A Florida man battling an aggressive form of pancreatic cancer says a new drug is giving him more time with his family — but getting access to it took 63 days, a social media campaign, and a phone call from the FDA.

Russ Reed, 63, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and celebrated being cancer-free in August 2025. Just four months later, his cancer returned and had spread to his liver and intestine.

“My mutation is so aggressive — it’s the most aggressive of pancreatic cancer,” Reed said.

Chemotherapy didn’t work. Then came word of a new drug called Rasonque, which was showing promise but had not yet been approved by the FDA.

A wife’s determination

For Reed’s wife, Marnie, the fight to access the drug was personal. Her father died of pancreatic cancer at 63 — the same age her husband was when he was diagnosed.

“I was determined this was not going to repeat itself,” she said.

Marnie took to social media, posting about her husband’s battle and his lack of access to Rasonque.

“It went everywhere — the FDA called the house,” she said.

In the end, Reed received the drug through the FDA’s Expanded Access Program — a pathway that allows patients to access unapproved treatments outside of clinical trials. The process took 63 days.

“It was beyond frustrating,” Marnie said of the wait.

‘Hope in a bottle’

Reed takes two 150-milligram Rasonque pills every morning. Within 12 days of starting the drug, he says his pain was gone.

“Not even a Tylenol,” he said.

Marnie described watching her husband’s energy return as “amazing.”

Reed does experience side effects — a rash on his face, torso, arms and legs — but says the tradeoff is worth it.

“I wouldn’t be sitting here today, or if I was, I’d be writhing in pain,” Reed said. “It’s a game changer. It’s the best thing that’s happened in pancreatic cancer in 40 years.”

What the drug can — and can’t — do

Reed’s oncologist, Dr. Jesus Fabregas of Memorial Cancer Institute, says Rasonque doubles the survival rate in patients with pancreatic cancer — but stops short of calling it a cure.

“This is not a cure, unfortunately, but it is a step in the right direction,” Dr. Fabregas said. “I would like to give this medicine to every single patient with pancreatic cancer.”

Rasonque is now FDA-approved, but is currently only available to patients with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer that has spread.

Reed says the drug has improved not just how long he may live, but how he lives.

“Not only is it going to give a little more quantity, but quality,” he said.

As for what comes next, Reed says he and Marnie have had difficult conversations about the future — but he’s not losing his sense of humor.

“I’ll take every day that I can get,” Reed said. “I tell people jokingly that the Dolphins need to win the Super Bowl before that day comes — and that could be a while.”

Marnie made her husband a promise: 50 years together. She’s not giving up on it.