New Data on Tumor Treating Fields’ Anti-Mitotic Mechanism of Action Published in Scientific Reports

Tumor Treating Fields disrupt mitotic spindle formation leading to irregular chromosome segregation and mitotic catastrophe in cancer cells

December 14, 2015 07:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

ST. HELIER, Jersey–(BUSINESS WIRE)–New preclinical data on Novocure’s (NASDAQ: NVCR) Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy revealed a more thorough understanding of how the therapy works at a cellular level. As an anti-mitotic treatment, TTFields interfere with cancer cell division and result in cancer cell death.

The data were published on Dec. 11, 2015, in Scientific Reports. Scientific Reports is a peer-reviewed journal published on Nature.com, a website that receives more than 8 million unique visitors a month.

“These new findings add to the growing body of research that explains the underlying mechanism of how TTFields therapy kills cancer cells,” said Moshe Giladi, PhD, Head of Preclinical Research at Novocure. “We believe a more thorough understanding of the basic science of TTFields will enable us to advance our therapeutic systems and further improve patient outcomes.”

The results demonstrated the following:

  • TTFields decreased the ratio between polymerized and total tubulin, and prevented spindles from forming properly during mitosis in cancer cells – the first direct evidence of this effect.
  • Aberrant mitotic events induced by TTFields led to abnormal chromosome segregation, cellular multi-nucleation and a reduction in clonogenic potential, thus activating various forms of cell death. While cells treated with TTFields can die during mitotic arrest, they more commonly divide and die during the following interphase.
  • The effect of TTFields on cell viability and clonogenic survival depended on cell division rate, with rapidly dividing cells being more sensitive to treatment. Extending treatment duration enhanced efficacy in slowly dividing cells.

Read the full article published in Scientific Reports.

About Tumor Treating Fields Therapy

Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy is delivered by a portable, non-invasive medical device designed for continuous use by patients. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that TTFields therapy slows and reverses tumor growth by inhibiting mitosis, the process by which cells divide and replicate. TTFields therapy creates low intensity, alternating electric fields within a tumor that exert physical forces on electrically charged cellular components, preventing the normal mitotic process and causing cancer cell death.

About Novocure

Novocure is a Jersey Isle oncology company pioneering a novel therapy for solid tumors called TTFields. Novocure’s US operations are based in Portsmouth, NH and New York, NY. Additionally, the company has offices in Germany, Switzerland, and Japan and a research center in Haifa, Israel. For additional information about the company, please visit www.novocure.com or follow us at www.twitter.com/novocure.

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical facts or statements of current condition, this press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements provide Novocure’s current expectations or forecasts of future events. These may include statements regarding anticipated scientific progress on its research programs, development of potential products, interpretation of clinical results, prospects for regulatory approval, manufacturing development and capabilities, market prospects for its products, and other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts. You may identify some of these forward-looking statements by the use of words in the statements such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe” or other words and terms of similar meaning. Novocure’s performance and financial results could differ materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements due to general financial, economic, regulatory and political conditions as well as more specific risks and uncertainties facing Novocure such as those set forth in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on October 27, 2015 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these risks and uncertainties, any or all of these forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Therefore, you should not rely on any such factors or forward-looking statements. Furthermore, Novocure does not intend to update publicly any forward-looking statement, except as required by law. Any forward-looking statements herein speak only as of the date hereof. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits this discussion.

Contacts

Novocure
Ashley Cordova, 212-767-7558
acordova@novocure.com

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