By: SGPCRI
LOS ANGELES, August 26, 2026 — The FDA today approved daraxonrasib, the first-in-class targeted therapy for metastatic pancreatic cancer, marking a major advance against a disease that has historically had few effective treatment options. In a Phase 3 trial, the drug nearly doubled median overall survival in previously treated patients, from 6.7 months to 13.2 months.
This approval offers a powerful reminder that scientific breakthroughs rarely happen on a predictable timeline. Daraxonrasib builds on decades of research into RAS, once considered virtually impossible to target, and underscores why sustained investment in ambitious science matters long before there is a clear path to a new therapy.
Stephenson Global Pancreatic Cancer Research Institute (SGPCRI) was established following a $150 million philanthropic commitment from A. Emmet Stephenson Jr. and Tessa Stephenson Brand to accelerate pancreatic cancer research. The Institute is backing scientists willing to pursue bold ideas, including through its Scholar Grants and its annual $1 million Stephenson Global Prize. Its inaugural prize was awarded to pioneering RAS researcher Dr. Frank McCormick.
In response to today’s approval, Stephenson and SGPCRI leaders issued the following statements:
A. Emmet Stephenson Jr. and Tessa Stephenson Brand, Co-Founders, SGPCRI:
“Today’s FDA approval of daraxonrasib is a historic milestone for the pancreatic cancer community and a powerful reminder of what is possible when visionary science is pursued with urgency and perseverance. For patients and families who have waited far too long for better options, this first-in-class targeted therapy brings meaningful new hope. We celebrate the scientists, clinicians, patients and families who made this achievement possible, and we remain deeply committed to accelerating the next generation of discoveries that will transform outcomes for pancreatic cancer.”
Jennifer Chun Kim, Executive Director, SGPCRI:
“Daraxonrasib did not happen overnight. It is the result of decades of courageous research, sustained investment and scientists who refused to accept that RAS was undruggable. I feel incredibly blessed to witness this breakthrough in my lifetime and to see new hope being given to patients and families. This approval shows exactly why we must invest more urgently in pancreatic cancer research: scientific discoveries lead to new therapies, and new therapies give patients more time. We must build on this momentum and ensure that the next breakthrough reaches patients even faster.”
For more information, visit SGPCRI.global or follow SGPCRI on LinkedIn and X.
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