Mark Lewis, Dr. Mark Lewis, said that in the field gastrointestinal oncology progress could take many years or even decades. However, this latest breakthrough was the largest he had seen during his career.
It was described as “truly amazing” and “a game changer” for the treatment of pancreatic carcinoma.
In the past, intravenous chemotherapy was required every two weeks to treat pancreatic stage 4 cancer. Daraxonrasib has doubled the survival rate of stage four cancer patients from 6.9 months with chemotherapy to 13.1 months.
Lewis, the director of gastrointestinal cancer at Intermountain Health told journalists on Tuesday that this drug is “the real thing.”
Realistic optimism and optimistic outlook
Intermountain Health, the Huntsman Cancer Institute, and Utah Cancer Specialists are now offering the drug to patients under an extended access program.
Lewis explained that the program is only available to those patients who have been approved, and it is similar to a single-patient trial. Lewis said that Intermountain Health has now nine approved patients for the program, and they are waiting on the first shipment from the manufacturer.
Daraxonrasib, clarified the doctor, is not a panacea but a treatment to manage pancreatic carcinoma. Lewis stated that the only way to cure pancreatic carcinoma is through surgery. However, this is not always an option for patients with stage 4.
There are some severe side effects to the treatment, including rashes, diarrhea, and mouth ulcers. Lewis expressed his admiration of Ben Sasse, a former U.S. senator from Nebraska who participated in drug trials and spoke about the rash he had. He said that although side effects are measurable, it’s hard to quantify the compromises cancer patients must make to cope with their illness.
Mike Headrick is KSL
Patients who have decided to continue with this new treatment “are optimistic, but realistic.” The patients understand that this drug can give them more time to enjoy life, possibly with fewer side-effects, as well as, on average more than an extra year.
This is not what I wish it was. He said that it could be a more tolerable and effective treatment than the intravenous chemotherapy.
Serious disease
This year, the American Society of Clinical Oncology held its annual conference. The presentation of this study received a standing-ovation.
Lewis stated that pancreatic cancer was a “serious” problem. The American Cancer Society states that approximately 67,000 Americans get diagnosed with the disease each year and about 52,000 of them die. The third most common cause of death from cancer is this disease.
Cancer is deadly in part because it is not screened for and, when found, it is often wrapped around the body and cannot be removed, or has spread to other parts of the body.
Lewis explained that KRAS is the mutation that causes most pancreatic tumors, and daraxonrasib was the first drug to directly target this mutation. Daraxonrasib has shown to effectively shut down KRAS-induced growth signals, stopping the spread of pancreatic cancer.
This is an important step forward and, frankly, it’s just the beginning. It is the first time that a treatment has been developed to target this RAS mutation. Lewis stated, “I imagine we will see many more in the future.”
It was a “very thrilling start” for a new evolution in treatment options, he said. Precision cancer treatment is a rising trend.
The pancreatic cancer forms a protective shell that makes it difficult for chemotherapy to reach. The cancer is difficult to treat, as blood flows from the pancreas into the liver. This increases the likelihood of metastasis.
Pancreatic cancer can start as a stomach upset or heartburn. Early signs can include diabetes and weight loss. Jaundice may appear later, indicating that the cancer has spread.
Hope
Lewis said that daraxonrasib is not likely to be prescribed to patients who are tolerating and responding to chemotherapy. It has been only tested in patients with pancreatic cancer stage 4. He said that the trial of this drug lasted only two years. This is a very short time in the world of oncology. However, it went through all phases necessary to assess its effectiveness and safety.
The FDA approved the drug on July 22. He said that it usually takes six to eight week to review the application. This means more patients could have access to the treatment in a matter of weeks.
Lewis stated that ten Intermountain Health Hospitals have been authorized to offer the expanded-access program. This includes multiple hospitals in Colorado and Montana. Intermountain Health “is trying to ensure that your location doesn’t restrict access to this drug.”
Oncologist Dr. Ned Jones in Grand Junction in Colorado said that access to cancer treatments is crucial, particularly for those patients living in small communities.
