Novocure (NASDAQ:NVCR) shares soared on Wednesday as the oncology firm revealed its investigational medical device slowed the spread of cancer to the brain in patients with lung cancer during a late-stage trial.
The Phase 3 METIS trial evaluated Novocure (NASDAQ:NVCR)’s Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy - a device that uses electric fields that exert physical forces to kill cancer cells via various mechanisms - in combination with supportive care in patients with 1 to 10 brain metastasis from non-small cell lung cancer following stereotactic radiosurgery.
Brain metastases are a secondary tumor that forms when cancer cells from the primary tumor break away and travel through the body via the blood or lymph systems to form new tumors in the brain.
The METIS study found that patients treated with TTFields therapy and supportive care saw the cancer spread to the brain slower, with a median intracranial progression of 21.9 months compared to 11.3 months in patients treated with supportive care alone. Supportive care included the use of steroids, anti-epileptic drugs, anticoagulants, pain control or nausea control medication.
Initial analysis of the key secondary trial endpoints - time to neurocognitive failure, overall survival, and radiological response rate - did not demonstrate statistical significance.
“Patients with brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer are frequently treated with radiosurgery but face a high likelihood of rapid brain relapse," commented Dr Minesh Mehta, 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."
Novocure said it intends to submit the trial data to regulatory authorities.
Its shares traded 16.5% higher at about $15 late morning on Wednesday.