UCSF Researcher Honored for Cancer Drug Breakthrough
A new FDA-approved therapy for KRAS-mutated pancreatic cancer has doubled survival times in clinical trials.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Cancer
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UCSF researcher Kevan Shokat has been awarded the Stephenson Prize for his work developing inhibitors that target KRAS gene mutations, which are responsible for 30% of all cancers. This research led to the August 2026 FDA approval of daraxonrasib for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
Why it matters
Mutations in the KRAS gene act as a molecular switch for uncontrolled cell growth, driving 90% of pancreatic cancers. Developing these inhibitors provides a new treatment pathway for a historically aggressive disease where patients previously faced limited survival options.
In a Phase III trial, patients with advanced pancreatic cancer receiving daraxonrasib achieved a median survival time of 13 months, compared to the 6-month average seen in standard care. This confirms the efficacy of targeting the G12C mutation in KRAS to interrupt tumor growth.
The players
Kevan Shokat
A UCSF researcher who identified the G12C mutation in KRAS as a viable target for cancer drug development.
Revolution Medicines
A pharmaceutical company focused on targeted cancer therapies that developed the drug daraxonrasib.
Jim Wells
A researcher who collaborated with Kevan Shokat to map the KRAS G12C mutation.
The details
The research team used x-ray crystallography to map the shape of KRAS mutations and identified a specific pocket where drug compounds could bind. By attaching molecular tethers to the cysteine residue on the mutated KRAS protein, the drug effectively blocks the switch that triggers tumor proliferation. This precision approach allows the medication to inhibit the protein responsible for driving malignancy in pancreatic cells.
Timeline
2010: Kevan Shokat identified a drug candidate capable of gripping the KRAS protein.
2013: Researchers published the initial discovery of KRAS G12C blocking methods.
2021: The FDA approved the first KRAS G12C inhibitor for lung cancer patients.
May 2026: Revolution Medicines reported Phase III clinical trial outcomes for daraxonrasib.
August 2026: The FDA officially approved daraxonrasib for clinical use.
Health Landscape
The approval of daraxonrasib marks a departure from historical treatment limitations for pancreatic cancer, which has long been driven by the difficult-to-target KRAS mutation. It follows the successful pattern set by the development of KRAS G12C inhibitors, which first gained traction in lung cancer care.
If you or a family member are managing advanced pancreatic cancer, it is worth discussing with your oncologist whether genetic testing for KRAS mutations is appropriate. Understanding the molecular profile of a tumor is increasingly central to determining eligibility for targeted therapies.
The takeaway
The successful targeting of the KRAS mutation proves that even previously undruggable cancer drivers can be blocked with precision medicine. Patients and caregivers should remain informed about the role of biomarker testing in identifying personalized treatment options for aggressive cancers.
Further reading
For more information on the latest innovations in oncology, visit our Cancer resource hub.
Source note: This article includes information reported by OncLive.
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