PROJECTED. They did not run their trial out for OS, they ended it very early because it's a DEVICE and is not subject to the same level of regulation as a drug or biologic.
And since their treatment supposedly only affects cancer cells, you have to have recurrent cells in there, that it is "slowing", so it's not a cure or true treatment but a palliative. Additionally, it's exceptionally expensive, $21,000 a month, forever.
5 years costs $1,260,000, with no end in sight. $252,000 per year forever, to survive, wearing that thing 18 or more hours a day, carrying around a huge battery. I'd do it too, if it were the only thing around. But it would not be my first choice.
DCVax-L Patients got their dosage and that was it. At 5 years, with no recurrence, they are effectively cured, most likely. I believe that is the common definition today of cured.
Optune doesn't offer that at all. You wear that thing forever. Optune's mechanism of action is to slow cancerous cells and retard their growth. It "may" kill cancer cells, but that is not proven and more likely it is the patient's immune system that might help there, but that is unknown.
Optune® creates TTFields which interfere with the dividing GBM cancer cell Optune creates TTFields which interfere with the dividing GBM cancer cell
TTFields may slow down or stop GBM cancer cell division TTFields may slow down or stop GBM cancer cell division
TTFields may cause cancer cells to be destroyed TTFields may cause cancer cells to be destroyed
What is Optune® approved to treat? Optune is a wearable, portable, FDA-approved device indicated to treat a type of brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in adult patients 22 years of age or older. Newly diagnosed GBM If you have newly diagnosed GBM, Optune is used together with a chemotherapy called temozolomide (TMZ) if: Your cancer is confirmed by your healthcare professional AND You have had surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible
Recurrent GBM If your tumor has come back, Optune can be used alone as an alternative to standard medical therapy if: You have tried surgery and radiation and they did not work or are no longer working AND You have tried chemotherapy and your GBM has been confirmed by your healthcare professional
What is Optune Lua™ approved to treat? Optune Lua is a wearable, portable, FDA-approved device indicated for the treatment of adult patients, with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic, malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) to be used together with standard chemotherapy (pemetrexed and platinum-based chemotherapy).
Understanding the Difference Between Cure and Remission Cure means that there are no traces of your cancer after treatment and the cancer will never come back.
Remission means that the signs and symptoms of your cancer are reduced. Remission can be partial or complete. In a complete remission, all signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared.
If you remain in complete remission for 5 years or more, some doctors may say that you are cured. Still, some cancer cells can remain in your body for many years after treatment. These cells may cause the cancer to come back one day. For cancers that return, most do so within the first 5 years after treatment. But, there is a chance that cancer will come back later. For this reason, doctors cannot say for sure that you are cured. The most they can say is that there are no signs of cancer at this time.
Because of the chance that cancer can come back, your doctor will monitor you for many years and do tests to look for signs of cancer’s return. They will also look for signs of late side effects from the cancer treatments you received.
NVCR has a very dubious business outlook and future. Look at all the serious risks that they have buried in their SEC filing… it is no wonder that the share holders are heading for the exits. Novocure is down to a third of its share price since the peak just one year ago in June when it was over 200.
Pretty soon patients will have a better option and their quality of life will be improved significantly. There will be no need shaving head and wearing helmet 24/7 for several years.