Revolutionary Daraxonrasib Trial Outcome Receives Standing Ovation at ASCO 2026

Earlier this year, precision oncology company Revolution Medicines announced the results of its phase 3 clinical trial with the pancreatic cancer drug daraxonrasib. The preliminary findings, first made public in April 2026, found that the drug could nearly double survival outcomes in patients with previously treated metastatic pancreatic cancer.

On May 31, 2026, the principal investigator of the trial, Brian Wolpin, presented the findings from the clinical trial at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago. His presentation was met with a 42-second-long standing ovation, with journalists describing the outcome of the trial as the most hopeful cancer news in years. In a video posted on social media by the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Dr. Wolpin is seen waiting patiently for the audience to finish celebrating the news before humorously declaring, “that time was not built into my talk.”

Pancreatic cancer is widely known to be one of the most aggressive forms of cancer. In the United States, it is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, abbreviated PDAC, is the most common form of pancreatic cancer, accounting for over 90% of all cases. PDAC is also most often diagnosed at advanced stages, and consequently, has a 5-year survival rate of less than 10%. This percentage is even lower in those with metastatic PDAC.

Revolution Medicines’ trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of daraxonrasib as the only treatment in patients with previously treated metastatic PDAC. The drug was found to almost double survival outcomes in patients, from less than seven months to over 13. This was a significant breakthrough, considering the low survival rate for metastatic PDAC.

Jennifer Knox, MD, an expert in pancreatic cancers who was also in attendance at the ASCO meeting, remarked on the challenging nature of research for pancreatic cancer treatment. "There's been a lot of really exciting breakthroughs across oncology; none of them worked in pancreatic cancer. And so, this is the game changer."

On May 1, 2026, the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced the issuance of a “safe to proceed” letter to Revolution Medicines for daraxonrasib, allowing the team to kickstart an expanded access treatment protocol (EAP) for the drug.

Expanded access refers to the pathway by which patients with serious diseases can receive an investigational drug for treatment without enrolling in a clinical trial. It aims to provide access to potentially life-saving treatment options when no comparable therapeutic alternatives are available on the market.

Revolution Medicines’ EAP is for patients with previously treated metastatic PDAC. The FDA reportedly received Revolution Medicines’ expanded access request on April 28 and approved it by April 30. Noting the urgency that often accompanies EAP requests, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, MD, MPH, remarked, “Granting the request two days after receiving the expanded access application reflects the FDA’s strong commitment to facilitate early access to therapies for serious and life-threatening conditions, including pancreatic cancer.”