He said: “We’re thrilled that we have access early to this promising therapy, which is desperately needed by our pancreatic patients.” The data generated by this study has been a source of excitement in the oncology field and highlights the possibility for significant progress in an area where treatment advances have proven difficult.
“Real hope” is expressed by Dr Alicia Swink who also lives in Grand Junction.
She said, “This is more than just a new medication – this is giving patients time to make decisions and more choices.”

According to latest figures, at least 2,000 Congolese have been killed by the Ebola epidemic, which is the largest outbreak on record. However, rebel conflicts, poor roads, and workers’ stoppages due to payment problems are causing the response, in an isolated region, be delayed.
Data released by the government overnight on Tuesday revealed that there were 4,381 cases confirmed, with 2,011 deaths. The death toll has risen almost three-fold since the initial confirmed cases, compared with the Ebola outbreak of 2014-16 in West Africa.
Health authorities say that although the current outbreak began on 15 May, it was actually a months-older occurrence in February.
Experts say that the epidemic is moving much faster than the efforts made to manage and track it.
In the eastern Congo province of Ituri, family and friends gathered on Tuesday in tears to attend the funeral of Jeannine Catusabe (38), one of the newest victims.
Christophe Logo is a representative of the family. He said that Katusabe sought treatment from her home first and then went to a local Ebola center only after she became worse. He said that “unfortunately, she didn’t recover”.
Early detection of cases can seem ‘impossible.’
The outbreak is the second largest in the history of the world, after the outbreak that occurred between 2014 and 2016, which had over 28 000 cases with over 11000 deaths. This outbreak is spreading across five provinces in eastern Africa near South Sudan and Uganda.
In the ongoing outbreak, the case-fatality rate is 45.9%. This rate is higher than the 39.6% recorded during the outbreak of 2014-2016.
The current Ebola outbreak differs from previous outbreaks. There are no vaccines or treatments for the rare Bundibugyo viruses that causes it. In Ituri, clinical trials have already begun for these.
The government’s data indicates that, although the Ebola strain responsible for the outbreaks of 2014 and 2016, is the most deadly type, the Bundibugyo virus has caused a greater number of deaths because care and assistance aren’t reaching patients fast enough. People are often reporting their symptoms too late, or never at all.
In the absence of a vaccine that is effective, the control of the outbreak rests with identifying the cases, and nursing them until they are recovered or tragically perish, said Paul Hunter. He’s a professor of medicine at University of East Anglia, in the U.K.
Hunter explained that in a region with an on-going conflict and disrupted communications, it can be difficult to conduct routine surveillance and identify cases quickly enough to stop the spread of disease.
To limit the spread of disease, authorities in the eastern Congo restricted the public and closed the Ituri airport. Mass movements have been caused by trade, mining or displacements due to conflict.
Response has always been behind schedule
World Health Organization said on Monday that some early cases were misattributed to typhoid and malaria, while early tests for Ebola’s more common form delayed the realisation of the situation.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi said at a press conference that officials are “chasing” the virus.
The latest death toll in Ituri is alarming, said Jean-Marie Akandabo who helps manage patients in a clinic.
Akandabo believes the biggest challenges are inadequate care and inadequate community involvement. Several people described a widespread spread of misinformation regarding the virus, in communities who are sometimes hostile and have long been suspicious of outsiders following years of rebel attacks.
Akandabo warned: “It is important that we do not underestimate this illness, as it kills and there are no safe people.”
This is the largest outbreak that Central Africa has ever experienced. In 1976, the first Ebola outbreak was identified near what is now Congo’s Ebola River.

A new study shows that childhood traumas can have a lasting impact on the human brain. This is why procrastination rates are higher in younger adults. Researchers scanned the brains over 1,000 participants to map how changes in the neural network caused by trauma could lead to anxiety, lower self-control and chronic delays. This research was published by the journal NeuroImage.
