Episode summary
Dylan Jovine | Biotech Breakthrough: This Drug Could Transform Pancreatic Cancer Treatment
Summary
Dylan Jovine says Revolution Medicines’ pancreatic cancer drug, Daraxonrasib, posted a major Phase 3 result that could change treatment standards. He highlights the reported survival gain of 13.2 months versus 6.7 months for chemotherapy and says that kind of outcome is “practice changing,” especially in a disease with a 13% five-year survival rate.
He explains that the drug targets RAS mutations, which he says drive about 90% of pancreatic cancers, and frames that biology as the reason the result matters scientifically. Jovine also points to former Senator Ben Sasse’s reported tumor shrinkage as an example of why the drug is drawing attention, while noting there are still meaningful side effects such as a facial rash.
On the investing side, Jovine argues the stock’s roughly 35% to 40% surge reflects how beaten down biotech has been and how undervalued some cancer-focused names may be. He says the company plans to seek FDA approval for second-line use and that the bigger question is whether the drug can move earlier to first-line treatment.
Key takeaways
- Dylan Jovine says Revolution Medicines’ Daraxonrasib nearly doubled survival in Phase 3, with 13.2 months versus 6.7 months for chemotherapy.
- He argues the result could be practice changing because pancreatic cancer has a 13% five-year survival rate.
- Jovine says the drug works by targeting RAS mutations, which he claims are present in about 90% of pancreatic cancers.
- He notes Revolution Medicines is seeking FDA approval for second-line treatment and is testing the drug in newly diagnosed patients.
- Jovine says the stock’s roughly 35% to 40% jump shows how depressed biotech valuations have become.
Notable quotes
“The drug almost doubled typical survival. People who took it lived for 13.2 months versus 6.7 months for chemo”
“This is basically a treatmentchanging outcome or what doctors would refer to as a practice changing outcome”
“they are present in about 90% of pancreatic cancers about 30% of regular cancers”
“his tumors had shrunk by 76% since he started taking the drug”
“Revolution Medicine's jumped like 40 points this week on this news of course like 35 40%”
How the episode opens
Good morning. This is Dylan Joan with Behind the Markets. Happy Wednesday.
Today's Wednesday, April 15th, and we all know someone who has had and died from pancreatic cancer. We see these people. I've seen them many times in my life.
And you hear a friend has pancreatic cancer, and you say to yourself, I'm so sorry. Because of all the major cancers, pancreatic cancer has the lowest five-year survival rate at 13%. It's basically a death sentence.
And I remember seeing a friend of mine who was Mr. Colorado. This muscular guy Ken who just like seriously looked like Arnold Schwarzenegger.
I remember he got pancreatic cancer and nine months later he had withered and was a skeleton with those vacant eyes and he passed away. And I just remember thinking to myself, my goodness, pancreatic cancer is brutal. Finally, we have some good news on pancreatic cancer.
And I've written down some notes here. Revolution Medicines said its pancreatic cancer drug Dara axen razib, excuse me, succeeded in phase three trials. The drug almost doubled typical survival.
People who took it lived for 13.2 months versus 6.7 months for chemo. And this is a big deal. This is basically a treatmentchanging outcome or what doctors would refer to as a practice changing outcome.
Meaning it is such a big deal that it's going to change how they treat pancreatic cancer. And of course, this company is going to file for FDA approval. And it's interesting Revolution Medicine's company that you know really focuses on targeting what we call RAS mutations which really drive tumor growth generally speaking and they are present in about 90% of pancreatic cancers about 30% of regular cancers and we've looked at companies over the years that try to inhibit that growth that mutation there.
From the episode’s captions: roughly the first two minutes, lightly cleaned. Keep watching on YouTube →
Topics
- pancreatic cancer
- phase 3 trials
- biotech stocks
- investor reaction
- ras mutations
Companies and tickers mentioned
- Revolution Medicines
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Summary, takeaways and quote selection by Octagon. Quotes are short excerpts; the full conversation is in the episode.
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