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Milwaukee teacher sees pancreatic cancer shrink using new drug
A groundbreaking new drug is giving pancreatic cancer patients new hope. The pill got FDA approval on Wednesday, Aug. 26. FOX6 spoke to an MPS teacher who is seeing success from the drug.
MILWAUKEE - A groundbreaking new drug is giving pancreatic cancer patients new hope. The pill got FDA approval on Wednesday, Aug. 26.
Treatment with the new drug
What we know:
Rachelle Gardner started her treatment in late July as part of an expanded access program. The drug has shown improvement in survival rates in those with advanced pancreatic cancer. Gardner said for the first time in a long time, she is feeling good about what is ahead.
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Rachelle Gardner
"I have more hope," Gardner said.
It has not always been that way for the Milwaukee Public School teacher. In October 2023, she was diagnosed with Stage 1 pancreatic cancer. She was treated with chemo and radiation as it advanced to Stage 4. This spring, she got devastating news.
"I was told at the end of May that chemo and radiation wouldn’t be working for me," Gardner said.
Rachelle Gardner
But in July, everything changed when she started taking a new drug. "The difference is amazing. I can live my life," Gardner said.
Gardner began taking daraxonrasib as part of an expanded access program through City of Hope Cancer Center in Zion, Illinois. Wednesday, the drug got FDA approval.
Groundbreaking pancreatic cancer drug approved by FDA: What we know
The Food and Drug Administration has approved a landmark new drug for advanced pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest types of the disease.
"This is groundbreaking in how effective this treatment is," Dr. Evan Pisick said.
Pisick is Gardner's oncologist. He said in just one month, blood tests show her cancer is rapidly shrinking. "We’re going to see a very major response in her disease," Pisick said.
daraxonrasib
Feeling optimistic
What we know:
The daily pill blocks a mutated protein that fuels the cancer in 90% of cases and doubled survival rates in those taking the drug. "It was a relief. A relief," Gardner said.
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For Gardner, it's allowing her to finally feel optimistic about the future. "I have more hope that I’m going to get better," Gardner said.
This pill is not a cure. City of Hope said there are about 12 people on the drug through their hospital. They expect that number to grow.
Portions of this article were formatted using A.I. FOX6’s Ashley Sears and an editor reviewed it for accuracy and tone prior to publishing.
The Source: Information in this story was gathered from Rachelle Gardner, City of Hope Cancer Center, Dr. Evan Pisick, the FDA and FOX6 News reporting.