Many dismiss procrastination as laziness, or a lack of time management. Psychologists view procrastination chronically as an inability to control oneself. People may put off a difficult or stressful task to temporarily relieve negative emotions. The short-term emotional repair theory is a concept that explains this. While delaying a challenging project may provide immediate comfort, this interferes with your long-term goal.
Abuse or neglect during childhood may disrupt brain systems that control emotion and cognition. Early adversity may make people more sensitive to negative feelings, increasing their stress level. This can reduce the ability of individuals to resist immediate urges and focus on future rewards.
Southwest University researchers in China were interested to find out if neurobiological changes caused by childhood trauma could explain why people tend to delay things. Tingyong Feng, Luo Xu, and other researchers led the study. The researchers hypothesized early trauma would alter brain networks at a large scale. The structural and functional brain changes could then increase a person’s anxiety level and reduce their self-control.
The research team tested this framework by recruiting undergraduate students who had no prior history of mental disorders. They divided them into two groups: a discovery group with 760 participants, and a validation of 429. Each individual filled out a set of standard questionnaires. The surveys evaluated their past history of abuse and neglect (physical and emotional), procrastination, trait anxiety and self-control baseline. Trait anxiety is a general level of anxiety and stress that a person experiences every day, as opposed to temporary stress or worry tied to an event.
Participants then went through functional magnetic resonance scanning. The brain scan technique uses blood flow measurements to monitor brain activity when a person rests. Researchers can create functional networks by observing the areas of brain that activate at the same time. The team looked for patterns in the connectivity between the 268 brain regions and compared them to the scores from the behavioral surveys.
Researchers found, in the first analysis of the data from the behavior survey, that higher scores of the childhood trauma scale predicted higher levels procrastination. They found that when they added the other variables from their survey into statistical models, trait anxiety and self control acted as mediators. Data showed that childhood trauma is associated with higher levels of trait anxiety and decreased self-control. The two cognitive and emotional states predicted procrastination.
The researchers then used a statistical method to analyse the brain scans of the participants from the Discovery group. The researchers searched for patterns in neural connectivity to predict the severity of childhood trauma. The models identified brain connections which correlated well with initial survey results. They tested their computer model on brain scans from students who were part of the validation group to ensure its reliability. This model correctly predicted the trauma scores of this group, based on only their neural connectivity at rest.
Model identified neural connections mainly in several brain networks. The model identified the neural connections primarily in the frontoparietal brain network which controls goal-directed behaviour, as well as the salience networks which help the brain to detect and respond to emotional stimuli. Researchers observed weaker connections in prefrontal cortex and other areas that are associated with top-down control of cognitive processes. They also observed stronger connections between the visual processing area and the cerebellum. The cerebellum is highly active in processing emotions and learning to respond to fear.
Researchers noted that the brain patterns are consistent with an established framework known as the triple-network procrastination model. This model explains chronic delays as a result of an imbalance in brain networks for self-control and emotion regulation. Weaker connectivity of the prefrontal cortex suggests that it is harder to focus on long-term objectives. Stronger connections between visual and salience networks suggest an overactive threat detection system. In these circumstances, visual stimuli are more easily interpreted as stressful or threatening, which increases anxiety.
Researchers then combined the neuropsychological data with behavioral data. The researchers found that brain patterns linked to childhood trauma were predictive of higher scores for procrastination. This relationship, just like the survey results, was also influenced by participants’ trait anxiety and their self-control. Alterations in brain connectivity were associated with higher levels of anxiety and self-control. This led to higher levels of procrastination.
This study was based on a cross sectional design. All data were collected at one point in time. Researchers cannot prove that trauma in childhood directly leads to brain changes and procrastination. Researchers noted that longitudinal studies which follow the same people over a long period of time are needed to confirm these effects.
The size of the observed association between brain networks and behavior traits was also modest. Brain imaging research is prone to modest effects, in part due to limitations of the current scan technology and variations in the wiring of the human brain. Self-reported questions used to assess childhood trauma may also lead to measurement or memory errors.
