ST. HELIER, Jersey--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Novocure’s (NASDAQ: NVCR) phase 3 pivotal clinical trial results of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) in combination with temozolomide in newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM) have been selected for inclusion in the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Clinical Cancer Advances 2016: Annual Report on Progress Against Cancer. The report, which was published first online on Feb. 4 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, reviews the recent top advances and emerging trends in clinical cancer research that are leading to improved cancer treatments for patients.
“Such advancements are critical to improving treatment and extending the lives of cancer patients. We are proud to receive this designation and believe it will help raise awareness of the benefits of TTFields therapy within the broader oncology community.”
“Clinical Cancer Advances 2016 represents and acknowledges the collective wisdom that has made progress against cancer possible,” ASCO President Julie M. Vose wrote in the report. “I hope these achievements will inspire all of us to do our part to further accelerate the pace of research and discovery to help millions of people who are living with cancer and the millions more who will face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime.”
Novocure’s phase 3 pivotal trial compared TTFields therapy in combination with temozolomide to temozolomide alone in 695 patients with newly diagnosed GBM. The trial met its endpoints at the interim analysis. The trial’s results demonstrated superior progression-free and overall survivals in patients receiving TTFields therapy in combination with temozolomide compared to temozolomide alone (median progression-free survival of 7.2 months compared to 4.0 months, hazard ratio=0.62, p=0.001; median overall survival of 20.5 months compared to 15.6 months, hazard ratio=0.66, p=0.004).
In October 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Optune – a portable, non-invasive device that delivers TTFields – in combination with temozolomide for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. TTFields are the first FDA-approved therapy in more than a decade to demonstrate statistically significant extension of overall survival in newly diagnosed GBM, with a two-year survival of 48 percent versus 32 percent compared to temozolomide alone.
“We are honored that our research has been selected as a top advancement in cancer care by ASCO, a leading organization in oncology research and education,” said Novocure CEO Asaf Danziger. “Such advancements are critical to improving treatment and extending the lives of cancer patients. We are proud to receive this designation and believe it will help raise awareness of the benefits of TTFields therapy within the broader oncology community.”
About Novocure
Novocure is a Jersey Isle oncology company pioneering a novel therapy for solid tumors called TTFields. Novocure’s U.S. operations are based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and New York City. Additionally, the company has offices in Germany, Switzerland, and Japan and a research center in Haifa, Israel. For additional information about the company, please visit www.novocure.com or follow us at www.twitter.com/novocure.
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