Novocure Announces Optune Lua® Receives Reimbursement Approval in Japan for the Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

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pd-1/pd-l1 inhibitors medical

PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors are drugs that block a molecular “brake” used by some tumors to hide from the immune system: PD-1 is a protein on immune cells and PD-L1 is its partner on cancer cells, and blocking their interaction lets immune cells recognize and attack tumors. Investors care because these therapies can transform cancer treatment, drive significant sales if approved, and their clinical trial results, safety profile and regulatory decisions strongly affect company valuations.

non-small cell lung cancer medical

A broad category of lung tumors that grow from the cells lining the airways and make up the majority of lung cancer cases; it includes several subtypes that behave and respond to treatment differently, like different models of the same car family. It matters to investors because its large patient population and variety of treatment options — surgery, traditional chemo, targeted drugs and immunotherapies — create major markets where clinical trial results, drug approvals or changing treatment guidelines can quickly affect a company’s revenue and stock value.

tumor treating fields (ttfields) medical

Tumor treating fields (TTFields) are a noninvasive cancer therapy that uses low‑intensity, alternating electric fields delivered through wearable patches to interfere with the way dividing cancer cells organize and multiply, slowing tumor growth without traditional drugs. Investors care because TTFields represent a device‑based treatment pathway with distinct commercial dynamics—regulatory approvals, reimbursement, device sales and rentals, and clinical trial results directly affect adoption, recurring revenue and the valuation of companies that develop or sell the technology.

ttfields medical

Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) are a cancer therapy that uses low-intensity, alternating electric fields applied to a patient’s body to interfere with how cancer cells divide and grow. For investors, TTFields matter because their clinical effectiveness, regulatory approvals, device sales, insurance coverage, and patent protection directly affect revenue potential and the commercial viability of companies developing or selling the technology—think of it as a non‑drug tool that can alter treatment options and market dynamics.

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03/02/2026 - 07:00 AM

Novocure to launch Optune Lua in Japan with national reimbursement coverage

BAAR, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Novocure (NASDAQ: NVCR) announced today that Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare approved reimbursement for Optune Lua^® through the country’s National Health Insurance coverage.

Optune Lua is approved in Japan for concurrent use with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in adult patients with unresectable advanced/recurrent NSCLC who progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy.

“Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in Japan. Healthcare providers and people living with this disease have an urgent need for access to approved treatment options,” said Hidehito Kotani, Vice President of Asia Pacific, Novocure. “The approval by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of reimbursement for Optune Lua through Japan’s National Health Insurance coverage provides patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer access to Optune Lua as a treatment option.”

Optune Lua is a wearable, portable medical device that produces alternating electric fields known as Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields), which are delivered through non-invasive, wearable arrays. TTFields exert physical forces on the electrically charged components of dividing cancer cells, resulting in cancer cell death.

Patients who are eligible to be treated with Optune Lua will be able to access therapy at qualified health centers.

About Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancers.¹ It is estimated that approximately 100,000 patients are diagnosed with NSCLC each year in Japan.²

Physicians use different combinations of surgery, radiation and pharmacological therapies to treat NSCLC, depending on the stage of the disease. Surgery, which may be curative in a subset of patients, is usually used in early stages of the disease. Since 1991, radiation with a combination of platinum-based chemotherapy drugs has been the first-line standard of care for locally advanced NSCLC. Certain immune checkpoint inhibitors, including both PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors, have been approved for the first-line treatment of NSCLC and the standard of care in this setting continues to evolve rapidly.

About Tumor Treating Fields

Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) are electric fields that exert physical forces to kill cancer cells via a variety of mechanisms. TTFields do not significantly affect healthy cells because they have different properties (including division rate, morphology, and electrical properties) than cancer cells. These multiple, distinct mechanisms work together to target and kill cancer cells. Due to these multimechanistic actions, TTFields therapy can be added to cancer treatment modalities in approved indications and demonstrates enhanced effects across solid tumor types when used with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibition, or targeted therapies in preclinical models. TTFields therapy provides clinical versatility that has the potential to help address treatment challenges across a range of solid tumors.

To learn more about TTFields therapy and its multifaceted effect on cancer cells, visit novocure.com/ttfields.

About Novocure

Novocure is a global oncology company working to extend survival in some of the most aggressive forms of cancer through the development and commercialization of its innovative therapy, Tumor Treating Fields. Novocure’s commercialized products are approved in certain countries for the treatment of adult patients with glioblastoma, pancreatic cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, malignant pleural mesothelioma and pleural mesothelioma. Novocure has several additional ongoing or completed clinical trials exploring the use of Tumor Treating Fields therapy in the treatment of glioblastoma, non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer.

Novocure’s global headquarters is located in Baar, Switzerland, with U.S. headquarters located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and research and development facilities located in Haifa, Israel. For additional information about the company, please visit Novocure.com and follow @Novocure on LinkedIn and X (Twitter).

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, clinical study progress, development of potential products, interpretation of clinical results, prospects for regulatory approval, manufacturing development and capabilities, market prospects for its products, coverage, collections from third-party payers 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, environmental, regulatory and political conditions and other more specific risks and uncertainties facing Novocure such as those set forth in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 26, 2026, and subsequent flings 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.

¹ World Health Organization Lung Cancer Fact Sheet. Accessed February 27, 2026. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lung-cancer#:~:text=Lung%20cancer%20is%20the%20leading%20cause%20of%20cancer-related%20deaths%20worldwide.
² https://ganjoho.jp/reg_stat/statistics/stat/cancer/12_lung.html#anchor1. Accessed February 27, 2026.