The Christ Hospital Enrolled the Second Patient in Clinical Trial
CINCINNATI (September 28, 2026) – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Daraxonrasib, a pancreatic cancer drug that has been proven extend life expectancy for patients. The Christ Hospital Health Network enrolled the second ever patient in the groundbreaking clinical trial.
Daraxonrasib is an oral drug taken once a day and is the first approved targeted therapy for pancreatic cancer patients. The drug looks to inhibit RAS proteins at the molecular level. This type of pancreatic cancer impacts more than 90% of diagnosed patients. Those who took the medication averaged seven additional months of living compared to those patients getting chemotherapy treatment alone.
“The results from this extensive clinical trial is a gamechanger for pancreatic cancer patients who have limited treatment options for this diagnosis,” said Irfan Firdaus, MD, Interim Director of Oncology Research at The Christ Hospital Health Network. “We are proud to be part of the research that led to the first FDA-approved RAS inhibitor for metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. This finally moves the needle for bettering targeted therapies for pancreatic cancer patients nationwide.”
While the FDA approved this new therapy, the study continues at The Christ Hospital Health Network and other sites across the country. Overall, The Christ Hospital has enrolled more than 40 patients in the study including patients from Canada, Texas, Washington and others.
“Having breakthrough clinical trials like this at The Christ Hospital shows patients do not have to travel far to get access to the latest advancements in cancer care,” said Abby Reed, Manager of Oncology Research at The Christ Hospital Health Network. “While many patients have traveled to be part of this, enrolling local Tri-State cancer patients into this study shows The Christ Hospital Health Network is doing everything it takes to care for our community in hopes of finding new ways to address this deadly cancer.”
For more information on the study, click here.
About The Christ Hospital Health Network
The Christ Hospital Health Network consists of an acute care hospital located in Mt. Auburn, a remote hospital location in Liberty Township, five ambulatory outpatient centers and dozens of medical offices throughout the region. For 137 years, The Christ Hospital has provided compassionate care to those it serves. Made up of more than 1,300 physicians and more than 7,600 team members, our mission is to improve the health of our community by providing exceptional outcomes in an affordable way. The Network was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the #3 hospital in Ohio and named to Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals list in 2026.
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