NOVOCURE
27.3.2024 12:01:32 CET | Business Wire | Press release
Novocure (NASDAQ: NVCR) today announced the phase 3 METIS clinical trial met its primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in time to intracranial progression for adult patients treated with Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy and supportive care compared to supportive care alone in the treatment of patients with 1-10 brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Patients treated with TTFields therapy and supportive care exhibited a median time to intracranial progression of 21.9 months compared to 11.3 months in patients treated with supportive care alone for brain metastasis (n=298; hazard ratio=0.67; P=0.016). Median TTFields therapy treatment duration was 16 weeks and median usage was 67%. Consistent with previous studies, TTFields therapy was well-tolerated with sustained quality of life and neurocognitive function. Baseline characteristics were well balanced between arms.
“Patients with brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer are frequently treated with radiosurgery but face a high likelihood of rapid brain relapse,” said Minesh Mehta, MD, Chief of Radiation Oncology and Deputy Director at Miami Cancer Institute, part of Baptist Health South Florida. “In this international, multicenter, phase 3 trial, the use of TTFields therapy significantly delayed time to brain relapse, with associated improvement in quality of life and stable cognition. This is a major benefit and is potentially practice changing.”
Preliminary analyses of key secondary endpoints (time to neurocognitive failure, overall survival, and radiological response rate) did not demonstrate statistical significance. Certain secondary endpoints showed positive trends in favor of treatment with TTFields therapy, including time to distant progression and quality of life. Full analysis of secondary endpoints is ongoing.
“Novocure’s willingness to pursue areas of considerable unmet need, like the patient population studied in METIS, is a point of pride for our company,” said Asaf Danziger, Novocure’s Chief Executive Officer. “We are so pleased with the positive outcome of this trial and encouraged by TTFields’ performance. I would like to thank everyone involved with METIS, especially our courageous patients and dedicated investigators, for their contributions to the trial and for meaningfully contributing to the evolution of treatment of brain metastases from NSCLC.”
Novocure intends to submit these data to regulatory authorities. Novocure also intends to publish these findings in a peer-reviewed scientific journal and share them at an upcoming scientific congress.
Conference Call Details
Novocure will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the METIS topline results at 8:00 a.m. EST today, March 27th. To access the conference call by phone, use the following conference call registration link and dial-in details will be provided. To access the webcast, use the following webcast registration link.
The webcast and slides presented during the webcast can be accessed live from the Investor Relations page of Novocure’s website, www.novocure.com/investor-relations, and will be available for at least 14 days following the call. Novocure has used, and intends to continue to use, its investor relations website as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.
About METIS
METIS [NCT02831959] is a phase 3 trial of stereotactic radiosurgery with or without TTFields therapy for patients with 1-10 brain metastases from NSCLC. 298 adult patients were enrolled in the trial and randomized to receive either TTFields therapy with supportive care or supportive care alone following SRS. Supportive care consisted of, but was not limited to, treatment with steroids, anti-epileptic drugs, anticoagulants, pain control or nausea control medications. Patients in both arms of the study were eligible to receive systemic therapy for their NSCLC at the discretion of their treating physician. Patients with known tumor mutations for which targeted agents are available were excluded from the trial.
The primary endpoint of the METIS trial is time to first intracranial progression, as measured from the date of first SRS treatment to intracranial progression or neurological death (per RANO-BM criteria), whichever occurs first. Time to intracranial progression was calculated according to the cumulative incident function. Patient scans were evaluated by a blinded, independent radiologic review committee. Secondary endpoints include, but are not limited to, time to distant progression, time to neurocognitive failure, overall survival, time to second intracranial progression, quality of life and adverse events. Key secondary endpoints (time to neurocognitive failure, overall survival, and radiological response rate) were planned to be used in labeling claims, if successful. Patients were stratified by the number of brain metastases (1-4 or 5-10 metastases), prior systemic therapy, and tumor histology. Patients were allowed to crossover to the experimental TTFields therapy arm following confirmation of second intracranial progression.
