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Novocure (NASDAQ: NVCR) stock soared more than 30% in extended trading Wednesday after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved its Optune Pax device for the treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer. The regulatory milestone marks a significant advancement for the company and introduces a new therapeutic option for patients battling one of the deadliest forms of cancer.
Optune Pax is a wearable, portable medical device designed to be used alongside chemotherapy drugs gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. The system delivers Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields), a therapy that uses alternating electric fields to disrupt cancer cell division. By interfering with tumor growth and triggering cancer cell death, TTFields therapy targets malignant cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
Following the FDA approval announcement, NVCR shares jumped to $13.80 by 20:19 ET, after rising more than 50% earlier in after-hours trading. The sharp increase in Novocure stock reflects strong investor confidence in the commercial potential of Optune Pax and its role in expanding pancreatic cancer treatment options.
The FDA’s decision was supported by data from the Phase 3 PANOVA-3 clinical trial, which included 571 patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Results demonstrated a meaningful improvement in overall survival compared to chemotherapy alone. The study also showed a significant delay in pain progression and higher one-year survival rates for patients treated with the combination of TTFields therapy and standard chemotherapy.
Importantly, safety results were broadly comparable between the treatment and control groups, reinforcing the therapy’s tolerability profile. With this approval, Novocure strengthens its oncology portfolio and positions Optune Pax as a promising new standard of care in advanced pancreatic cancer treatment, a space with urgent unmet medical needs.
