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The doctors are looking at other uses for the new drug
After the ‘unprecedented” results of the pancreatic pancreatic cancer cancer drug, they look to other uses
All patients with advanced pancreatic
cancer who walked in Dr. Zev wainberg’s offices said that they would prefer to take an experimental medication rather than endure another round chemothery. Subscribe to this story to enjoy it ad free
Enjoy unlimited access to exclusive articles and ad-free content. Wainberg, the co-director of UCLA Health’s GI Oncology Program was leading a trial of a drug called daraxonrasib. All participants in the study had received chemothery before, but it was failing. Wainberg: “Statistically I knew only half would receive the pill. We don’t even get to pick.” “I’ve put many patients on chemo, and they’re all dead now.”
The excitement surrounding
continues to grow. In a phase three trial involving 500 patients, the drug showed to double the time patients survived with advanced pancreatic, a cancer that is notoriously fatal: 13.2 month, on average. This was compared to the 6.7 month survival for patients who had chemo. Wainberg and colleagues presented the results of their study at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual meeting, which took place in Chicago on Sunday. The complete study was published simultaneously in the
Enthusiasm around daraxonrasib. When Revolution Medicines released the New England Journal of Medicine.
of the trial in ril, Rachna Schroff, chief of division of hematology, and oncology, at the University of Arizona Cancer Center, in Tucson, “started to cry tears of joy”. It’s unprecedented. preliminary findings The excitement has spread to other cancer types. Daxaronrasib is a three-pill daily treatment that targets a mutation of the KRAS gene, found in many types of cancer, including lung, colorectal and endometrial, as well as
. Daraxonrasib research was led by Dr. Brian Wolpin at the Hale Family Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Patrick Martin / NBC News “Now, the floodgates are open.”
According to the Food and Drug Administration, the drug is already on a fast-track to proval for pancreatic carcinoma. Earlier this month the FDA said that Revolution Medicines could give the drug to patients outside clinical trials. bile duct cancer called cholangiocarcinoma The chief executive of Revolution Medicines, Dr. Mark Goldsmith declined to say when the company would file for FDA clearance. He said that “our professionals work literally 24 hours a day to prepare this material as quickly as we can.” The shrinking tumor
The spot on Orcutt’s liver dispeared since she started taking the pill, in January 2025. According to her oncologist, the tumor in her pancreas shrank by 80%. Orcutt of Spencer, Massachusetts, said, “I feel fantastic every day.” “I don’t dwell on the fact I have pancreatic carcinoma.”
Although neither Roychowdhury or Shroff was involved in clinical trials, they have both already started curating a patient list to receive the drug when it becomes available. Shroff stated that he would start taking the drug as soon as it became available. What is daraxonrasib, and how does it function? Daraxonrasib works by targeting a mutation within a KRAS gene, which acts as an on/off switch that controls how cells grow. The mutation found in pancreatic cancers causes the switch to remain in the “on” position. This allows cancerous cells to grow uncontrollably. Scientists knew for years that they could remove the switch from “on” if they targeted the KRAS mutation. Wolpin explained that “it’s been extremely hard to drug this mutation.” The mutated protein looks like a ball and it’s impossible to get a drug to adhere to it or block its effect. Daraxonrasib, expanded access program is the first drug. It pairs up with a cyclophilin A protein inside cells and acts like a “molecular adhesive,” Wolpin explained, glomming on the mutated proteins.
There are studies underway for similar drugs. Daraxonrasib, while not a cancer cure, can help tumors to find new ways to grow. Oncologists should have an arsenal of drugs similar to this one ready to use when patients develop resistance. Goldsmith of Revolution Medicine said that three RAS-inhibitors, also known as similar drugs, are currently in clinical trial, and a fourth is due to begin later this summer. Daraxonrasib pears to be effective beyond the KRAS mutation. The overall survival for all patients receiving the drug was 13.2 month, regardless of the KRAS gene mutation. Wolpin: “Based on what we know now, I’m confident that this drug will be effective for all patients with metastatic pancreatic carcinoma, provided they also have metastatic cancer.” This is a step in the right direction to stop relying on so much chemothery. Wolpin stated that further research is ongoing to determine whether these patients should receive the drug first.
