The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of a new targeted drug for treating advanced metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. This medication is highlighted as one of the first treatments to directly target the RAS protein. This was reported by the Naked Science website.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma accounts for the vast majority of cancers of this organ and is notoriously difficult to treat because it is frequently detected at a late stage. The scarcity of symptoms in the early stages of the disease makes early diagnosis challenging.

The new drug works by blocking the activity of the RAS protein. Normally, RAS is involved in one of the crucial molecular mechanisms regulating cell growth and division. However, when genetic mutations occur, this system can become uncontrollably active, creating conditions for cancer cell proliferation.

The new drug, named "Rasonk," was developed by the biotechnology company Revolution Medicines. The medication is produced in the form of daily oral tablets. It is intended for adult patients with metastatic cancer who have already undergone at least one systemic chemotherapy regimen or are unable to undergo such treatment due to their health condition.

The drug's efficacy was studied in clinical trials. According to the results of studies involving approximately 500 patients, the median overall survival for individuals receiving the new treatment was 13.2 months, compared to about 6.7 months with standard chemotherapy.

The FDA granted the new drug "breakthrough therapy" and "orphan drug" designations, demonstrating that it offers new treatment possibilities for serious and life-threatening conditions.

Several side effects of the drug were also recorded during clinical trials. These included skin rashes, diarrhea, inflammation of the oral mucosa, nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, swelling, and bleeding.

According to experts, the approval of the new RAS-targeted therapy opens up a new avenue of treatment for patients living with advanced pancreatic cancer. Nevertheless, the use of the drug must be carried out strictly on the basis of appropriate medical indications and under the supervision of specialists.