Shares of Switzerland’s Novocure Ltd (NASDAQ: NVCR) shot up by over 33 per cent on Tuesday after the oncology company revealed that it had obtained FDA approval for a novel lung cancer treatment device.
The federal agency gave its assent for Novocure’s Optune Lua gadget. It is used to treat the world’s most common lung cancer.
That is, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This device is specifically aimed at treating advanced cases of NSCLC where chemotherapy has proved to be ineffective. Novocure has estimated that about 30,000 patients in the United States will seek treatment for the medical condition after platinum-based chemotherapy drugs alone have failed.
“Optune Lua is a wearable treatment that delivers ‘Tumor Treating Fields,'” Novocure described in a news release, “which exert physical forces on the electrically charged components of dividing cancer cells, resulting in cell death.”
These tumour-treating fields (TTFields) are electric fields that kill the cancer cells while leaving other healthy cells intact, Novocure explained. Patients are advised to wear Optune Lua’s adhesive pads on their chest and back for 18 to 20 hours per day.
A phase 3 study completed on the mechanism last year found that it improved overall survival by about one-third compared to standard therapies. Novocure is currently evaluating the efficacy of TTfields for the treatment of brain cancer in another ongoing phase 3 trial.
“TTFields therapy added to standard therapy significantly improved overall survival compared with standard therapy alone,” the investigators wrote in The Lancet Oncology journal.
Novocure celebrated the opening of its new North American headquarters in Portsmouth, New Hampshire last month. State Governor Chris Sununu was present at the event.
“Home to 300+ employees, this state-of-the-art facility will house world-class training and development centres to advance innovation in cancer care,” Sununu said. “An exciting day for the 603!”
The Optune Lua device. Image credit: Novocure
Read more: Breath Diagnostics takes aim at lung cancer with One Breath
Read more: Breath Diagnostics pioneers novel lung cancer breath test
American Lung Association invests millions in respiratory health research
The day after Novocure proudly announced Optune Lua’s FDA approval, a prominent American health organization revealed that it would be spending US$22 million to research treatments for airway diseases like lung cancer.
“The newly funded projects, spanning from asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] research to lung cancer and respiratory viruses, are a vital part of our mission to save lives,” the American Lung Association said in a statement.
The non-profit organization was founded in 1904 to study, prevent and treat tuberculosis. Decades later it expanded its focus to other lung conditions. It has played a major role in anti-smoking campaigns and clean air initiatives.
rowan@mugglehead.com
