All articles tagged with #kras
Johns Hopkins researchers report that an experimental KRAS-targeting drug was safe in a phase 1 trial of 20 people at high risk for pancreatic cancer and successfully activated KRAS-specific T-cells in 90% of participants, with immune responses persisting for about two years; while no cancers or high-risk lesions progressed during follow-up, the small study was not designed to prove prevention.
A phase 1 trial of the experimental vaccine mKRAS-VAX in 20 high-risk individuals showed robust KRAS-specific immune responses in 90% (about 18-fold on average) and no pancreatic cancer development after 16.5 months; 37.5% had shrinkage or disappearance of at-risk cysts; the vaccine appeared safe with only injection-site reactions and flu-like symptoms. The study, limited by small size and not designed to assess efficacy, suggests potential for cancer interception but requires larger trials.
Phase I trial of the KRAS-targeting vaccine mKRAS-VAX in 20 high‑risk individuals with pancreatic abnormalities showed 90% developed a robust immune response against six KRAS mutations, with memory cells detectable up to two years; no pancreatic cancer or high‑risk lesions developed during a median follow‑up of 16.5 months, and some precursor cysts regressed, supporting larger trials to test cancer interception.
A phase I trial of mKRAS-VAX, a KRAS-targeted vaccine for high-risk individuals with pancreatic precancer lesions, found the vaccine to be safe and to induce durable KRAS-specific T-cell responses in 90% of participants, lasting up to two years. No cancers developed during a median 16.5-month follow-up, and vaccinated individuals showed a higher rate of cyst reduction or resolution compared with a similar unvaccinated group. Limitations include small size and lack of efficacy assessment; larger studies are needed to confirm cancer interception and determine optimal targets and timing.
Researchers at Florida A&M University tested polyisoprenylated cysteinyl amide inhibitors (PCAIs) against pancreatic cancer cells to disrupt mutant KRAS signaling. The leading compound NSL-YHJ-2-27 blocked more than 90% of cell migration at low concentrations, altered gene and protein markers related to movement, disrupted actin filaments, and dismantled 3D mini-tumor models; however, these findings are limited to lab studies and require animal testing and safety assessment before any human trials.
Researchers at Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute and Piedmont Atlanta Hospital are testing daraxonrasib, an experimental pancreatic cancer drug, after FDA early-access approval; early results show tumor shrinkage with fewer side effects than standard chemotherapy, offering hope for patients facing one of the deadliest cancers.
Johnson & Johnson will acquire Firefly Bio for $1 billion in cash to bolster its oncology pipeline with Firefly's Firelink degrader antibody conjugate (DAC) platform, designed to target KRAS-driven solid tumors by delivering selective protein degraders to cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue, with closing expected later this year pending regulatory approvals.
A phase trial found daraxonrasib, a pan-RAS inhibitor that targets KRAS, nearly doubles survival for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer (median ~15 months vs historically under 8). The FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy and Orphan Drug designations and expanded-access use ahead of potential full approval later in 2026. While not a cure, the drug offers meaningful survival benefit with manageable side effects, and researchers are exploring combination therapies and immunotherapy approaches.
A new oral drug, daraxonrasib, targets the KRAS-driven mechanism in pancreatic cancer by engaging cyclophilin A to shut down KRAS signaling. In a Phase 3 trial of 500 patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer who had prior treatment, daraxonrasib nearly doubled median survival from 6.7 to 13.2 months and reduced the risk of death by about 60% versus standard chemotherapy. The most common side effects were a skin rash, stomatitis, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, though discontinuation due to adverse effects was lower and quality of life improved. Regulatory review by the FDA and other global authorities is the immediate next step, with expedited review likely; if approved, the drug could reach clinics within months and herald a shift toward targeted, personalized therapy and potential combination approaches to prevent resistance.
A new drug called daraxonrasib nearly doubles survival for pancreatic cancer patients after initial chemotherapy, marking a significant KRAS-targeted therapy advance and offering hope that this previously “undruggable” cancer can be managed longer. But the piece stresses that decades of federally funded basic science underpinned the discovery and development, and warns that Trump-era efforts to cut or politicize science funding threaten future breakthroughs by weakening the research ecosystem—even as Congress and the courts push back against some funding cuts.
A multinational trial with 500 patients shows the KRAS-targeting pill daraxonrasib nearly doubles median overall survival in advanced pancreatic cancer (13.2 months vs 6.6 months with chemotherapy), with fewer side effects, marking a potential breakthrough for KRAS-mutant tumors.
A daily pill called daraxonrasib doubled median survival in a 500-patient trial of metastatic pancreatic cancer, from about 6.5–6.7 months with chemotherapy to 13.2 months, and it had fewer side effects. The drug inhibits Kras, a common cancer driver, and experts call the results landscape-changing and potentially game-changing, though access to the drug remains a key challenge.
In a preclinical mouse study published in Science, researchers used KRAS inhibitors to eliminate precancerous pancreatic lesions (PanINs) before tumors formed, slowing cancer progression and nearly doubling or tripling survival compared with treating after cancer appeared. The work endorses the concept of cancer interception and sets the stage for clinical trials in high‑risk individuals, though PanINs are too small to detect with imaging and patient selection will be crucial for human application.
A new oral drug, daraxonrasib, targets the KRAS gene in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, showing in early Phase 1/2 data a median overall survival around 13 months and tumor shrinkage in some patients, nearly doubling survival compared with standard chemotherapy; however, about 30% experience severe side effects, and questions about access and cost remain as full Phase 3 results near disclosure at ASCO.
A new pancreatic cancer drug, daraxonrasib, paired with chemotherapy, nearly doubles survival in advanced disease. In Phase 3, overall survival was 13.2 months with the combo vs 6.7 months with chemo alone, and earlier data showed progression-free survival around 8 months at the highest dose. The FDA has fast-tracked the drug and allowed expanded access, with potential use beyond KRAS-mutant tumors and possible earlier-line therapy consideration.