The FDA authorized the drug under an expedited review process
The Food and Drug Administration yesterday approved a pancreatic cancer treatment that experts say could reshape care for one of the deadliest cancers.
Clinical trials showed it nearly doubled survival for some patients compared with standard chemotherapy.
Pancreatic cancer affects about 67,000 people in the US each year, according to the American Cancer Society.
Developed by Revolution Medicines, the drug helped patients live more than 13 months, double what chemotherapy provides.
Rasonque is designed to block the RAS proteins that drive tumor growth. It is available for $39,800 for a 30-day supply.
Revolution Medicines shares have surged 166% this year as investors expect the drug to become a major revenue driver.
RBC Capital Markets estimates Rasonque could generate $28 million in US sales in the third quarter and eventually reach $11.5 billion in annual global sales.
The medicine was authorized under an expedited FDA review process that cut typical evaluation times from 10–12 months down to just one to two months.