On December 2, 2024 Zai Lab Limited (Nasdaq: ZLAB; HKEX: 9688) and Novocure (NASDAQ: NVCR) reported that the pivotal, Phase 3 PANOVA-3 trial met its primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in median overall survival (mOS) versus control. PANOVA-3 evaluated the use of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy concomitantly with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel as a first-line treatment for unresectable, locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma (Press release, Zai Laboratory, DEC 2, 2024, View Source [SID1234648741]).

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"As a researcher and clinician, I have experienced the challenges of developing treatments in pancreatic cancer. It is exciting to see the PANOVA-3 trial achieve the positive primary endpoint of overall survival, a landmark outcome for this field," said Vincent Picozzi, M.D., medical oncologist and investigator in the PANOVA-3 trial. "These data for Tumor Treating Fields are very promising, especially in this difficult to treat patient population."

In the intent-to-treat population, patients treated with TTFields therapy concomitant with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel had an mOS of 16.20 months compared to 14.16 months in patients treated with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel alone, a statistically significant 2.0-month improvement (hazard ratio=0.819; P=0.039) (N=571). The survival rate benefit for patients treated with TTFields therapy increased over time with a 13% improvement in the overall survival rate at 12 months and a 33% improvement in survival rate at 24 months. TTFields therapy was well-tolerated, and safety was consistent with prior clinical studies.

"PANOVA-3 is the first and only Phase 3 trial to demonstrate a statistically significant benefit in overall survival specifically in unresectable, locally advanced pancreatic cancer, and is Novocure’s third positive Phase 3 clinical trial in the last two years," said Nicolas Leupin, M.D., PhD, Chief Medical Officer, Novocure. "We are grateful to the patients and investigators for their participation in the trial, and we look forward to sharing the full data at an upcoming medical conference."

"There are approximately 134,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer diagnosed annually in China, and this cancer is one of the most challenging to treat globally, with limited effective treatment options and poor survival outcomes," said Dr. Rafael Amado, M.D., President, Head of Global Research and Development at Zai Lab. "Demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival for patients with unresectable, locally advanced pancreatic cancer is an important achievement. We are pleased to have been able to contribute to the PANOVA-3 study, and we look forward to working with Novocure to bring this therapy to patients as soon as possible."

Novocure plans to file for regulatory approval of TTFields in unresectable, locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma based on PANOVA-3 and plans to submit the PANOVA-3 results for presentation at an upcoming medical congress. Zai Lab plans to file for regulatory approval in China.

About PANOVA-3

PANOVA-3 is a prospective, randomized open-label, controlled Phase 3 clinical trial designed to test the efficacy and safety of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy used concomitantly with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel, as a first-line treatment of locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Patients were randomized to receive either TTFields therapy concomitant with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel or gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel alone.

The primary endpoint is overall survival. Secondary endpoints include progression free survival, local progression free survival, objective response rate, one-year survival rate, quality of life, pain-free survival, puncture-free survival, resectability rate, and toxicity.

A total of 571 patients were enrolled in the study, randomized 1:1 and followed for a minimum of 18 months.

About Pancreatic Cancer in China

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most common and deadliest cancers globally. In China, there were an estimated 134,374 new cases in 2022, and it is now the eighth most common cancer type1. The current median survival of patients with locally advanced, unresectable pancreatic cancer is nine to twelve months, and the five-year survival rate was 7.2%2, making it the malignancy with the lowest survival rate in China.

About Tumor Treating Fields

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. These multiple, distinct mechanisms work together to target and kill cancer cells. Due to these 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 targeted therapies 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 TTFields therapy and its multifaceted effect on cancer cells, visit tumortreatingfields.com.