# $39,800 Pancreatic Cancer Pill Sparks Major Investment Hope on Wall Street FDA-approved drug targets 'undruggable' RAS mutation, marking breakthrough in cancer treatment. - **Source:** [Fortune | FORTUNE](https://brifing.si/source/769282ef-327a-4454-909a-3c7936216004) - **Published:** 2026-08-26 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/06097889-49f4-446d-b55b-faa4558ccb2c ## Historic FDA Approval Revolution Medicines' Rasonque received FDA approval for metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma treatment. The once-daily pill blocks the RAS protein responsible for cancer cell growth. It offers hope particularly for patients who've undergone prior treatment or can't receive combination chemotherapy. Experts call it the most significant advance against pancreatic cancer, which accounts for 90-95% of pancreatic malignancies. ## Impressive Clinical Outcomes In pre-approval trials, Rasonque demonstrated median survival of 13.2 months versus 6.7 months with standard chemo. The drug reduced death risk by 60% while delaying disease progression and quality-of-life deterioration. Dr. Brian Wolpin from Dana-Farber noted, 'It gives physicians confidence that direct RAS inhibition can make a striking difference for patients.' ## FDA's Expedited Process The drug was reviewed under FDA's National Priority Voucher program, receiving Breakthrough Therapy and Orphan Drug designations. Approval came 6.5 months ahead of schedule thanks to new FDA policies allowing concurrent international regulatory reviews. 'It showed unprecedented results in an area of high unmet need,' said FDA Oncology Center director Angelo de Claro. ## Pancreatic Cancer's Grim Statistics American Cancer Society's 2026 report projects 67,530 new pancreatic cancer diagnoses and 52,740 deaths in the US. With five-year survival stuck at 13% (versus 70% for all cancers combined), it remains the third-deadliest cancer type. 80% of patients are diagnosed after metastasis, facing just 3% five-year survival. Revolution Medicines calls these 'disproportionate' mortality rates. ## $39,800 Price Tag Revolution set Rasonque's 30-day supply list price at $39,800, though insured patients may pay $0 through new support programs. The expanded access initiative launched in May has already reached 2,000+ patients. The company is advancing daraxonrasib through late-stage lung cancer trials, expanding its RAS-targeting platform. ## RAS Platform Potential Early investor Dr. Danish Nagda emphasized the approval proves RAS - present in 25% of human cancers - is finally druggable. This platform could address lung, colorectal and ovarian cancers too. 'We can now attack cancer cells both externally and internally,' Nagda said, predicting a new treatment era. The pancreatic cancer success suggests broader applicability. ## Expected Off-Label Use Nagda anticipates widespread off-label prescribing beyond pancreatic cancer. The proof-of-concept in one of oncology's hardest cases opens doors for other RAS-mutated cancers. Comparing to Moderna/Merck's mRNA vaccines, Nagda said combining surface and intracellular approaches could transform cancer care within a decade: 'We're maybe five years from the post-cancer era.' ## Wall Street's Big Bet Beyond the $39,800 price, investors see revolutionary potential in conquering the 'undruggable' RAS. Revolution shareholder Nagda calls the pancreatic cancer success a platform validator for other cancers. This RAS-inhibiting approach signals a paradigm shift in drug development, with Wall Street recognizing its potential to redefine cancer treatment across multiple indications. ## Sources covering this story - https://fortune.com/2026/08/26/pancreatic-cancer-fda-approval-pill-doubles-survival-rate-revolution-medicines/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._