Tango Therapeutics Stock Surges After Drug Combination Shows Tumor-Shrinking Results in Pancreatic Cancer Study
Tango Therapeutics reported early-stage clinical trial results showing its drug vopimetostat combined with Revolution Medicines' daraxonrasib produced durable tumor shrinkage in a large majority of advanced pancreatic cancer patients. Daraxonrasib, which targets KRAS gene mutations present in over 90% of pancreatic tumors, had already received FDA early access approval in May after separately doubling median survival in previously treated metastatic patients. The combination results signal a potential new treatment paradigm for one of the deadliest and most treatment-resistant cancers, with Tango planning to advance the approach to a Phase 3 trial.
Tango Therapeutics announced early-stage clinical trial data showing that its experimental drug vopimetostat, used in combination with Revolution Medicines' daraxonrasib, led to durable responses in the majority of advanced pancreatic cancer patients enrolled in the study, sending Tango's stock up as much as 48%. Daraxonrasib, an oral daily pill targeting KRAS gene mutations found in more than 90% of pancreatic tumors, had already garnered significant attention after Revolution Medicines reported in April that it doubled median survival in previously treated metastatic stage 4 patients — from roughly 6.5 months to 13 months — while also improving progression-free survival and carrying a more tolerable side-effect profile than standard chemotherapy. The new combination data suggest the two drugs may work synergistically, and Tango has indicated it plans to advance the regimen into a Phase 3 trial. Pancreatic cancer remains the third-deadliest cancer in the United States, with only 13% of patients reaching the five-year survival mark and roughly 80% diagnosed at stages too advanced for surgery. Researchers and oncologists describe the KRAS-targeting drug class as the most significant advance in pancreatic cancer treatment in roughly 30 years, with multiple institutions including Emory University's Winship Cancer Institute and Piedmont Atlanta Hospital now running related trials. The Economist has framed the broader scientific significance as potentially revealing a 'master switch' in cancer biology, suggesting implications that could extend well beyond pancreatic cancer. Patient accounts, including that of a retired Atlanta attorney who achieved 13 months of progression-free survival on daraxonrasib, illustrate both the promise and the current limits of these therapies.
What's missing
The specific response rate percentage from the early-stage Tango-Revolution combination trial was not disclosed across the sources available (STAT's full data is behind a paywall). Additionally, the patient selection criteria, trial size, and follow-up duration for the combination study are not detailed, making it difficult to fully assess the durability and generalizability of the reported responses. It is also unclear what proportion of patients in the combination trial had previously received daraxonrasib as monotherapy.
How coverage differed
The Economist framed the story around a broader scientific breakthrough — describing the drug as potentially revealing 'cancer's master switch' and the first of an entirely new treatment class — while Bloomberg, STAT News, and Yahoo Finance focused primarily on the market and clinical trial angle, emphasizing Tango's stock surge and the Phase 3 trial plans. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution took a human-interest approach, centering patient stories and local hospital involvement.
What different sources said
- BloombergCenter
Tango Soars as Study Shows Its Drug Can Help Shrink Tumors
Georgia hospitals test ‘game-changer’ pancreatic cancer drugs
- STAT NewsCenter
STAT+: Combination of pancreatic cancer drugs from Tango, Revolution leads to high response rate
- Yahoo FinanceCenter
Tango Therapeutics (TNGX) Stock Soars on Pancreatic Cancer Trial Results
- The EconomistCenter
Treating pancreatic tumours may have revealed cancer’s master switch
Related
Chicago Woman's Five-Year Symptom Journey Leads to Rare Brain Tumor Diagnosis
Melony Aponte, 26, was diagnosed with a 4.5-centimeter acoustic neuroma after five years of symptoms she attributed to stress, COVID-19, and aging. The rare, noncancerous tumor—affecting roughly one in 100,000 people—had grown large enough to compress her hearing and balance nerve before it was identified via MRI in March 2025. Her case highlights how acoustic neuroma symptoms can mimic common conditions, potentially delaying diagnosis for years.
Study Finds Aging Shifts Walking Strategy Toward Stability at the Cost of Efficiency
A new study from Flinders University and the University of Canberra found that as people age, their bodies adopt a 'safety-first' walking pattern that prioritizes balance over efficient movement. Researchers analyzed gait data from 107 healthy adults aged 26 to 86, identifying increased ankle muscle co-contraction and reduced push-off power as key age-related changes. The findings suggest that fall prevention programs should target balance and coordination, not just muscle strength.
Tick Populations Surge in Urban Areas Across Northeast
Experts across the northeastern United States and Canada are warning of an unusually early and widespread tick season, with disease-carrying ticks increasingly found in urban parks and green spaces. Lyme disease cases in Canada reached a record 7,105 in 2025, up from 5,809 the previous year, while U.S. cities including Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington D.C., and New York are reporting rising tick activity. The expansion poses a public health challenge because urban residents are less likely to take tick-bite precautions than those in rural areas.