Novocure to Present New Pre-Clinical Data on NovoTTF™ Therapy at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2014

HAIFA, Israel, April 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Novocure, a commercial stage oncology company, announced today that new, pre-clinical data demonstrating the anti-tumor effects of NovoTTF™ Therapy will be presented at the  2014 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) in San Diego (April 5-9, 2014). 

The new study results show that ovarian cancer cells treated with Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) exhibit abnormal chromosomal separation during cell division, reducing the viability of surviving daughter cells and inhibiting the growth of tumor cell colonies. 

The new pre-clinical data suggest an additional anti-tumor mechanism-of-action, adding to the previously reported effects of TTFields on cell division.  Data to be presented will also confirm earlier results showing TTFields increase chromosomal abnormalities and decrease cell viability in pancreatic cancer cell cultures.

Novocure will also present an abstract describing a recently opened pilot clinical trial studying NovoTTF Therapy in combination with gemcitabine for the front-line treatment of advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma (EF-20 Study).  The EF-20 Study is open for enrollment and will recruit 20 patients at centers in Spain, Germany and Switzerland. 

"The pre-clinical data we will present at the upcoming AACR Annual Meeting builds on the extensive published data describing the anti-mitotic effects of TTFields and will help researchers design new pre-clinical and clinical studies using NovoTTF Therapy," said Uri Weinberg, MD, Ph.D., Novocure's Vice President of Research and Development.  "Novocure is working with investigators to open a pilot study using TTFields in combination with paclitaxel for the treatment of ovarian cancer."

AACR 2014 – Abstracts

• TTFields Reduce Cancer Cell Clonogenic Potential Through Abnormal Chromosome Segregation During Mitosis

Date/Time: April 9, 2014 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon
Session: Cellular Responses to Anticancer Drugs 3
Location: Hall A-E, Poster Section 33
Abstract: #5521

• An Open Label Pilot Study of NovoTTF Therapy Concomitant with Gemcitabine for Front-line Therapy of Advanced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Date/Time: April 9, 2014 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon
Session: Early Phase Clinical Trials 2
Location: Hall A-E, Poster Section 38
Abstract: #CT420

About NovoTTF Therapy

NovoTTF Therapy is delivered by a portable, non-invasive medical device designed for continuous use throughout the day by the patient. The device has been shown in in vitro and in vivo studies to slow and reverse tumor growth by inhibiting mitosis, the process by which cells divide and replicate. The delivery system weighs about six pounds and creates a low intensity, alternating electric field within the tumor that exerts physical forces on electrically charged cellular components, preventing the normal mitotic process and causing cancer cell death prior to division.

NovoTTF Therapy is not approved for the treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma or ovarian cancer. The safety and effectiveness of the therapy in these indications has not been established.

About Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic cancers in the United States and is the fifth leading cause of cancer death among American women. Approximately 22,280 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year in the United States, resulting in approximately 15,500 deaths annually.

About Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most frequent cause of death from cancer in the United States and is responsible for 6% of all cancer-related deaths. In contrast to the decrease in mortality from other cancers over the past decade, pancreatic cancer death rates have been slowly increasing among US men and women. Pancreatic cancer prognosis remains very poor with 5-year survival of less than 6%.

Data published in the journal Pancreatology showed that the application of NovoTTF Therapy to pancreatic cancer cells in vitro leads to a significant decrease in cell count and reduced ability to form clones. The efficacy of NovoTTF Therapy was enhanced both in vitro and in vivo when combined with chemotherapy used in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Citation: Giladi, M., Schneiderman, R. et al. Pancreatology. 2013; vol 14, issue 1: 54-63.

About Novocure

Novocure Limited is a private oncology company developing and commercializing NovoTTF Therapy, a novel treatment for solid tumor cancers.  Novocure Limited is registered in the Jersey Isle, with subsidiaries in the US, Europe, Israel and Japan.  Novocure's US operations are based in Portsmouth, NH and New York, NY.  European operations are based in Switzerland and the company maintains a research center in Haifa, Israel.  For additional information about the company please visit www.novocure.com. 

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SOURCE Novocure