Researchers recommended future research should test a wider range of populations as current studies only tested healthy college students. We could refine our understanding by including physiological markers as well as specific behavioral tests.

On Fox News, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya of the National Institutes of Health called vaccination of children against measles an “admirable thing” while defending Donald Trump’s new federal vaccine guidelines for childhood.
The president issued an executive order on Monday that reduced the number of vaccines universally recommended from 18 down to 11. Other diseases are now left to the discretion of parents and physicians to decide if they want to be vaccinated. The order also urges the replacement of the MMR vaccine by three shots, and calls on states to reconsider their school vaccination laws.
Trump also attracted scrutiny on Monday during the signing ceremony, after making the claim that the combined MMR vaccination “could be quite lethal.” Minutes later, he admitted he did not have any evidence to back up the statement. Experts have said that the MMR combined vaccine is effective and safe. They also warn that separate shots can leave the children more vulnerable.
Martha MacCallum of Fox News, who was filling in on America’s Newsroom for Dana Perino from the network, asked Bhattacharya – also acting CDC director – “What do you tell parents that say: ‘Well now, I’m gonna provide all these vaccinations to my children, but others are going to opt out and my kids will get sick at the school’? What would you say?
Bhattacharya suggested that people look into the measles vaccination. The measles vaccination is very effective if you want to keep your child from getting [sic] the measles. I find this to be an admirable act. You should vaccinate against measles if you’re worried that your child will get it at school.
Bhattacharya said earlier in the broadcast that Trump’s executive orders will “increase trust” between the parents and government. He added, “The important thing is to change the way we speak about it. We are no longer overlords, but rather partners.”
The CDC confirmed that as of August 7, 2026 there will be 2,465 cases of measles and 38 outbreaks in the United States, surpassing 2025’s 2,289 infection total, the most in over three decades.
View the entire clip via Fox News.

Of course, plant proteins are a good source of protein. They’re packed full of nutrients like antioxidants and healthy fats that support brain health.
Natalie Rizzo is a registered dietitian, nutrition editor for TODAY, and explains that many of the foods best for brain health come from plants. This includes foods that are high in nutrients, such as berries, vegetables and leafy greens. It also includes nuts, seeds, oils, and other nutrient dense foods. Some of these brain-healthy plants also contain a necessary macronutrient, protein.
Rizzo explains that when choosing plant-based protein, it’s more likely you will be eating foods which are anti-inflammatory. “And there is a great deal of research on the inflammation of the brain as the primary cause of cognitive decline.”
Rizzo shares his favorite plant protein sources that promote brain health.
What is the best plant-based protein for brain health?
Walnuts
Rizzo says that “a lot of research” has shown how beneficial they are for the brain.
She noted that there is a lot of research to support the health benefits of walnuts, particularly for those at high risk for cognitive impairment.
Dietitians previously told TODAY.com that walnuts may reduce Alzheimer’s risk and maintain cognitive and memory in those at high risk of age-related issues.
They are also beneficial for the heart, especially blood pressure. This is partly due to the anti-inflammatory omega-3 plant compounds, which TODAY.com previously explained.
Rizzo points out that walnuts, while not being the most protein-rich nuts, are still a powerful snack. One ounce of walnuts contains about 2 grams of fibre and 4 grams of proteins. This makes them a satisfying plant-based snack.
Add walnuts to any salad or pasta. Also, they are great with wild rice and other antioxidant rich foods.
Brain Health: Other Plant Proteins
Black Beans
Beans contain both fiber and plant-based proteins. Rizzo says that some beans have antioxidant benefits, such as black beans or kidney beans.
Anthocyanins are the plant compounds that give black beans their distinctive color. They are antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that promote brain health.
Half-cup of kidney or black beans (which have pigment compounds similar to those in the beans) will give you 7 grams of proteins and 8 grams fiber.
Chia Seeds
Rizzo says that chia seed is rich in omega-3 plant fatty acids which are good for brain and heart.
Just one ounce contains 5 grams of protein from plants and 11 grams of fibre.