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NovoCure Ltd.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 12% on European patients: Total net revenues were $174.1 million, up 12% year over year, which the company primarily attributed to active patient growth in European markets. Source
  • Optune Pax launch in the U.S.: 169 Optune Pax prescriptions were received in the quarter, and 83 patients were active on Optune Pax in the U.S. at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Gross margin rose to 78%: Gross margin was 78%, against 75% a year earlier, with the company citing lower array costs from better array utilization and lower supplier prices. Source
  • G&A rose on share-based compensation: General and administrative expenses were $85.9 million, up 92%, including a $43 million non-cash expense; the related grant did not vest and no shares were distributed. Source
  • Cash and investments declined: Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $432.0 million at March 31, 2026, compared with $447.7 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • PANOVA-4 met primary endpoint: The Phase 2 PANOVA-4 trial of TTFields with atezolizumab, gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in first-line metastatic pancreatic cancer met its primary endpoint. Source

“We reached several key milestones in the first quarter and are eager to maintain this momentum as we approach numerous exciting catalysts later this year.”

Frank Leonard, CEO, Novocure

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total net revenue SourceFull year 2026$690 million - $710 millionRaised from $675 million - $705 million
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$(15) million - $0 millionRaised from $(20) million - $0 million
Optune Lua and Optune Pax net revenue contribution SourceFull year 2026between $15 million and $25 million, collectivelyKept
Gross margin SourceFull year 2026mid-70s percentKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Total net revenue guidance range raised to $690 million - $710 million from $675 million - $705 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted EBITDA guidance range raised to $(15) million - $0 million from $(20) million - $0 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Optune Gio growth assumption moved to mid-single digit from low-to-mid single digit. Source
  • Guidance kept: Optune Lua and Optune Pax combined revenue contribution range of $15 million to $25 million is unchanged. Source
  • Guidance kept: Gross margin assumption of mid-70s percent is unchanged. Source
  • Ended: New prescriptions are no longer reported for GBM, MPM and NSCLC from Q1 2026; pancreatic cancer prescriptions are reported for one year after launch.
  • New: Japan approved National Health Insurance reimbursement for Optune Lua in March 2026, for use with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in NSCLC after platinum-based chemotherapy. Source

Revenue and profit results

  • Revenue rose 12% on European patients: Total net revenues were $174.1 million, up 12% year over year, which the company primarily attributed to active patient growth in European markets. Source
  • One-time benefits in Germany and France: Germany revenue included a one-time $2.5 million benefit from higher approval rates; France included a one-time $1 million benefit from contract performance improvements. Source
  • Operating loss widened on higher costs: Operating loss was $67.4 million, against $37.9 million a year earlier, as total operating costs and expenses rose to $202.5 million. Source
  • Net loss and loss per share rose: Net loss was $71.1 million, or $0.62 per share, against $34.3 million, or $0.31 per share, in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA was $(0.3) million: Adjusted EBITDA was $(0.3) million, against $(5.0) million a year earlier, according to the non-GAAP reconciliation. Source

Regional revenue and markets

  • U.S. was the largest market by revenue: U.S. revenue was $96.0 million, Germany $24.5 million, France $22.9 million and Japan $10.2 million, with other active markets at $15.7 million. Source
  • Greater China partnership revenue reported: Revenue in Greater China from the Zai Lab partnership totaled $4.8 million in the quarter. Source
  • Optune Lua revenue recognized: Recognized revenue from Optune Lua was $3.1 million in the quarter. Source

“Our focus remains on bringing Tumor Treating Fields therapy to patients diagnosed with some of the most aggressive forms of cancer, further exploring the use of our therapy to benefit patients in need”

Frank Leonard, CEO, Novocure

Active patients and product launches

  • Active patients rose to 4,791: Total active patients on TTFields therapy were 4,791 at March 31, 2026, against 4,268 a year earlier, across all products and markets. Source
  • Optune Gio active patients up 9%: Optune Gio had 4,543 active patients, with 2,250 in the U.S., 641 in Germany, 503 in France, 535 in Japan and 614 in other markets. Source
  • Optune Lua active patients up 56%: Optune Lua had 165 active patients, with 106 in the U.S., 47 in Germany, 2 in France, 6 in Japan and 4 in other markets. Source
  • Optune Pax launch in the U.S.: 169 Optune Pax prescriptions were received in the quarter, and 83 patients were active on Optune Pax in the U.S. at March 31, 2026. Source

Gross margin and operating costs

  • Gross margin rose to 78%: Gross margin was 78%, against 75% a year earlier, with the company citing lower array costs from better array utilization and lower supplier prices. Source
  • R&D rose on KEYNOTE D58 recruitment: Research, development and clinical study expenses were $58.3 million, up 8%, mainly from patient recruitment costs in the Phase 3 KEYNOTE D58 trial. Source
  • Sales and marketing up for launches: Sales and marketing expenses were $58.4 million, up 5%, tied to the U.S. launch of Optune Pax and the Japan launch of Optune Lua. Source
  • G&A rose on share-based compensation: General and administrative expenses were $85.9 million, up 92%, including a $43 million non-cash expense; the related grant did not vest and no shares were distributed. Source
  • Share-based compensation added back: Share-based compensation was $63.0 million, against $29.6 million a year earlier, and is added back in the Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation. Source

Cash, balance sheet and share count

  • Cash and investments declined: Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $432.0 million at March 31, 2026, compared with $447.7 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Shares outstanding rose: Ordinary shares outstanding were 115,820,940 at March 31, 2026, up from 112,492,667 at December 31, 2025; weighted average shares were 114,149,838 in the quarter. Source
  • Credit facility balance little changed: Senior secured credit facility, net, was $195.5 million at March 31, 2026, against $195.0 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Trade receivables increased: Trade receivables, net, rose to $93.3 million from $89.4 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Clinical and regulatory milestones

  • PANOVA-4 met primary endpoint: The Phase 2 PANOVA-4 trial of TTFields with atezolizumab, gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in first-line metastatic pancreatic cancer met its primary endpoint. Source
  • Optune Pax FDA approval in February: The FDA approved Optune Pax in February 2026 for locally advanced pancreatic cancer, used with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. Source
  • Optune Gio coverage in British Columbia: BC Cancer announced coverage for Optune Gio for newly diagnosed GBM in February 2026; Czech public insurers had announced coverage in January. Source
  • Optune Pax prescribers certified: More than 800 prescribers were certified for Optune Pax through March 31, 2026. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 April 2026

  • TRIDENT topline data due Q2: Topline data from the Phase 3 TRIDENT trial in newly diagnosed GBM is expected in the second quarter of 2026. Source
  • FDA decision on brain metastases filing: A U.S. FDA decision on the premarket approval application for TTFields in brain metastases from NSCLC is expected in Q4 2026. Source
  • KEYNOTE D58 enrollment completion: Enrollment in the Phase 3 KEYNOTE D58 trial in newly diagnosed GBM is expected to complete in Q4 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total active patients on TTFields therapy Source4,791
Optune Gio active patients Source4,543, up 9% year over year
Optune Lua active patients Source165, up 56% year over year
Optune Pax prescriptions received in the quarter Source169
Optune Pax active patients in the U.S. Source83

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Topline results for PANOVA-4, planned for the first quarter, were reported in March 2026, with the primary endpoint met. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.