About Brain Metastases
Brain metastases are a secondary tumor formed when cancer cells break away from the primary tumor and travel through the blood or lymph system to form new tumors (or metastases) in the brain. Brain metastasis are a negative prognostic factor in NSCLC and adversely impact neurocognitive function and quality of life. Approximately 25% of patients with NSCLC have brain metastasis at diagnosis, and lifetime risk among patients with NSCLC is approximately 50%. Neurologic symptoms are present in approximately 60-75% of patients with brain metastasis, and seizures, focal neurologic deficits, headaches, and altered mental status are common. Treatment options for patients with brain metastasis from NSCLC are limited to neurosurgery, SRS, whole brain radiation therapy, or combinations of these options. However, given the neurotoxicity and significant decline in cognitive functioning, whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) is an unfavorable treatment option. New therapeutic options are needed for greater intracranial control while minimizing the risk of neurocognitive adverse events.
About Tumor Treating Fields Therapy
Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) are electric fields that exert physical forces to kill cancer cells via a variety of mechanisms. TTFields do not significantly affect healthy cells because they have different properties (including division rate, morphology, and electrical properties) than cancer cells. The multiple, distinct mechanisms of TTFields therapy work together to selectively target and kill cancer cells. Due to its multimechanistic actions, TTFields therapy can be added to cancer treatment modalities in approved indications and demonstrates enhanced effects across solid tumor types when used with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibition, or PARP inhibition in preclinical models. TTFields therapy provides clinical versatility that has the potential to help address treatment challenges across a range of solid tumors. To learn more about Tumor Treating Fields therapy and its multifaceted effect on cancer cells, visit tumortreatingfields.com.
About Novocure
Novocure is a global oncology company working to extend survival in some of the most aggressive forms of cancer through the development and commercialization of its innovative therapy, Tumor Treating Fields. Novocure’s commercialized products are approved in certain countries for the treatment of adult patients with glioblastoma and malignant pleural mesothelioma. Novocure has ongoing or completed clinical studies investigating Tumor Treating Fields in brain metastases, gastric cancer, glioblastoma, liver cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and ovarian cancer.
Headquartered in Root, Switzerland and with a growing global footprint, Novocure has regional operating centers in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Tokyo, as well as a research center in Haifa, Israel. For additional information about the company, please visit Novocure.com and follow @Novocure on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to historical facts or statements of current condition, this press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements provide Novocure’s current expectations or forecasts of future events. These may include statements regarding anticipated scientific progress on its research programs, clinical study progress, development of potential products, interpretation of clinical results, prospects for regulatory approval, manufacturing development and capabilities, market prospects for its products, coverage, collections from third-party payers and other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts. You may identify some of these forward-looking statements by the use of words in the statements such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe” or other words and terms of similar meaning. Novocure’s performance and financial results could differ materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements due to general financial, economic, environmental, regulatory and political conditions and other more specific risks and uncertainties facing Novocure such as those set forth in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 22, 2024, and subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these risks and uncertainties, any or all of these forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Therefore, you should not rely on any such factors or forward-looking statements. Furthermore, Novocure does not intend to update publicly any forward-looking statement, except as required by law. Any forward-looking statements herein speak only as of the date hereof. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits this discussion.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240327203177/en/
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Doubtless Pet Care Launches to Provide Peace of Mind to Pet Parents and Help Their Pets Live Happier, Healthier Lives29.6.2026 10:15:00 CEST | Press release
