Former Sen. Ben Sasse reveals stage 4 pancreatic cancer diagnosis
Ben Sasse announces stage 4 pancreatic cancer and shares gratitude for leaders’ response to X.
The Food and Drug Administration announced on May 1 that some patients will be allowed early access to Revolution Medicine’s experimental pancreatic cancer drug daraxonelasib.
Daraxonelasib has not yet been approved by the FDA, but the company announced in April results from a promising late-stage clinical trial in patients with pancreatic cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
The FDA told the Redwood City, Calif.-based company that it could begin an “expanded access treatment protocol” for some patients previously treated for pancreatic cancer.
The FDA announced on April 28 that it had received a request from Revolution Medicines to expand access to Darasonelasib and approved it on April 30.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly cancers. According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 52,000 people are estimated to die from pancreatic cancer in 2026, with the disease accounting for 8% of all cancer deaths.
According to NCI statistics, about 3% of people with pancreatic cancer who have spread to distant parts of the body survive five years after diagnosis.
On April 13, Revolution Medicines announced the results of a clinical trial in patients with pancreatic cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. The trial showed that patients treated with daily oral dalaxone lasib had a median survival of 13.2 months, nearly twice the median survival of 6.7 months for patients treated with standard chemotherapy.
After publishing these study results, the company announced that it would seek approval for daraxone lasib under the FDA’s priority review program.
Former Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Nebraska) called Darasonelasib a “miracle drug” to help manage pancreatic cancer, which he announced in December. On the April 26 episode of “60 Minutes,” Sass said doctors initially gave her a three- to four-month prognosis, but thanks to “providence, prayer, and miracle medicine,” she still has time.
Anna Berkenblit is the Chief Scientific and Medical Officer of Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, an advocacy group for pancreatic cancer patients. He said in a statement that the findings were “truly remarkable,” but that more research is needed to continue making progress against this deadly disease.
“These results represent a major step forward in this field, but we are only at the beginning,” Berkenblit said. “We know that resistance to treatments can develop, and research on drug combinations is needed to overcome these challenges.”
Contributor: Saleen Martin
