Editor’s Take: Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal cancers, with a five-year relative survival rate of just 13%.

Novocure announced a clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with Verastem Oncology targeting locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

The companies will use Novocure’s Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy with chemotherapy and VS-7375, Verastem’s investigational KRAS G12D (ON/OFF) inhibitor.

Novocure defines TTFields as electric fields exerting physical forces to kill cancer cells through various mechanisms. This does not significantly affect healthy cells as those have different properties—division rate, morphology, electrical—than cancer cells.

Pancreatic Cancer Stats

According to the World Health Organization, pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal cancers. In the United States, it accounts for the third-most frequent cause of cancer death; in Europe, fifth-most.

Pancreatic cancer’s five-year relative survival rate is only 13%.

Verastem to Aid Novocure Trial

Novocure is planning a clinical trial in pancreatic cancer, using TTFields with gemcitabine, nab-paclitaxel, and VS-7375, in approximately 25 patients. As part of this new agreement, Novocure will manage and fund clinical trial operations.

As for Verastem’s role, they will provide VS-7375 for the trial, which is expected to begin enrolling patients in 2027.

“Meaningful progress has been made in [treating] pancreatic cancer,” Novocure Chief Medical and Innovation Officer Uri Weinberg, MD, PhD, said. “We are proud that Tumor Treating Fields therapy is one of the new options available to patients. However, advanced pancreatic cancer remains one of the most difficult cancers to treat. We believe the physical modality of Tumor Treating Fields therapy, used with a KRAS inhibitor, has potential to be effective.”

“We are excited to build on Novocure’s work,” Verastem President of Development Michael Kauffman, MD, PhD, said. “This collaboration will allow us to explore whether these treatment approaches, used together, can drive deeper and more durable responses.”