New Preclinical Data on Tumor Treating Fields to be presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2015

ST. HELIER, Jersey–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Novocure, a commercial stage oncology company, announced today that four preclinical abstracts will be presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2015 in Philadelphia to be held April 18-22, 2015. The four abstracts highlight the latest understanding of the mechanism of action of Tumor Treating Fields, or TTFields.

“These new abstracts expand our current understanding of TTFields’ mechanism of action and the downstream effects of TTFields application,” said Moshe Giladi, PhD, Head of Preclinical Research at Novocure. “Furthermore, high resolution electric field simulations, presented at AACR for the first time, demonstrate that TTFields have the potential to be effectively applied to both lung and ovarian tumors.”

The majority of the preclinical data was obtained using the inovitro™ system, a TTFields high-throughput laboratory research system, which Novocure makes available to the research community through research grants. The four abstracts accepted for presentation represent work performed both at Novocure and at the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center.

“Using the inovitro system, we were able to examine a number of non-small cell lung cancer cell lines for their response to TTFields, the response to TTFields after radiation exposure, and the changes in gene expression patterns after TTFields alone and after radiation plus TTFields,” said Michael Story, MD, Professor and Chief, Division of Molecular Radiation Biology at the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center.

Detailed information about the data presentations is listed below:

Tumor treatment fields slow cell proliferation and enhance radiosensitivity in a model of non-small cell lung cancer
Session Category: Tumor Biology
Session Title: Radiation Biology 1: DNA Damage and Repair, Molecular Modulators of Radiation Response, and Resistance
Session Date and Time: Tuesday, April 21, 2015 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Poster Section 18
Abstract Number: 3296

Disruption of spindle microtubules by TTFields result in abnormal chromosomes segregation and subsequent caspase-dependent cell death
Session Category: Molecular and Cellular Biology
Session Title: Cell Death Therapies 2
Session Date and Time: Tuesday, April 21, 2015 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Poster Section 3
Abstract Number: 3804

Alternating electric fields (TTFields) in combination with paclitaxel are therapeutically effective against ovarian cancer cells in vitro and in vivo
Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Session Title: Drug Discovery
Session Date and Time: Wednesday, Apr 22, 2015 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Poster Section 28
Abstract Number: 5365

In vitro results and electric fields simulations suggest Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) to be an effective treatment against Mesothelioma
Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Session Title: Drug Discovery
Session Date and Time: Wednesday, Apr 22, 2015 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Poster Section 28
Abstract Number: 5361

About the inovitro System

inovitro is a high throughput, plug-and-play, and proprietary lab research tool. The system is comprised of a TTFields generator controlled by proprietary software and up to five base plates, each with eight ultra-high dielectric constant ceramic petri dishes. inovitro allows researchers to set TTFields intensity and frequency in each ceramic dish, and observe real time values of those parameters during an experiment. inovitro is not intended for clinical use or in vitro diagnostics.

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.

Approved Indication

The US FDA has approved the TTFields therapy delivery system, Optune (previously known as the NovoTTF-100A System), for use as a treatment for adult patients (22 years of age or older) with histologically-confirmed GBM, following histologically or radiologically-confirmed recurrence in the supra-tentorial region of the brain after receiving chemotherapy. The device is intended to be used as monotherapy, and is intended as an alternative to standard medical therapy for GBM after surgical and radiation options have been exhausted. Patients should only use Optune under the supervision of a physician properly trained in use of the device. Full prescribing information is available at www.optune.com/safety or by calling toll free 1-855-281-9301.

About Novocure

Novocure is a private 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 Switzerland and Japan and a research center in Haifa, Israel. For additional information about the company, please visit www.novocure.com or follow us www.twitter.com/novocure.