Core Viewpoint - NuCana plc has received a new patent for NUC-7738, enhancing its intellectual property protection and supporting its ongoing clinical studies for this novel anti-cancer agent [1][2]. Group 1: Patent and Intellectual Property - The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued a new patent (US12,054,510) for NUC-7738's composition of matter, which is a significant addition to the company's existing portfolio of over 80 issued patents worldwide [1][2]. - The new patent strengthens the intellectual property protection for NUC-7738, which is crucial for the company's competitive positioning in the biopharmaceutical market [2]. Group 2: Clinical Development and Efficacy - NUC-7738 is currently in a Phase 2 clinical study in combination with pembrolizumab for patients with PD-1 inhibitor resistant melanoma, with encouraging data presented at the ESMO Congress 2024 [1][2]. - The majority of patients with PD-1 inhibitor resistant metastatic melanoma achieved a progression-free survival of more than 5 months when treated with NUC-7738 plus pembrolizumab, compared to a median progression-free survival of 2-3 months with the current standard of care [2]. - NUC-7738 targets multiple aspects of the tumor microenvironment, which may contribute to its ability to make previously resistant tumors sensitive to treatment [2]. Group 3: Company Overview and Technology - NuCana is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on improving cancer treatment outcomes through its ProTide technology, which transforms conventional chemotherapy agents into more effective and safer medicines [3]. - The company's pipeline includes NUC-3373 and NUC-7738, with NUC-3373 currently being evaluated in multiple clinical studies for various cancer types [3].

Core Insights - NuCana plc's shares surged by 150.8% following positive final data from the mid-stage study of its candidate NUC-7738 in combination with Merck's Keytruda for treating metastatic melanoma [1] Study Results - In the phase II NuTide:701 study, 75% of the 12 patients treated with the NUC-7738/Keytruda combination achieved disease control, including two partial responses [2] - One patient, previously treated with two rounds of PD-1 inhibitors, showed a 55% reduction in tumor size, and seven patients had progression-free survival exceeding five months, compared to a median of 2-3 months with standard treatments [3] Safety Profile - The combination therapy of NUC-7738 and Keytruda exhibited a favorable safety profile [4] Mechanism of Action - NUC-7738 disrupts RNA polyadenylation, sensitizing PD-1-resistant tumors to PD-1 inhibitors, with data showing increases in genes related to antigen presentation and T-cell activation [5] Future Development Plans - NuCana believes NUC-7738's mechanism may extend beyond melanoma to other PD-1 inhibitor-resistant tumors, with further development plans to be announced soon [8] Other Pipeline Programs - NuCana is also developing NUC-3373, which is being evaluated in combination with other agents for colorectal cancer, lung cancer, and advanced solid tumors, with data readouts expected by the end of 2024 [9] Market Context - Merck's Keytruda, a leading anti-PD-1 therapy, accounted for 47% of the company's pharmaceutical sales in 2023 and continues to expand into new indications and markets [7]

Core Insights - NuCana plc presented final data from the Phase 2 NuTide:701 study at the ESMO Congress, focusing on NUC-7738 in combination with pembrolizumab for patients with metastatic melanoma who were refractory to or had relapsed on prior PD-1 inhibitor therapy [1][4] Efficacy Results - In a cohort of 12 patients, 75% (9 patients) achieved disease control, with two patients showing Partial Responses. One patient experienced a 55% reduction in tumor volume after progressing on previous treatments [2] - Seven out of the 12 patients had a progression-free survival time exceeding five months, which is significantly better than the typical 2-3 months seen with current standard care [4] Mechanism of Action - NUC-7738 is believed to sensitize PD-1 resistant tumors to PD-1 inhibitors by targeting multiple aspects of the tumor microenvironment through the disruption of RNA polyadenylation and subsequent changes in gene expression [3] - Data from tumor biopsies indicated increases in genes related to antigen presentation and T-cell activation following NUC-7738 treatment [3] Company Overview - NuCana is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on improving cancer treatment outcomes through its ProTide technology, which transforms nucleoside analogs into more effective and safer medicines [5] - The company's pipeline includes NUC-3373 and NUC-7738, with NUC-3373 currently evaluated in two ongoing clinical studies for metastatic colorectal cancer and advanced solid tumors [5]

Core Insights - NuCana plc announced the discontinuation of the NuTide:323 study based on a pre-planned initial analysis, indicating that the combination of NUC-3373 with other agents was unlikely to meet its primary objective of superior Progression Free Survival compared to the control arm [1][2] - Despite the setback with NuTide:323, ongoing studies NuTide:701 and NuTide:303 continue, with promising data on NUC-7738 plus pembrolizumab to be presented at the ESMO Annual Conference in September 2024 [1][2] Company Overview - NuCana is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on improving cancer treatment outcomes through its ProTide technology, which aims to enhance the efficacy and safety of nucleoside analogs [3] - The company's pipeline includes NUC-3373, derived from 5-fluorouracil, and NUC-7738, a novel agent targeting multiple aspects of the tumor microenvironment [3] Study Details - The NuTide:323 study aimed to develop NUC-3373 as a replacement for 5-FU in combination with other agents for second-line colorectal cancer treatment, but the results were disappointing [2] - The ongoing NuTide:303 study evaluates NUC-3373 in combination with pembrolizumab for advanced solid tumors and docetaxel for lung cancer [3]

