"We have a patient who plays tennis," Kirson said. "Whenever she replaces her electrodes, she goes and plays tennis for a couple of hours, she has a nice shower, she goes into the sauna, and when she gets out she'll put it back on and keep going." Now NovoCure is testing the helmet simultaneously with chemotherapy in early cases of glioblastoma with hope that a combination will enhance the effectiveness of both treatments.
NovoCure is using today's trial to apply for U.S. marketing approval, and the company seeks to begin U.S. sales next year, Kirson said. The helmet is already approved for use in Europe, though health plans there won't currently pay the $10,000 to $15,000 a month it costs to wear it.
NovoCure is testing similar devices for other types of hard-to-treat cancer. The results of a test in 42 lung cancer patients will likely be released at the European Society of Medical Oncology meeting in September, Kirson said.
"I must admit that when I first saw this I thought it was complete and utter trash -- I'm being that honest about it," Kirson said. "It's such a novel technology, you have to show that you are the real thing.
The real reason I went into this was because I had worked with Professor Palti, and I believed in him. I thought he was a brilliant man, and I still do."