New pancreatic cancer treatment doubles survival time in clinical trial

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Pancreatic cancer can be a frightening diagnosis, because it often goes undetected until an advanced stage. With no routine screening tests for people at average risk, early signs can be easy to miss. The deaths of well-known figures, including Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek and actors Patrick Swayze and Alan Rickman, have raised awareness of this challenging disease in recent years. 

Now, a promising new treatment is offering hope for people with advanced pancreatic cancer. In Aug. 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Rasonque™ (generic name daraxonrasib), a first-of-its-kind pill taken once daily. In a randomized clinical trial, the treatment nearly doubled survival time for patients with advanced (stage 4) pancreatic cancer.

“This is truly a groundbreaking breakthrough in the treatment of pancreatic cancer,” says surgeon Sung Cho, MD. “This kind of advancement in the field happens only once every decade or two.”

Researchers are also studying Rasonque’s potential for patients with earlier-stage pancreatic cancer, which could expand treatment options in the future.

“It gives real and tangible hope to patients with pancreatic cancer that a new chapter in this field has begun,” Dr. Cho says.

Expert pancreatic cancer care on the Eastside

Advances in treatment are giving patients new options, but specialized care remains essential. As the Eastside’s only fellowship-trained pancreatic cancer surgeon, Dr. Cho has over 10 years of experience performing pancreatic and liver surgery. He works closely with a team of specialists to help patients understand their diagnosis, explore treatment options and navigate each step of care.

“Pancreatic surgery is my passion. That’s why I’ve spent so much time training in this field,” Dr. Cho says. “I really want my patients to do well. I always tell them to let me know about every little thing because I’d rather hear about something that’s not important than hear about something that is important too late.”

Learn more about pancreatic cancer care at Overlake