As part of a first-line treatment for patients with inoperable pancreatic adenocarcinoma—one of the most lethal forms of cancer—Novocure’s wearable therapy has demonstrated its ability to improve overall survival in a phase 3 trial, PANOVA-3.
The therapy uses tumor-treating electric fields delivered at high frequency through pads worn on the skin. These fields interfere with the charged structures inside cancer cells during reproduction, helping the immune system respond to the tumor.
The trial compared patients treated with a chemotherapy combination alone to those who received the company’s Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) alongside gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. The results showed a median overall survival of 16.20 months for the TTFields group, a statistically significant improvement over 14.16 months in the control group.
The survival benefit of TTFields increased over time. After one year, there was a 13% improvement in overall survival, which rose to 33% after two years.
While the full trial findings will be presented at an upcoming medical congress, Novocure has reported that the therapy device was well-tolerated, consistent with previous clinical studies.
Nicolas Leupin, Chief Medical Officer at Novocure, stated:
“PANOVA-3 is the first and only Phase 3 trial to demonstrate a statistically significant benefit in overall survival specifically in unresectable, locally advanced pancreatic cancer. It is also Novocure’s third positive phase 3 clinical trial in the last two years.”
In addition, Novocure is conducting a phase 2 study, PANOVA-4, to evaluate TTFields in metastatic pancreatic cancer. This trial will test TTFields in combination with gemcitabine, atezolizumab, and nab-paclitaxel. Although enrollment is complete, results are expected next year.
However, in mid-2023, Novocure’s TTFields-powered Optune therapies, when combined with paclitaxel for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, failed to meet the primary endpoint in a phase 3 trial.
Since the release of the positive PANOVA-3 results, Novocure’s stock price has surged more than 50%, reaching approximately $30 per share. The company plans to use this data to support regulatory approval submissions in international markets, including Japan, the EU, and the U.S.
This news follows another milestone for Novocure in October, when the FDA approved its TTFields therapy for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. The agency has also previously approved TTFields-powered Optune therapies for mesothelioma and glioblastoma.
Novocure’s Wearable Therapy Shows Promise in Treating Pancreatic Cancer, Phase 3 Results Reveal
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