First-of-its-kind Device for Pancreatic Cancer

The FDA has approved the portable device Optune Pax for non-invasive at-home treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Optune Pax, a portable, noninvasive device for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer alongside chemotherapy.

The device delivers alternating electrical fields, known as tumor treating fields (TTFields), through electrically insulated adhesive patches applied directly to the patient’s skin on the abdomen. TTFields work by disrupting rapidly proliferating cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy cells. 

The approval was based on data from a randomized and controlled phase III clinical study conducted in adult patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer who received standard-of-care chemotherapy with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel alone or in combination with TTFields treatment. The results showed that the addition of TTFields to chemotherapy improved overall survival by approximately two months compared to chemotherapy alone.

Patients are trained on how to use the device, while the technological parameters are preset by the manufacturer. The device is designed to allow patients to receive treatment during their normal daily activities. 

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancer. The National Cancer Institute estimated that 67,440 individuals would be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and 51,980 patients would die of the disease in the United States in 2025.

The FDA rendered its decision on February 12, 2026. Check this resource for updated information on all therapeutics regulated by the FDA.