Promising Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Received by Former Senator Ben Sasse Comes to Maine Through NECS Clinical Trial

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rock Row, Westbrook, Maine — August 18, 2026 — For patients and families facing metastatic pancreatic cancer, treatment options can become limited quickly. New England Cancer Specialists (NECS) is now offering eligible patients access to a promising investigational therapy that could provide another option when their cancer has progressed following previous treatment.

NECS announced, by way of an expanded access program (EAP), the availability of daraxonrasib (RMC-6236), an investigational oral RAS(ON) inhibitor, for eligible patients with previously treated metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

The investigational therapy has recently gained national attention through former U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, who has publicly shared his experience receiving daraxonrasib after being diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Sasse has reported a significant reduction in his tumor burden while participating in a clinical trial of the drug. While individual responses to investigational treatments can vary, his experience has helped draw attention to a new generation of precision medicines designed to attack the specific molecular drivers of a patient’s cancer. NECS’s participation in the daraxonrasib clinical trial will give eligible patients in Maine and the region an opportunity to access this promising investigational therapy closer to home.

Why This Matters for Pancreatic Cancer Patients

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most challenging cancers to treat, particularly after it has spread to other parts of the body. Most pancreatic cancers are driven by alterations in the RAS signaling pathway, making RAS an important but historically difficult target for new therapies. Daraxonrasib is designed to directly address this pathway, representing a new treatment approach for a broad group of patients with pancreatic cancer. For patients whose disease has progressed despite initial treatment, access to a therapy targeting one of the fundamental drivers of their cancer offers an important new reason for hope.

The program represents an important new opportunity for patients facing one of the most difficult cancers to treat. Through expanded access, some patients who have already received treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer and have limited therapeutic alternatives may be able to receive daraxonrasib while the therapy remains under FDA review.

“Patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer urgently need additional treatment options, particularly when their disease progresses after initial therapy,” said Dr. Matthew Dugan “Expanded access to daraxonrasib gives our multidisciplinary team another potential option to evaluate for appropriately selected patients while the drug remains under regulatory review.”

Daraxonrasib is designed to inhibit RAS signaling, a pathway implicated in the growth of many pancreatic cancers. In the Phase 3 RASolute 302 study of previously treated metastatic PDAC, daraxonrasib demonstrated a median overall survival of 13.2 months compared with 6.7 months for chemotherapy. The results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine in May 2026.

For patients whose pancreatic cancer has progressed following initial therapy and who are being considered for second-line treatment, these findings and the availability of expanded access offer something particularly meaningful: another avenue to explore at a point when choices can be limited.

The expanded access program (EAP) follows authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which issued a “safe to proceed” letter to Revolution Medicines in May 2026. The program is intended for eligible patients who have previously been treated for metastatic PDAC, have no comparable or satisfactory alternative treatment options, and are unable to participate in an appropriate daraxonrasib clinical trial.

“While these results are encouraging, expanded access is not the same as FDA approval,” said Dr. Dugan. “Our priority is to carefully evaluate each patient’s disease characteristics, prior treatments, overall health, available alternatives and potential risks and benefits before determining whether expanded access is appropriate.”

Eligibility is determined individually by the treating physician and in accordance with the requirements of the expanded access clinical protocol. A request for expanded access must be initiated by a treating physician, and participation is subject to applicable eligibility requirements and institutional and regulatory review.

Patients and families interested in learning whether daraxonrasib may be an option are encouraged to speak with their treating oncologist or contact New England Cancer Specialists.

Daraxonrasib is an investigational medicine and has not been approved by the FDA for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. The FDA accepted Revolution Medicines’ New Drug Application for daraxonrasib for previously treated metastatic pancreatic cancer in August 2026; regulatory review is ongoing.

About New England Cancer Specialists

New England Cancer Specialists (NECS) is the largest independent oncology practice north of Boston, providing comprehensive, community-based cancer care across Maine and New Hampshire. NECS offers medical oncology, hematology, radiation oncology, breast health and surgery, genetic counseling, supportive care, survivorship services, precision medicine and a robust clinical research program.

NECS is the only Affiliate Member of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Maine and New Hampshire. NECS was also among the first nine oncology practices in the nation to achieve ASCO Patient-Centered Cancer Care Certification and is the only ASCO-certified oncology medical home in Maine and New Hampshire. These distinctions reflect NECS’s commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centered cancer care while bringing advanced treatments, clinical trials and specialized expertise closer to home.