NuCana Presents Promising Data on NUC-7738 at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics 2023

Data from the NuTide:701 Study Indicate NUC-7738 May Potentiate the Activity of Anti-PD-1 Agents in Patients who were Refractory to or Progressed on Prior Immunotherapy, including Anti-PD-1 Therapy

Several Patients Achieved Reductions in Tumor Volume and Prolonged Time on Treatment

BOSTON, Oct. 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NuCana plc (NASDAQ: NCNA) announced a presentation on the ongoing NuTide:701 study of NUC-7738 at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics 2023 that took place October 11-15, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts.

The NuTide:701 study is in the Phase 2 part investigating NUC-7738 both as a monotherapy in solid tumors and in combination with the anti-PD-1 therapy pembrolizumab in patients with metastatic cutaneous melanoma. All patients had exhausted standard available therapies.

NUC-7738 has been well tolerated both as a monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab. Encouraging signs of efficacy, including tumor volume reductions and prolonged time on treatment have been observed in both the monotherapy and combination cohorts.

In the combination cohort of melanoma patients, who had all been previously treated with anti-PD-1 based therapy, numerous patients achieved tumor volume reductions and prolonged time on treatment. One patient who was refractory to the anti-PD-1 plus anti-CTLA-4 therapy combination of nivolumab plus ipilimumab achieved a 50% reduction in tumor volume on NUC-7738 plus pembrolizumab and remains on treatment. Seven of the eleven patients recruited to date remain on treatment.

Patient tumor biopsy data showed that, following treatment with NUC-7738 plus pembrolizumab, expression of PD-1 was reduced and CD8+ T-cells increased, indicating that NUC-7738 may have the ability to potentiate immunotherapy. This finding provides a rationale as to why NUC-7738 plus pembrolizumab may be effective in patients who have progressed on prior immunotherapy.

Hugh S. Griffith, NuCana’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are excited to have reported the first data on NUC-7738 in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with melanoma who had previously received immunotherapy. The patient biopsy data indicate that NUC-7738 may make tumors sensitive to treatment with immunotherapy, including anti-PD-1 agents. We look forward to sharing additional updates as these data continue to mature.”