The therapy works by administering electric fields that can kill cancer cells by physical forces. It leaves healthy cells alone. Image credit: Shutterstock/Zita.

NovoCure’s tumour treating fields (TTFields) failed to recreate its efficacy in previous cancer studies, after the company announced that the therapy did not meet its primary endpoint of overall survival in an ovarian cancer study.

The Phase III trial (NCT03940196) investigated TTFields together with paclitaxel – a standard chemotherapy drug – in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. According to Novacure, this group makes up around 20% of all ovarian cancer patients.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Premium Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

A total of 540 patients were enrolled in the INNOVATE-3 study, with participants randomised into two groups receiving either paclitaxel and TTFields – via the NovoTTF-100L(O) device – or paclitaxel only.

When comparing the two groups, the analysis showed little difference in survival rates. The group that received both therapies had a median survival rate of 12.2 months versus 11.9 months in the paclitaxel-only group.

Novocure did highlight an exploratory sub-analysis that showed a potential survival benefit in patients who received only one prior line of therapy. The Swiss oncology company said this could warrant further investigation.

See Also:

Novacure’s NovoTTF-100L system is a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved device for the treatment of unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic, malignant pleural mesothelioma. The device administers electric fields that can kill cancer cells by physical forces. TTFields is a non-invasive therapy that leaves healthy cells alone and can be used in combination with other treatments due to its targeted approach.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

William Doyle, Novocure’s executive chairman said: “While today’s update is disappointing, we are encouraged by the signal identified from the exploratory analysis which suggests the potential for a clinical benefit when TTFields therapy is initiated early in a patient’s treatment journey.”