Doubtless combines industry-leading pet insurance with innovative care solutions, protecting more than 6 million pets across 10 global markets Doubtless launches today with the goal of helping more pet parents across the world access quality care for the pets they love. The company brings together a leading global portfolio of pet insurance brands with a growing range of connected solutions designed to support pet parents at every stage of their pet’s life. With over 4,000 employees, Doubtless insures 6 million pets across 10 markets in North America, Europe and the United Kingdom. “Uncertainty about the financial commitments associated with having a pet should never keep families from experiencing the joy of a life with pets,” said Dirk Beeckman, CEO of Doubtless. “By harnessing the power of our international footprint, we are building on our leadership in pet insurance to create a global suite of solutions for pet parents, veterinarians and industry partners that makes pet care easie
Samsung Bioepis Announces Positive Preliminary Phase 1 and Phase 3 Data for SB27, a Proposed Biosimilar to Keytruda (Pembrolizumab)29.6.2026 09:19:00 CEST | Press release
Phase 1 study demonstrated pharmacokinetic (PK) equivalence between SB27 and Keytruda; Phase 3 study demonstrated equivalent objective response rate (ORR) at Week 24Phase 1 and Phase 3 studies expected to be completed within 2026 Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. announced today that the Phase 1 and Phase 3 studies on SB27, a proposed biosimilar to Keytruda1 (pembrolizumab), have met their primary endpoints. “We are excited to announce preliminary results from the Phase 1 and Phase 3 studies for SB27, our pembrolizumab biosimilar candidate. These topline positive results reinforce our scientific expertise and leadership in biosimilar development,” said Donghoon Shin, Executive Vice President and Head of Clinical Sciences Division at Samsung Bioepis. “We are on track to complete both Phase 1 and Phase 3 studies within this year. Leveraging our robust quality management system, we remain committed to advancing our biosimilar portfolio to broaden access to life-saving biologic medicines for patie
IQM Named a Major Player in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Quantum Computing 2026 Vendor Assessment29.6.2026 09:00:00 CEST | Press release
IQM today announced it has been named a Major Player in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Quantum Computing 2026 Vendor Assessment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260629748732/en/ IQM named a major player in the IDC MarketScape IQM believes this recognition comes as institutions worldwide move quantum computing out of shared cloud access and into infrastructure they own and operate themselves. IQM calls this Production Quantum: full-stack, open-architecture superconducting systems deployed on premises, inside customers' own data centers and HPC environments, where organizations own the hardware, build internal expertise, and run quantum processors alongside their existing classical infrastructure. According to the IDC MarketScape, "For institutions building long-term quantum programs, this means the workflows and intellectual property developed on IQM hardware remain portable." The report further advises: "Consi
Zambon Announces Positive CHMP Opinion for Hopledo® (IPX203) for Adults with Parkinson’s Disease and Moderate to Severe Motor Fluctuations29.6.2026 09:00:00 CEST | Press release
Positive CHMP opinion is based on data from the Phase 3 RISE-PD trial, which demonstrated significantly more “Good ON” time with fewer daily doses compared with immediate-release levodopa/carbidopa More than one million people are living with Parkinson’s disease in the European Union, and over 80% experience motor fluctuations during the course of their disease, highlighting the need for additional treatment options Hopledo® contains a unique formulation combining immediate-release granules and extended-release pellets, providing both a rapid onset of action and a longer duration of effect, sustaining the levodopa therapeutic effect for a longer period of time If approved, Zambon expects to make Hopledo® progressively available to patients with Parkinson’s disease across Europe starting October 2026 Zambon today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has adopted a positive opinion recommending the granting of a marketing authorization by the European M
Enhertu® Approved in the EU as First Tumor Agnostic HER2 Directed Therapy and Antibody Drug Conjugate for Patients with Previously Treated HER2 Positive Metastatic Solid Tumors29.6.2026 08:30:00 CEST | Press release
Approval based on three phase 2 trials of Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca’s Enhertu that demonstrated clinically meaningful responses across a broad range of tumors Enhertu now approved for six indications in the EU Enhertu® (trastuzumab deruxtecan) has been approved in the European Union (EU) as a monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2 positive (immunohistochemistry [IHC] 3+) solid tumors who have received prior treatment and who have no satisfactory treatment options. Enhertu is a specifically engineered HER2 directed DXd antibody drug conjugate (ADC) discovered by Daiichi Sankyo (TSE: 4568) and being jointly developed and commercialized by Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/NYSE: AZN). The approval by the European Commission follows the positive opinion of the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency and is based on results from subgroups of patients with HER2 positive (IHC 3+) tumors across thr
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom
