Pancreatic Cancer Treatment: New Triple Drug Stops Growth
- A triple-drug therapy for pancreatic cancer has shown promise in early animal tests, pointing to a potential new treatment for a disease with a notoriously low survival rate.
- Considered one of the deadliest common cancers,pancreatic cancer has a five-year relative survival rate around 13% - meaning roughly 87% of people with the cancer are expected to...
- 2 in PNAS, researchers tested a new combination therapy that blocks three cancer-growth pathways together and shows promising results in mice.
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A triple-drug therapy for pancreatic cancer has shown promise in early animal tests, pointing to a potential new treatment for a disease with a notoriously low survival rate.
Considered one of the deadliest common cancers,pancreatic cancer has a five-year relative survival rate around 13% – meaning roughly 87% of people with the cancer are expected to die within five years of diagnosis. That survival rate can plummet as low as 1% for people diagnosed in very late stages of the disease.
“These studies open a path to designing new combination therapies that can improve survival for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma [the most common pancreatic cancer],” the study authors said in a statement.”These results point the way for developing new clinical trials.”
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The SAFE Banking Act: latest Status (as of January 31, 2026)
Table of Contents
The Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, designed to protect financial institutions providing services to legitimate cannabis-related businesses, remains stalled in Congress as of January 31, 2026, despite numerous attempts at passage.
Background and Purpose
The SAFE Banking Act aims to resolve the conflict between state laws legalizing cannabis and federal prohibition, which creates notable risks for banks and credit unions serving the cannabis industry. Currently, most financial institutions avoid these businesses due to fear of federal penalties, forcing cannabis companies to operate largely in cash, increasing security risks and hindering economic growth. The Act would protect these institutions by providing a “safe harbor” from federal prosecution for banking services provided to cannabis businesses operating legally under state law.
The initial version of the bill,H.R.1595, was first introduced in the House of Representatives in April 2017.Subsequent versions have been introduced in subsequent congressional sessions.
Legislative History and Recent Developments
Despite repeated bipartisan support, the SAFE Banking Act has faced obstacles in the Senate, primarily due to concerns from some senators seeking broader cannabis reform, including descheduling or federal legalization.Multiple attempts to attach the SAFE Banking Act to larger legislative packages, such as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), have failed.
In December 2023, the Senate Banking Commitee held a hearing on the SAFE Banking Act, signaling continued interest in the issue. Though, no vote was scheduled. Throughout 2024 and early 2026, further attempts to move the bill forward have been unsuccessful.As of January 28, 2026, senator Chuck Schumer reiterated his commitment to bringing a thorough cannabis reform bill to the floor, possibly including elements of the SAFE Banking Act, but no timeline has been established.
Key Provisions of the SAFE Banking Act
- Safe Harbor for banks: financial institutions would be protected from federal penalties for providing services to cannabis businesses operating legally under state law.
- Hemp Banking: The Act clarifies that hemp businesses are not subject to the same restrictions as cannabis businesses, facilitating banking services for the hemp industry.
- Federal Reserve Guidance: The Federal Reserve would be directed to provide guidance to banks on serving cannabis businesses.
- Restrictions on Federal Insurers: Federal insurers would not be allowed to discriminate against cannabis businesses.
- United States Congress: The legislative body responsible for passing the SAFE Banking Act. congress.gov
- Senate Banking Committee: The Senate committee with jurisdiction over banking and financial matters. banking.senate.gov
- Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN): A bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury responsible for safeguarding the financial system. fincen.gov
- Federal Reserve: The central bank of the United States. federalreserve.gov
- National Credit Union Management (NCUA): The self-reliant agency that charters and supervises federal credit unions. ncua.gov
Impact and Future Outlook
The continued delay in passing the SAFE banking Act has significant consequences for the cannabis industry and the financial sector. Cannabis businesses continue to face challenges accessing banking services, hindering their growth and creating public safety concerns. The lack of clarity also discourages investment in the industry. While comprehensive cannabis reform remains a long-term goal for many, the SAFE Banking Act is viewed
Worth a look