Novocure Showcases TTFields Therapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer at 2024 World Lung Cancer Conference

Novocure, a leading oncology company, recently announced its participation in the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) scheduled from September 7 – 10, 2024, in San Diego, California. At this significant event, Novocure will present new research findings and exhibit several posters related to the application of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy in lung cancer treatment, including a novel post-hoc analysis from the LUNAR trial involving metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Dr. Nicolas Leupin, Novocure’s Chief Medical Officer, expressed enthusiasm about sharing these new analyses with the lung cancer community. He emphasized the promising potential of TTFields therapy in treating NSCLC, particularly with various regulatory evaluations currently in progress.

The new post-hoc analysis scrutinized survival data from the phase 3 LUNAR clinical trial alongside a simulation study to comprehend the influence of body mass index (BMI) on overall survival (OS). This research aimed to determine the feasibility of delivering TTFields at a therapeutic intensity across different BMI ranges. The analysis revealed no significant difference in OS benefits between patients with a BMI below 25 kg/m2 and those with a BMI above 25 kg/m2. Moreover, the simulation study indicated that TTFields could be effectively administered to the lungs at a therapeutic dose, offering clinical benefits irrespective of BMI variations.

The LUNAR trial was specifically designed to evaluate the efficacy of TTFields therapy in conjunction with standard systemic treatments for metastatic NSCLC post-progression after platinum-based treatments. The trial achieved its primary goal, demonstrating a significant and clinically meaningful extension in OS for patients treated with both TTFields and standard systemic therapies. Notably, a remarkable improvement in OS was observed in patients who received a combination of TTFields and an immune checkpoint inhibitor of their physician’s choice. These results have been submitted to regulatory agencies, and Novocure anticipates beginning patient treatments by the end of 2024.

During the 2024 WCLC, Novocure's presence will feature several key activities, including:

- A Sunset Seminar titled "Women in Thoracic Oncology," hosted by Women Leaders in Oncology (WLO) and sponsored by Novocure on September 8, 2024.
- A poster session on the impact of BMI on TTFields in patients with mNSCLC, to be displayed on September 8, 2024.
- An E-Poster presentation on the treatment of NSCLC cells with TTFields and DNA-Dependent Protein Kinase (PK) Inhibitors.
- Another E-Poster discussing how TTFields induce a pro-inflammatory phenotype skewing of macrophages.

TTFields therapy utilizes electric fields to disrupt cancer cell division and proliferation through multiple mechanisms. These fields are specifically designed to target cancer cells without significantly affecting healthy cells, capitalizing on the distinct properties of cancer cells. This multimechanistic approach enhances the efficacy of other cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and targeted therapies, offering a versatile and promising solution across various solid tumor types.

The LUNAR trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of TTFields therapy in combination with either an immune checkpoint inhibitor or docetaxel in patients with metastatic NSCLC who had progressed following platinum-based therapy. The findings revealed that patients treated with TTFields therapy along with standard therapies had a median OS of 13.2 months compared to 9.9 months for those receiving standard therapies alone. Additionally, the combination of TTFields and physician’s choice immune checkpoint inhibitors demonstrated a median OS of 18.5 months versus 10.8 months for immune checkpoint inhibitors alone. TTFields therapy was well-tolerated, with minimal added systemic toxicities and few severe device-related adverse events.

Novocure, headquartered in Root, Switzerland, is dedicated to extending survival in aggressive cancer types through the development and commercialization of innovative TTFields therapy. The company’s products are approved in several countries for treating glioblastoma and malignant pleural mesothelioma and are being investigated in clinical studies for other cancers, including brain metastases, gastric cancer, liver cancer, NSCLC, pancreatic cancer, and ovarian cancer. Novocure has regional operating centers in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Tokyo, and a research center in Haifa, Israel.