Daraxonrasib pears to be less toxic than chemo. Some patients complained of vomiting, diarrhea, and sores around the mouth and throat. Some patients developed blistering rashes that looked like bad sunburns. Ben Sasse described his rash on
, which he received as part of a trial, as “nuclear”. Debby Orcutt, who received daraxonrasib in a clinical trial, said that her side effects were minimal. She had a small rash on her hand and what she described as a large canker sore. “We are talking about life and death,” she said. “How could I complain about such a tiny rash?” Debby Orcutt, and her husband Ron Orcutt. Debby Orcutt –
Orcutt –
Orcutt & her husband Ron Orcutt of 47 years met as teenagers working part time at a mall. She worked as a shoe salesperson at Thom McAn, and he was a department store employee at Zayre. She was 17, he was 18 They still giggle together like two school children. Ron Orcutt is the one who carefully records his wife’s daraxonrasib doses. He ensures that his wife takes the pills exactly at the correct time, setting alarms when necessary. They must be taken with an empty stomach. This is exactly two hours after husband and wife had breakfast together. American Cancer Society These reminders are needed. Debby Orcutt will be out the door by then, helping her granddaughters get to school in time, or heading to her new part-time work wiping down tables at a local high school. It keeps her active, though she does not need to work. “You just have to keep moving and have faith.” “Everyone has to live everyday as if it is their last,” said she. “I feel as if I have been given a chance to make the most out of it.”
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Receive unlimited access to adfree articles and exclusive material. Oil prices are up in January 2010 amid reports that Trump and Iran may be nearing an agreement. The two sides have been unable to reach a deal for more than a month. Although U.S. officials and Arab officials have indicated for days that the agreement is close to finalization, neither side has proved it. Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State, had said that there would be “good news,” within hours. But Trump, who said that Iran must agree not to have nuclear weons, demanded that the Strait of Hormuz is reopened to “unrestricted traffic in both directions” and that all final determination be “destroyed” in a statement on Friday, refused to make any further statements. The deal is expected to prolong the current ceasefire, which has been in effect since early ril. Both sides have accused each other of violating the agreement with their continued strikes. U.S. officials confirmed Friday that the White House is reviewing a deal to begin 60 days of talks with Iran regarding its nuclear program. However, neither side has proved the agreement. Iran has painted an entirely different picture of the agreement than the White House and called U.S. requirements “excessive.” “He has proved that he’s not a person who negotiates and is pursuing his other objectives by continuing the blockade of the navy and making excessive demands in negotiations,” said Rezaei. Iran war agreement needs Trump’s proval, Iranian leaders say. The official described the delays as frustrating. “It had already been closed in Doha, three days ago. Now everyone is playing the game of chicken and the egg,” he said.
Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary Pete said that Trump wanted to make “a great deal” which ensures that Iran does not get a nuclear weons. At the Shangri-La Dialogue defence summit in Singore, Hegseth said “any deal with Iran” would be a great deal. He added that the U.S. stockpiles were more than adequate for this, both locally and globally. The Iranian semi-official news agency Tasnim, citing a reliable source, reported that the draft text for a potential deal between the U.S. The text was still being finalized, according to the report. NBC News wasn’t able to confirm independently the reports. Esmail Baghaei, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, also seemed to dismiss any indications of an imminent breakthrough. In a Friday phone call with the state broadcaster IRINN, he stated that “a final understanding has yet to be reached.” The focus at this time is to end the conflict, not nuclear issues. Brent crude, the world’s benchmark, traded 1.8% lower at $92 per barrel on Friday. The price fell almost 20% in May amid indications of a possible deal to end war and reopen Strait of Hormuz. Energy prices have soared over the past three months due to the war and the subsequent closure of a major trade route that carried around 20% of world oil before the blockade.
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Spain has a different immigration policy than the U.S. They wanted to go to the United States but couldn’t get the two loans needed. So they decided to start a new life. Subscribe to read the story without ads
Receive unlimited access to adfree articles and exclusive material. “We thought it was God’s will that we weren’t able to travel there. But, here we are,” said the woman. She is grateful that her life has changed as she gets closer to obtaining legal status. Look at the conditions in the United States. She said, “It seems that God didn’t intend for us to be in the United States, because after all that has hpened, we would already have been deported.” Nariola Romo with her son Angelito and husband Angel, Claribel her daughter Claribel’s father Will on the Barcelona Metro. Marta Campabadal,
A process of extraordinary regularization is currently underway in Spain. It is expected that more than 500,000 immigrants will be legalized.
