Novocure has announced plans to present additional results from its Phase 3 PANOVA-3 clinical trial at the upcoming 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago. The trial, which evaluated the company's innovative Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy for pancreatic cancer, has already shown positive topline results that met its primary endpoint.
The PANOVA-3 study specifically examined the use of TTFields therapy in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel as a first-line treatment for patients with unresectable, locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma. According to preliminary data, the trial demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in median overall survival in patients receiving the combination therapy compared to those treated with the chemotherapy regimen alone.
Presentation Details
Dr. Vincent Picozzi will present the trial results as a late-breaking abstract (Abstract 4005) on May 31, 2025, between 3:00 and 6:00 PM CDT. The presentation is titled "PANOVA-3: Phase 3 study of tumor treating fields (TTFields) with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel for locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (LA-PAC)."
Following the presentation, Novocure plans to host an investor event featuring the principal investigator of the PANOVA-3 trial along with company leadership. Details for this event will be available on Novocure's investor relations page.
Understanding Tumor Treating Fields Therapy
TTFields represent an innovative approach to cancer treatment, utilizing electric fields that exert physical forces to kill cancer cells through multiple mechanisms. This technology selectively targets cancer cells while largely sparing healthy cells due to differences in cellular properties such as division rate, morphology, and electrical characteristics.
The multimechanistic nature of TTFields allows the therapy to be combined with other treatment modalities, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies. Preclinical models have demonstrated enhanced effects across various solid tumor types when TTFields are used in combination with these established treatments.
Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Landscape
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most challenging malignancies to treat, with poor survival rates and limited treatment options. Unresectable, locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma presents particular challenges, as surgical removal of the tumor is not possible, and current treatment options provide limited survival benefit.
The standard first-line treatment for locally advanced pancreatic cancer typically includes gemcitabine-based chemotherapy regimens, such as the combination of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel used in the control arm of the PANOVA-3 trial. The addition of TTFields therapy to this established regimen represents a potential advancement in the treatment paradigm for this difficult-to-treat cancer.
Company Background
Novocure is a global oncology company focused on extending survival in aggressive forms of cancer through the development and commercialization of its TTFields therapy. The company's commercialized products are currently approved in certain countries for treating adult patients with glioblastoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Beyond pancreatic cancer, Novocure continues to explore the potential of TTFields therapy in various other indications through ongoing clinical trials. The company maintains its global headquarters in Baar, Switzerland, with U.S. headquarters in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and research and development facilities in Haifa, Israel.
Implications for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment
If the full results from the PANOVA-3 trial confirm the positive topline findings, TTFields therapy could potentially offer a new treatment option for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. This would be particularly significant given the limited progress in improving outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients over the past several decades.
The medical community will be closely watching the detailed presentation at ASCO 2025 to better understand the magnitude of benefit, safety profile, and potential impact on quality of life for patients treated with this novel approach. The results could potentially influence treatment guidelines and clinical practice for pancreatic cancer management in the future.
Healthcare professionals and industry observers interested in learning more about the PANOVA-3 trial results can attend the presentation at ASCO or follow updates from Novocure's investor event following the presentation.
