Novocure has reported results from a pre-specified interim analysis of the Phase III PANOVA-3 clinical trial of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy, along with nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine, for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

The open-label, randomised study is assessing the efficacy and safety of the combined therapy in patients with unresectable, locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

It enrolled a total of 556 adults who were randomised to receive the combined therapy or the combination of nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine alone.  

The combined therapy, including TTFields, is tuned to 150kHz and given to patients until progression. They will be followed for a minimum of 18 months.

Overall survival is the primary endpoint of the trial while the one-year survival rate, progression-free survival, objective response rate, and local progression-free survival rate are the secondary endpoints.

Other secondary endpoints include puncture-free survival, quality of life, resectability rate, pain-free survival, and toxicity.

An independent data monitoring committee reviewed the interim analysis results and recommended that the company proceed with the final analysis.

Novocure CEO Asaf Danziger said: “We look forward to reviewing the PANOVA-3 data in 2024 and potentially extending the lives of patients diagnosed with deadly locally advanced pancreatic cancer by treating with our novel therapy, Tumor Treating Fields.”

TTFields exerts physical force to destroy tumour cells.

The treatment can be used in combination with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibition, or PARP inhibition in preclinical models.

The TTFields therapy is also being evaluated in non-small cell lung cancer, liver cancer, brain metastases, ovarian cancer, gastric cancer, and glioblastoma.