerging therapies to Central Oregon patients. “We want patients in Central Oregon to have access to emerging treatments and medications that can make a powerful difference in their lives,” she said. “This is an exciting moment to celebrate and also representative of the kind of work our teams are doing behind the scenes every day to serve our patients.”
What the approval means for the community
The FDA’s approval of daraxonrasib adds a vital tool to the limited arsenal against pancreatic cancer, a disease that has historically offered few effective options. For families in Central Oregon, the drug provides not only additional months of life but also the chance to create lasting memories with loved ones during that time.
Patients interested in the medication should speak with their oncologists about eligibility for the expanded‑access program or standard treatment pathways now that the drug has received full approval.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