Adult immigrants will need to show employment for the first year after proval of their work and residency permit. Minors’ status is regulated for a period of five years. It is a stark contrast to the U.S. where Donald Trump, who during his presidential campaign in 2024 said that undocumented
immigrants would be deported and immigration stopped.
In Spain the deadline to submit plications is June 30. The process will likely take three months once the documents are received. The Spanish government announced the program in January. It received over 43,000 requests in three days after the plication period was opened on 16 ril. In just one month, there were 549,596 plications. The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez described the measure as an act of normalization and said that immigrants who would benefit from the measure are already a part of Spanish daily life. Romo’s entire family hopes to be able to take advantage of the measure. Romo and her family have plied for this benefit. “We were fortunate to learn through social media about a regularization procedure, so we rushed the time in order to complete the process,” she said. Romo, her husband (who works in construction), their two children (4 and 12) and her father plied for regularization after two years and the denial. The Barranquilla family fled Colombia seeking safety in 2024, having several businesses. They were threatened and extorted by criminal gangs. Romo is a teacher who has worked in a warehouse in Spain and as a tutor. “To emigrate you must be extremely brave. You leave your home, work, family, friends and colleagues. Romo, who said she had brought her life with her in a 10-kilo suitcase (22 pounds), added that “Spain was a country which welcomed immigrants.” She said, “I am truly hpy to have my kids here as a mom.”
Nguirane said, “I’ve been in Spain for over two years and I am very hpy to be able work and support my family when I receive my documents.” He received the confirmation just a few weeks ago that his case is being processed. Nguirane’s only employment option, according to him, is “occasionally helping a friend with maintenance work, but without any contract.” She cleans a hospital located in Terrassa – a town that is about 17 miles away from Barcelona, where the couple lives. Gueye explained that he took the girls to school while she left the house at five in the morning. Gueye hopes that once Nguirane receives his legal permit he will be hired to do sanitation work in the hospital, while also helping take care of their children. Nguirane’s family also seeks safety and stability. Gueye stated that “returning to Senegal was not on my agenda because it’s a place I haven’t lived, I don’t know and it makes me uncomfortable every time I visit, even for a short period of 15 days.” The second major regualtion in 20 Years
In order to ply for regularization immigrants must fulfill a number requirements and provide documentation. A passport and proof that the plicant has been living in Spain continuously for five months is required.
The immigrant must also provide proof of a clean criminal history, either from their country or where they lived for the past five years. In some cases officials will also ask for a certificate of vulnerability, which may be issued by a social service agency to verify that migrant’s are in disadvantaged circumstances, like difficulty obtaining employment or housing. It is not the first instance that Spain has decided to regularize their undocumented populations. were poisoning the blood of the country This has been done before. Last time, it was with
20 years ago. This is not only done in Spain but all over the world. “It’s a common practice,” said Veronica Jaramillo a lawyer with the Bayt al-Thaqafa Foundation in Barcelona, an organization that helps migrants.
While there are no official statistics, the #RegularizacionYa, the movement that is driving the regularization process in Spain, estimates that 500,000 undocumented immigrants live in Spain. Funcas, a think tank, estimated that this number would reach over 800,000. Regularization is beneficial to both immigrants and economies that have aging populations like Spain. The country’s age index was
, with 148 over-64s for every 100 under-16s. Jaramillo said that any “self respecting” country would do the same as Spain, and add more people to its Social Security system. Jaramillo says that it is “absolutely and completely utilitarian,” but “that’s the reason for the legalization.” Isabel Diaz Ayuso said the measure was meant to “manipulate censuses,” “culturally change Spain,” and to “sabotage election.” But immigrants who gain from the process of legalization will not be allowed to vote.
The Romo family and the Nguirane hope that the mass legalization will improve their prospects of living in a new country, where they are not only looking to settle but to also put down roots.
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Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. Subscribe to read the story without ads President Donald Trump Receive unlimited access to adfree articles and exclusive material. Trump thanked Belarus President
in a Truth Social posting earlier this week for his “cooperation, friendship, and support” after a deal was reached to free some political prisoners from his regime. He added: “So nice!” Lukashenko has said he hopes to seal a “big” deal with the U.S. and that he could attend Trump’s Board of Peace meeting later this year. Lukashenko is far from “nice” for many Belarusians living under his regime. Lukashenko attending an ice-hockey match at Galaktika centre in Sochi, Russia in 2020.
