Novocure's Cancer Treating Electric Fields Improves Survival In Lung Cancer Patients, But Stock Tumbles On Remaining Doubts

Zai Lab Limited ZLAB and Novocure Limited NVCR presented results from the phase 3 LUNAR trial evaluating the use of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy together with standard therapies for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting.
The LUNAR trial met its primary endpoint with a statistically significant and clinically meaningful 3-month improvement in median overall survival (OS) when TTFields therapy was added to standard therapies.
Patients randomized to receive TTFields therapy and standard therapies demonstrated a median OS of 13.2 months compared to 9.9 months in patients treated with standard therapies alone.
Also Read: Novocure Stock Surges As Tumor Treating Fields Shows Overall Survival In Lung Cancer Patients.
Patients randomized to receive TTFields therapy and physician's choice immune checkpoint inhibitor demonstrated a median OS of 18.5 months versus a median OS of 10.8 months in patients treated with ICIs alone.
Patients randomized to receive TTFields therapy and docetaxel had a positive survival trend with a median OS of 11.1 months vs. 8.7 months in patients treated with docetaxel alone.
Median progression-free survival (PFS) for patients treated with TTFields therapy and standard therapies was 4.8 months versus 4.1 months in patients treated with standard therapies alone.
Stat News noted that the data does not fit the current medical practice for lung cancer patients as 70% of the study participants did not receive initial immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment, such as Merck & Co Inc's MRK Keytruda, which dominates current therapy.
Price Action: NVCR shares are down 26.3% at $60.78 on the last check Tuesday.