New pancreatic cancer drug gives South Portland man hope for longer life
New Pancreatic‑Cancer Drug Now Accessible to Maine Patients, Patient Shares Hopeful Experience
A first‑class targeted therapy for metastatic pancreatic cancer has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is now available to Maine residents. The drug, daraxonrasib, was approved last week after clinical trials showed it roughly doubled median overall survival—from 6.7 months with standard chemotherapy to 13.2 months.
The approval follows a summer “expanded access” program that allowed a select group of patients to start treatment before the drug entered full market distribution. Eugene Slobodzian, a 53‑year‑old South Portland resident, was one of those patients. He first received a pancreatic‑cancer diagnosis in January and spent the next six months undergoing chemotherapy, hospital stays, and recovery periods.
From Chemotherapy to a New Hope
“While I was not lucky to get this disease in the first place, I’m lucky to be able to take this drug,” Slobodzian told reporters after enrolling in the trial in mid‑July. Since beginning daraxonrasib, he reports a noticeable improvement in his quality of life and early scans show a reduction in tumor size.
“I would have six bad days to get nine decent days,” he said. “The new drug, it’s a lighter toll on your body.” Slobodzian, who has never smoked or used alcohol and follows a balanced diet, says he hopes to return to regular workouts—he is a self‑described “gym head” and enjoys walking and cycling.
Maine’s Oncology Community Embraces the Drug
The New England Cancer Specialists (NECS) in Westbrook—where Slobodzian receives treatment—was among the first U.S. centers granted expanded access to daraxonrasib in the summer. Dr. Matthew Dugan, an oncologist at NECS, describes his excitement as “unbridled.” He had expected FDA approval in late 2026 or even 2027, but the agency’s rapid review accelerated the drug’s availability.
“Dugan said it’s not a cure, but it slows the progression of the aggressive and fatal cancer,” NECS staff notes. The drug targets multiple forms of a protein that is a key driver of tumor growth in most pancreatic‑cancer patients. In clinical trials, life expectancy doubled, according to an FDA news release.
The FDA’s approval also opens the door for doctors to prescribe daraxonrasib to patients who do not respond well to chemotherapy. Within the next two weeks, Dugan expects to be able to treat qualifying patients nationwide, including those in Maine who have not yet had access to the drug. The expanded‑access program had already supplied the medication to about 15 of Dugan’s patients over the summer.
Yoni Resnick, vice‑president of pharmacy at NECS, believes the drug will spur further research. “We anticipate a cascade of new medications,” he said. “The side‑effect profile—skin rashes and mouth sores—is not as severe as the fatigue, hair loss, nausea, and other symptoms of chemotherapy.”
Cost and National Context
The drug’s estimated cost is about $480,000 per year per patient, a figure that raises questions about affordability and insurance coverage. Nationwide, about 67,000 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year; Maine sees roughly 300 cases annually.
Dr. Dugan notes that the medication could eventually become a first‑line therapy, before chemotherapy, though the FDA approval is currently for patients who have not responded well to standard treatment.
A Real‑World Snapshot
While daraxonrasib is not a cure, early evidence from Slobodzian’s case suggests it offers a tangible extension of life and a better quality of living. He remains cautious, acknowledging the seriousness of the disease: “The situation is still dire,” he said. “The drug doesn’t fix anything, but it extends your lifespan. I hope to be given a little bit more time to enjoy life.”
Dugan, meanwhile, remains optimistic. “I’ve been waiting my entire career for a drug like this to come out,” he said. “We are going to see people live a lot longer while taking this drug.”
The FDA approval marks a significant milestone for pancreatic‑cancer patients nationwide and a welcome development for Maine’s medical community as they integrate daraxonrasib into their treatment arsenal.
