A phase 2 clinical trial of the experimental drug elraglusib has shown promising results for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, according to research published in Nature Medicine.
Patients who received elraglusib along with chemotherapy were twice as likely to be alive after one year compared to those who received chemotherapy alone, with survival rates of 44% versus 22%. The treatment also reduced the risk of death by 38%. After two years, 13% of patients in the elraglusib group were still alive, while none survived in the chemotherapy-only group.
Developed at Northwestern University, elraglusib works differently from standard chemotherapy. It targets a protein called GSK-3 beta, helping to slow tumor growth and reactivate the immune system to fight cancer.
Side effects were generally manageable and included fatigue, low white blood cell counts, and temporary vision changes. Researchers say the findings are encouraging but emphasize that larger phase 3 trials are needed to confirm the benefits.