Company: NCNA
Filing Date: 2025-03-20
Form Type: 20-F
Source: 0000950170-25-042709
Chunk: 115

Company: NuCana plc
Filing Date: 2025-03-20
Form: 20-F
Item: Item 4
Chunk 115
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, were observed in

challenging indications, including ovarian and biliary tract cancers. In March 2022, we announced the discontinuation of the Phase 3 clinical trial, also known as the NuTide:121 trial, investigating Acelarin in combination with cisplatin versus the standard of care, gemcitabine plus cisplatin, in patients with previously untreated locally advanced or metastatic biliary tract cancer. This decision was made following a pre-planned futility analysis by the trial’s Independent Data Monitoring Committee. Although a higher objective response rate, as assessed by Blinded Independent Central Review, was observed in the Acelarin plus cisplatin arm, this did not translate into an overall survival benefit. We are assessing future development options for Acelarin in biliary tract cancer which may explore lower doses of Acelarin, alternative combination partners or specific sub-sets of biliary tract cancer patients. Indications other than biliary tract cancer are also being assessed as future development options for Acelarin.
 Our proprietary ProTide technology was invented in the Cardiff University laboratory of our late Chief Scientific Officer, Professor Christopher McGuigan, who conceived of and filed the original composition of matter patents for our initial ProTides. The unique feature of his discovery was the specific combination of aryl, ester and amino acid groupings that protect the activated, or phosphorylated, nucleoside analog. This phosphoramidate chemistry approach is the key to the ProTide technology. Every ProTide grouping is distinct, and Professor McGuigan and his team synthesized and tested thousands of compounds in order to identify the optimal ProTide grouping for each underlying nucleoside analog.
 We have licensed what we believe to be the foundational patent estate for the application of phosphoramidate chemistry in oncology. We own granted patents in key markets, including the United States, Europe and Japan, protecting the composition of matter of NUC-7738, NUC-3373, Acelarin and other of our product candidates. Professor McGuigan’s work preceded and helped lead to the development of several FDA-approved anti-viral drugs containing ProTides, including: sofosbuvir, or Sovaldi®, which is also a key component of Harvoni®, Vosevi® and Epclusa®; and tenofovir alafenamide fumarate, or TAF, which is a key component of Biktarvy®, Genvoya®, Descovy® and Odefsey®;