Mikhail Svetlov/ file
Like Trump, the leader is known for his direct style of communication. He often calls himself “Batka”, or “Father”, in Belarusian. His agrarian background has led him to play ice hockey, and he is also interested in tractors. Lukashenko was ruthless in suppressing protests following the Alexander Lukashenko vote, widely perceived as rigged against him. Belarusians who participated in protests have been arrested and prosecuted. This has led to hundreds of them being sent to Belarus’ notoriously harsh jails. Key opposition figures are also imprisoned or exiled. In March, 250 prisoners were freed in exchange for a easing of U.S. sanction. “The regime in Belarus is as repressive now as it was during Stalin’s time,” said Pavel Slunkin. He resigned after Lukashenko handled the protests.
Police officers detain protesters during a rally held in Minsk, 2020, to protest against the Belarus Presidential Election results. via 01.001010 Trump praising Lukashenko, the opponent of Lukashenko in 2020, is “unpleasant”. Franak Viacorka said. as a staging ground Viacorka said to NBC News in Poland, late March, that “we understand that this is the price of freeing the people we love.” Trump had praised Lukashenko after a deal was struck for the release of political prisoners. “I don’t think Americans are naive. Viacorka said that Americans “understand who Lukashenko” well. He said that Europe had not lifted the more significant economic sanctions against Belarus. However, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister
this month that pressure was coming from the U.S. for exports to be sanctioned Belarusian fertiliser products. Potash exports are crucial to Belarus’ economy. Prices have increased as well, along with other fertilizer products. Lukashenko is largely disliked by Europe’s neighbors because of his record on human rights and his actions in Ukraine. The European nations that border Belarus were accused before of weonizing migrants who tried to enter the E.U. He did this to avenge sanctions against his country and for the support of Belarus’ democratic movements abroad. The leader spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron on a rare occasion earlier this month, but the call did not result in any warm words or diplomatic breakthrough. Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Tsikhanouskaya this week in Kyiv. He said that Lukashenko recently stated it was time for the leaders of Ukraine to meet with Belarus, but Tsikhanouskaya showed up. While relations with Trump are warming, the state news agency BelTA reported earlier this month, that Lukashenko ordered a selective mobilization by the armed forces to “prepare them for war.” Zelenskyy had warned of this
on his country’s border with Belarus. Lukashenko, however, has denied that he intends to get more involved in the conflict unless his nation is attacked. Lukashenko, who has expressed his respect to Putin repeatedly, said last month they communicate “like brother.” However, the relationship is far from equal. Belarus relies heavily on Moscow for its economic well-being. Lukashenko gave
Slunkin, a former diplomat, says that there are many similarities between Trump, Lukashenko and the European Union. Both are sceptical about human rights, and the European Union. Both have a great deal of sympathy for Russia and enjoy being praised. Slunkin stated that “when Donald Trump tweets he likes Lukashenko I think it is pretty sincere.” He added that this is perhs the first time during his 30-year reign, a U.S. President has accepted him unequivocally as he really is. Nigel Gould Davies, former U.K. Ambassador to Belarus and senior fellow at International Institute for Strategic Studies, says it’s difficult to know what Trump stands to gain by embracing Lukashenko. He said that for Lukashenko the quid pro-quo over sanctions is in fact a return of a “discredited” game he played with the West in the early 2000s — achieving concessions as a result of a few tokens gestures, while maintaining complete control. The release of political prisoners from Belarus took place on 19 March. Petras Yerchak; Yauhen Malukas / Gould Davies said that the problem with linking diplomacy and the release of political prisoner is that Lukashenko does not view detainees as a finite source. The implication is that Trump would have more influence in the Ukraine peace talks if Lukashenko were on his side. Last month, a State Department spokeswoman told NBC News, “ongoing U.S. – Belarus engagement is not related to any other current efforts, including Russia – Ukraine peace negotiations.” Belarusian Presidential Press Service / via .
Lukashenko would see an invitation to Trump’s White House or Mar-a-Lago as the ultimate symbol of re-emergence. John Coale presented Lukashenko, Trump’s special ambassador to Belarus, with a copy of 2020 presidential election, which featured an image from the White House, during a trip to Minsk last September. Viacorka stated that , “There is nothing more he can accomplish in his lifetime.” “He never went to the White House. He was not invited to Washington. It would be the biggest personal recognition for him.”
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