Regione Lombardia to fund US cancer drug for Jessica Scarpa

Lombardia Authorizes U.S. Cancer Drug Purchase for Jessica Scarpa

Regione Lombardia has authorized the local health authority in Lecco to directly purchase a U.S.-approved cancer treatment costing $39,800 a month for 36-year-old Jessica Scarpa, as milano.corriere.it reported. Announced on November 5, 2026, by Welfare Councillor Guido Bertolaso on the sidelines of an event at Palazzo Lombardia, the decision aims to secure the experimental targeted therapy darakhonrasib for the Olginate mother, who is battling metastatic pancreatic cancer alongside caring for her three-and-a-half-year-old twin boys, Thiago and Leone. Rather than requiring the patient to travel abroad, regional welfare authorities arranged for the medication to be administered directly at the Lecco hospital where she is already receiving care, with all associated costs covered by the regional healthcare system.

Regional Protocol Aims to Expand Access Beyond Individual Cases

Welfare Councillor Guido Bertolaso stated that the regional administration intends to use this exceptional case to establish a broader clinical protocol. This framework would allow other patients facing identical diagnoses and matching specific medical criteria to access the non-approved domestic therapy without relying on individual emergency fundraising efforts. While standard distribution channels in Italy do not yet stock the medication, regional health officials are working alongside local oncology specialists to verify patient eligibility based on guidelines established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Simple, right?

Crowdfunding Surpasses €450,000 Following Public Appeal

Scarpa launched a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe on October 9, 2026, after exhausting standard duodenopancreatectomy surgery lasting over 10 hours and twelve rounds of rigorous chemotherapy, as noted by ANSA. The patient expressed profound gratitude for the outpouring of solidarity, noting that the community support provides both financial relief for ongoing care and renewed hope during the disease’s progression. Scarpa stated that the words of Bertolaso fill her with joy, even in a moment of great difficulty, adding that she would like this possibility to be guaranteed also to other people who are facing the same illness. But they must hurry. Commenting on the financial reality of her ongoing care, she further explained: I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for every donation, for every message, for every share. Feeling all this affection is giving me immense strength. Thanks to you I will be able to cover the first period of treatment and this is already a huge gift for me. But let me explain why I still need you so much. Unfortunately, just one month is not enough. This is not a treatment that is done just once, it is a therapy that must be taken continuously, month after month, to give the drug time to work and stop the disease, and urged supporters: If you can, continue to help me keep this hope alive.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Daraxonrasib Treatment Protocol

What is daraxonrasib and why is it unavailable in Italy?

Daraxonrasib, marketed in the United States as Rasonque by Revolution Medicines, is an experimental targeted daily oral treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer. It has received initial regulatory evaluation through pathways like the European Medicines Agency’s Cancer Medicines Pathfinder project, but it is not yet commercially stocked or reimbursed by Italy’s national health service.

How will other patients qualify for the regional access protocol?

Regional welfare officials specified that any future administration of the drug to other patients will require direct evaluation by an attending oncologist. Treatment must align with clinical criteria matching FDA authorizations, followed by an extraordinary authorization request submitted through the patient’s treating medical facility.

Where will Jessica Scarpa receive the therapy?

The treatment will be administered locally at the Asst di Lecco hospital facility where Scarpa is already under clinical care, removing the need for international travel while Regione Lombardia directly manages the overseas procurement costs.