Novocure to Present Final PANOVA-3 Data Highlighting Pain and Quality of Life Benefits of TTFields Therapy in Pancreatic Cancer at ESMO GI 2025
Novocure (NASDAQ: NVCR) announced that it will present final secondary endpoint results from its pivotal Phase 3 PANOVA-3 clinical trial evaluating Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy in patients with unresectable locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The new findings, focused on pain management and quality of life outcomes, have been selected for oral presentation at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress, taking place from July 2–5, 2025, in Barcelona, Spain.
In addition to confirming a significant improvement in overall survival, the PANOVA-3 study showed that TTFields therapy combined with standard chemotherapy significantly delayed both the onset of debilitating pain and the initiation of opioid use. These results offer a meaningful enhancement in quality of life for patients battling one of the most aggressive and painful cancers.
“Pancreatic cancer often causes severe, chronic pain that drastically diminishes patients’ quality of life,” said Dr. Teresa Macalura, Medical Oncologist at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and Head of the Gastrointestinal and Endocrine Tumor Group at the Vall d’Hebron Oncology Institute (VHIO). “The PANOVA-3 results not only show a survival benefit with TTFields therapy, but also a significant delay in pain progression and opioid use. These data support the integration of TTFields into standard care for this hard-to-treat patient population.”
PANOVA-3: Study Overview and Results
PANOVA-3 is a global, randomized, open-label Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating TTFields therapy in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (GnP) versus GnP alone as a first-line treatment in patients with unresectable, locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma. A total of 571 patients were randomized 1:1 and followed for at least 18 months.
The trial previously met its primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in median overall survival. The final secondary analyses now being presented at ESMO GI 2025 offer additional support for TTFields therapy’s clinical benefits.
Key secondary endpoint data to be presented include:
- Delay in global health deterioration: Patients receiving TTFields therapy with GnP had a median delay of 7.1 months compared to 5.7 months with GnP alone (p=0.023).
- Delay in pain-related quality of life deterioration:
- Pain from any cause: 10.1 months vs. 7.4 months (p=0.003)
- Pancreatic pain: 14.7 months vs. 10.2 months (p=0.006)
- Pain-free survival (defined as the time to a 20-point increase on a visual analog scale or death): Median of 15.2 months with TTFields + GnP vs. 9.1 months with GnP alone (HR 0.74; 95% CI: 0.56–0.97; p=0.027)
- Time to first opioid use: 7.1 months with TTFields + GnP vs. 5.4 months with GnP alone (p=0.046)
Additionally, TTFields therapy showed significant benefit in nearly all gastrointestinal symptom domains assessed by the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the PAN26 pancreatic cancer module, except for dyspepsia and changes in bowel habits.
TTFields therapy was well-tolerated, with no new safety concerns identified. The most commonly reported device-related adverse events were mild-to-moderate skin reactions, consistent with prior clinical studies.
FDA Submission Planned
“These findings affirm TTFields therapy’s potential to improve both survival and quality of life in patients facing one of the most devastating cancer diagnoses,” said Dr. Nicholas Lupin, Chief Medical Officer at Novocure. “We remain committed to advancing TTFields therapy for pancreatic cancer and plan to submit a premarket approval application to the U.S. FDA in the second half of 2025.”
Additional Presentations at ESMO GI
In addition to the oral presentation on PANOVA-3 secondary endpoints, Novocure will present two posters featuring preclinical data from its pancreatic cancer research program:
- Poster #311P: Efficacy of TTFields in Combination with Gemcitabine and Nab-Paclitaxel in Preclinical Models of PDAC
- July 3 | 3:30–4:30 p.m. CEST | Exhibition Area
- Poster #316P: Sensitizing Pancreatic Cancer Cells to FOLFIRINOX Using TTFields
- July 3 | 3:30–4:30 p.m. CEST | Exhibition Area
About Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer ranks as the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and the fifth in Europe. With rising incidence and mortality rates, the disease remains difficult to treat, particularly when diagnosed at an inoperable stage. Approximately 67,000 people are diagnosed in the U.S. annually, and global cases exceed 500,000. The five-year survival rate remains dismally low at just 13%.
About TTFields Therapy
Tumor Treating Fields are electric fields that exert biophysical forces to disrupt cancer cell division while sparing healthy cells. This non-invasive therapy, delivered via wearable devices, interferes with the mitotic process of cancer cells and has shown synergistic effects when used alongside chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy. TTFields therapy has already been approved for glioblastoma and mesothelioma, with ongoing trials in multiple solid tumors, including pancreatic cancer.
