New Hope for Inoperable Pancreatic Cancer

For the first time in three decades, the Food and Drug Administration has greenlit a novel treatment for inoperable pancreatic cancer. The newly approved Optune Pax is a wearable device designed for at-home use, delivering therapeutic electric fields that disrupt the division of cancer cells.

This groundbreaking technology, which received expedited review in 2024, offers new hope for patients diagnosed with advanced stages of the disease. It has already shown promise in clinical trials, where participants experienced an average extension of life by two months and a significant delay in symptom onset, including pain.

While the device is already utilized for brain and lung cancers, its application for pancreatic cancer represents a meaningful step forward. It is designed to be worn up to 18 hours daily. The availability of this technology for inoperable advanced pancreatic cancer patients is set to commence as further testing continues for its efficacy in treating other forms of cancer.