After a new patent issue was announced, NuCana plc (NASDAQ: NCNA) is a notable share-price increase today. As of the latest pre-market check, NCNA stock has jumped 18.69% to trade at $3.62 on the US stock charts. The surge in stock price is coming on the heels of a significant advance concerning the company’s anti-cancer drug, NUC-7738.
New Patent Enhances NuCana’s Intellectual Property
A fresh patent covering the composition of matter for NUC-7738 has been awarded to NuCana by the USPTO, the United States Patent and Trademark Office. This patent is an important complement to the more than 80 granted patents that NUC-7738 currently possesses as a strong foundation for its intellectual property. NuCana stressed the significance of this patent in securing the agent’s protection, especially as clinical studies progress.
NCNA Shared Encouraging Clinical Trial Results
Trial participants whose melanoma is resistant to PD-1 inhibitors are the primary target population. NuCana revealed encouraging findings at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2024, demonstrating how NUC-7738 targets the tumor microenvironment and can sensitize previously resistant tumors to PD-1 inhibitor rechallenge.
Of the twelve patients enrolled in the experiment, seventy-five attained disease control, and two showed partial responses. Remarkably, one patient demonstrated a 55% reduction in tumor size after progressing on two prior PD-1-based therapies. Additionally, seven patients maintained progression-free survival for over five months—exceeding the typical range of 2-3 months for this patient population.
Future Prospects for NUC-7738
NUC-7738 has demonstrated a positive safety profile when used in conjunction with pembrolizumab, in addition to its effectiveness. NuCana (NCNA) is pushing the development of NUC-7738 as a potential therapy for melanoma patients who have run out of other treatment choices, encouraged by these results. The company’s position in the cancer market is further strengthened by the recent patent issue, which lays a solid platform for future clinical and commercial success.