Financial Performance - The net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2024, was £13.83 million, compared to a loss of £13.28 million for the same period in 2023, reflecting a 4.1% increase in losses[5] - The total comprehensive loss for the six months ended June 30, 2024, was £13.83 million, compared to £13.32 million for the same period in 2023, indicating a 3.8% increase in comprehensive losses[5] - Operating loss for Q2 2024 was £8.35 million, compared to £6.28 million in Q2 2023, reflecting a 33% increase in operating losses[4] - For the three months ended June 30, 2024, the Company reported a loss of £6.995 million, compared to a loss of £5.414 million for the same period in 2023, resulting in a basic and diluted loss per share of £0.12[28] Cash and Cash Equivalents - Cash and cash equivalents decreased to £11.64 million as of June 30, 2024, down from £17.23 million at the end of 2023, representing a decline of 32.5%[7] - Cash and cash equivalents decreased to £11.639 million as of June 30, 2024, down from £17.225 million as of December 31, 2023[31] - The Company has a going concern period of 12 months, but current cash and cash equivalents are insufficient to fund anticipated operations during this period, necessitating additional capital[23] - There is substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern due to uncertainty in raising sufficient additional capital before cash balances are exhausted[24] Research and Development - Research and development expenses for Q2 2024 were £6.77 million, an increase of 71% compared to £3.96 million in Q2 2023[4] - The Company recognized an income tax credit of £1.272 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, primarily from U.K. research and development tax credits[26] Share Capital and Equity - Share capital as of June 30, 2024, was £2,266,200, and as of December 31, 2023, it was £2,114,000, indicating an increase of approximately 7.2%[37] - The premium share capital was £1,426,604 as of June 30, 2024, compared to £1,413,430 as of December 31, 2023, reflecting a growth of about 0.9%[37] - The exercise of share options resulted in an issuance of share capital of £3,740,015, which shows active management of equity compensation[37] - The balance at June 30, 2024, was £5,566,660, compared to £2,266,140 as of December 31, 2023, representing a significant increase in total equity[37] Assets and Deficits - Total assets decreased to £20.07 million as of June 30, 2024, from £27.81 million at the end of 2023, a decline of 27.7%[7] - The accumulated deficit reached £219.44 million as of June 30, 2024, up from £207.71 million at the end of 2023, marking a 5.7% increase[7] - The Company has a deferred tax asset of £168,000 as of June 30, 2024, compared to £143,000 as of December 31, 2023[27] Revenue Generation - The company has not generated any revenues from operations to date and does not expect to in the foreseeable future, indicating ongoing financial challenges[22] Share Options - The Company granted 6,273,782 share options under the 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan during the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to 2,695,639 options granted in the same period of 2023[33] - Share-based payment expense for the three months ended June 30, 2024, was £0.7 million, a decrease from £1.1 million for the same period in 2023[36]

Key Data Readouts on Track for All Programs in 2024 Anticipated Cash Runway into Q1 2025 EDINBURGH, United Kingdom, Aug. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NuCana plc (NASDAQ: NCNA) announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024 and provided an update on its broad clinical development program with its transformative ProTide therapeutics. As of June 30, 2024, NuCana had cash and cash equivalents of £11.6 million compared to £12.9 million as of March 31, 2024 and £17.2 million at December 31 ...

About NuCana NuCana is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on significantly improving treatment outcomes for patients with cancer by applying our ProTide technology to transform some of the most widely prescribed chemotherapy agents, nucleoside analogs, into more effective and safer medicines. While these conventional agents remain part of the standard of care for the treatment of many solid and hematological tumors, they have significant shortcomings that limit their efficacy and they are of ...

NuCana plc Hugh S. Griffith Chief Executive Officer +44 131 357 1111 info@nucana.com ICR Westwicke Chris Brinzey +1 339-970-2843 chris.brinzey@westwicke.com About NuCana NuCana is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on significantly improving treatment outcomes for patients with cancer by applying our ProTide technology to transform some of the most widely prescribed chemotherapy agents, nucleoside analogs, into more effective and safer medicines. While these conventional agents remain part o ...

NuCana is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on significantly improving treatment outcomes for patients with cancer by applying our ProTide technology to transform some of the most widely prescribed chemotherapy agents, nucleoside analogs, into more effective and safer medicines. While these conventional agents remain part of the standard of care for the treatment of many solid and hematological tumors, they have significant shortcomings that limit their efficacy and they are often poorly to ...

EDINBURGH, United Kingdom, May 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NuCana plc (Nasdaq: NCNA) announced today that Hugh Griffith, Chief Executive Officer, and Don Munoz, Chief Financial Officer, will present at TD Cowen's 5th Annual Oncology Innovation Summit: Insights for ASCO & EHA. Event: TD Cowen's 5th Annual Oncology Innovation Summit Date: Tuesday, May 28, 2024 Time: 8:30 AM EDT Location: Virtual The presentation will be webcast live and available for replay under "Events & Presentations" in the Investors sec ...