Shares of NuCana plc (NASDAQ: NCNA) are experiencing a remarkable surge this morning on the US stock charts following the release of promising clinical trial data. As of the latest pre-market session, NCNA stock risen by 180.31%, reaching $7.12.
NuCana Shared Encouraging Phase 2 Study Results
At the ESMO Congress, NuCana revealed the findings of their Phase 2 NuTide:701 research, which examined the use of NUC-7738 in conjunction with pembrolizumab for patients with metastatic melanoma who had previously encountered resistance or recurrence on PD-1 inhibitor treatment.
Twelve patients made up the trial cohort, the majority of whom having received at least two lines of PD-1 inhibitor therapy before. Surprisingly, two of these patients reported Partial Responses, and 75% of them were able to control their condition. Notably, one patient had a 55% decrease in tumor volume after taking NUC-7738; this patient had previously progressed on ipilimumab with nivolumab.
NCNA Observed Exceptional Survival Rates and Safety Profile
Seven of the 12 patients showed a progression-free survival (PFS) time exceeding five months, a significant improvement compared to the typical 2-3 months PFS seen with current standard treatments. The combination of NUC-7738 and pembrolizumab also exhibited a favorable safety profile, further underscoring its potential as a viable therapeutic option.
Mechanism of Action and Future Prospects
NUC-7738’s efficacy in overcoming PD-1 resistance is attributed to its capacity to disrupt RNA polyadenylation, thereby altering gene expression within cancer cells and affecting the tumor microenvironment. Data from tumor biopsies before and after treatment revealed increased gene activity associated with antigen presentation and T-cell activation, supporting the hypothesis of NUC-7738’s effectiveness.
The translational data suggest that the observed sensitization of previously resistant tumors to PD-1 inhibitors may extend beyond melanoma to other cancer types. NuCana (NASDAQ: NCNA) is optimistic about these findings and plans to share further development strategies for NUC-7738 in the near future.
