Experimental pancreatic cancer drug doubles one-year survival in trial

An experimental drug called elraglusib, added to chemotherapy, doubled the one-year survival in metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in a phase 2 trial of 286 patients: 42% were alive at one year versus 22% with chemotherapy alone. Elraglusib inhibits GSK-3 beta, increasing tumor permeability to immune cells and chemotherapies, and may complement other therapies. While overall survival improved, progression-free survival did not, and some patients progressed or moved to palliation early; researchers say the drug could be a useful adjunct and warrant further study, with the findings published in Nature Medicine.