A long-awaited approval
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug for pancreatic cancer that has been shown to improve survival. The approval is the first for a new pancreatic cancer treatment in nearly a decade. Doctors called it a step forward for a disease that has seen few new options.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers. Most patients are diagnosed at a late stage, when the tumor has already spread. The five-year survival rate is around 12 percent, and standard chemotherapy has limited effect in many patients.
What the trial showed
In a late-stage clinical trial, patients who received the new drug lived longer than those on standard chemotherapy alone. The benefit was clearest in patients with advanced disease that had not responded to earlier treatment. Side effects were manageable and similar to those of other cancer drugs.
The drug works by targeting a specific weakness in pancreatic tumor cells, which makes the chemotherapy more effective. Researchers said the approach could also be tested in other digestive system cancers in the future.
Access and next steps
The manufacturer said it will launch the drug at a price within reach of most insurance plans. Patient assistance programs will cover the rest for people who cannot afford it. Doctors say the approval gives them a new tool, but they still want earlier detection so more patients can benefit.
Several other experimental pancreatic cancer treatments are in late-stage trials. Oncologists hope the new approval will speed up research funding and bring more options to patients in the coming years.