GlobeNewswire Inc | Aug 19, 2020 04:01PM EDT

August 19, 2020

EDINBURGH, United Kingdom, Aug. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NuCana plc (NASDAQ: NCNA) announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020 and provided an update on its broad clinical program with its transformative ProTide therapeutics.

As of June 30, 2020, NuCana had cash and cash equivalents of 47.8 million compared to 47.6 million as of March 31, 2020 and 52.0 million as of December 31, 2019. NuCana continues to advance its various clinical programs and reported a net loss of 6.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, as compared to 4.5 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2019. Basic and diluted loss per share was 0.19 for the quarter as compared to 0.14 per share for the prior-year quarter.

We had a very productive second quarter despite the COVID-19 pandemic. While we placed a brief pause on the recruitment of new patients in April, we have since lifted that pause and our operations have experienced minimal disruption to date, said Hugh S. Griffith, NuCanas Founder and Chief Executive Officer. We are driving recruitment in the ongoing global Phase III study of Acelarin plus cisplatin in patients with biliary tract cancer. We are also making good progress in the Phase Ib combination and Phase I monotherapy studies of NUC-3373 as well as the Phase I study of NUC-7738.

Mr. Griffith continued: We are also excited to have three posters accepted for presentation at the ESMO Virtual Congress 2020 to be held September 19-21, 2020. We look forward to presenting additional interim clinical data from the ongoing Phase Ib study of NUC-3373 in combination with other agents typically combined with 5-FU in patients with advanced colorectal cancer (NuTide:302). Additionally, we will present the first-ever clinical data from the ongoing Phase I study of NUC-7738 in patients with advanced solid tumors (NuTide:701). Finally, we will present a poster related to the ongoing NuTide:121 study of Acelarin plus cisplatin in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer.

The poster titles are as follows:

-- Poster 464P - Pharmacokinetic analysis of NUC-3373 with and without leucovorin in patients with previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer (NuTide:302 study) -- Poster 600TiP - A first-in-human study of, NUC-7738, a 3'-dA phosphoramidate, in patients with advanced solid tumors (NuTide:701) -- Poster 80TiP - Global Phase 3 study of NUC-1031 plus cisplatin vs gemcitabine plus cisplatin for first-line treatment of patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (NuTide:121)

Mr. Griffith said: We were also pleased to have presented data at the American Association for Cancer Research in June that suggested an additional immunomodulatory mode of action for Acelarin and NUC-3373. These data showed our ProTides potential to alter tumor biology and enhance the activity of immune checkpoint inhibitors. They also revealed new and exciting modes of action and help explain why our ProTides appear to be such potent anti-cancer agents.

Mr. Griffith concluded: As we continue to advance our novel ProTide pipeline, we remain fortunate to be in a strong financial position with our cash runway still expected to extend at least into the fourth quarter of 2021. We remain focused on advancing our novel ProTide pipeline to develop more effective and safer medicines for patients with cancer.

Anticipated 2020 Milestones

-- Acelarin is a ProTide transformation of gemcitabine. In 2020, NuCana expects to: Drive enrollment in the Phase III study of Acelarin combined with cisplatin as a first-line treatment for patients with advanced biliary tract cancer. -- NUC-3373 is a ProTide transformation of the active anti-cancer metabolite of 5-FU. In 2020, NuCana expects to: Report data from the ongoing Phase Ib study (NuTide:302) of NUC-3373 in patients with advanced colorectal cancer and establish the recommended Phase II dose of NUC-3373 in combination with other agents with which 5-FU is typically combined, such as leucovorin, oxaliplatin and irinotecan.Contingent on regulatory guidance and other factors, initiate a Phase II/III study of NUC-3373 in combination with other agents for patients with colorectal cancer.Report data from the ongoing Phase I study (NuTide:301) of NUC-3373 in patients with advanced solid tumors. -- NUC-7738 is a ProTide transformation of a novel nucleoside analog, 3-deoxyadenosine. In 2020, NuCana expects to: Report data from the Phase I study (NuTide:701) of NUC-7738 in patients with advanced solid tumors.

About NuCana plc

NuCana is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on significantly improving treatment outcomes for cancer patients 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, their efficacy is limited by cancer cell resistance mechanisms and they are often poorly tolerated. Utilizing our proprietary technology, we are developing new medicines, ProTides, designed to overcome key cancer resistance mechanisms and generate much higher concentrations of anti-cancer metabolites in cancer cells. NuCanas robust pipeline includes three ProTides in clinical development. Acelarin and NUC-3373, are new chemical entities derived from the nucleoside analogs gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil, respectively, two widely used chemotherapy agents. Acelarin is currently being evaluated in four clinical studies, including a Phase III study for patients with biliary tract cancer, a Phase Ib study for patients with biliary tract cancer, a Phase II study for patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and a Phase III study for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer for which enrollment has been suspended. NUC-3373 is currently in a Phase I study for the potential treatment of a wide range of advanced solid tumors and a Phase Ib study for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Our third ProTide, NUC-7738, is a transformation of a novel nucleoside analog (3-deoxyadenosine) and is in a Phase I study for patients with advanced solid tumors.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forwardlooking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are based on the beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management of NuCana plc (the Company). All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, including statements concerning the amount and sufficiency of the Companys current cash and cash equivalents to fund its planned operations at least into the fourth quarter of 2021; the Companys planned and ongoing clinical studies for the Companys product candidates and the potential advantages of those product candidates, including Acelarin, NUC-3373 and NUC-7738; the initiation, enrollment, timing, progress, release of data from and results of those planned and ongoing clinical studies; the impact of COVID-19 on its preclinical studies, clinical studies, business, financial condition and results of operations; the Companys goals with respect to the development and potential use, if approved, of each of its product candidates; and the utility of prior non-clinical and clinical data in determining future clinical results. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as may, will, should, expects, plans, anticipates, believes, estimates, predicts, potential or continue or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Companys actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties set forth in the "Risk Factors" section of the Companys Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 10, 2020, and subsequent reports that the Company files with the SEC. Forward-looking statements represent the Companys beliefs and assumptions only as of the date of this press release. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update any forwardlooking statements for any reason after the date of this press release to conform any of the forward-looking statements to actual results or to changes in its expectations.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the three months For the six months ended ended June 30, June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 (in thousands, except per share data) Research and development (5,863 ) (5,356 ) (11,801 ) (9,706 )expensesAdministrative expenses (1,629 ) (1,462 ) (3,238 ) (2,808 )Net foreign exchange gains 84 943 2,211 (37 )(losses)Operating loss (7,408 ) (5,875 ) (12,828 ) (12,551 )Finance income 64 297 208 616 Loss before tax (7,344 ) (5,578 ) (12,620 ) (11,935 )Income tax credit 1,283 1,108 2,593 2,108 Loss for the period (6,061 ) (4,470 ) (10,027 ) (9,827 ) Basic and diluted loss per (0.19 ) (0.14 ) (0.31 ) (0.30 )share

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

June December 30, 31, 2020 2019 (in thousands) Assets Non-current assets Intangible assets 4,534 3,960 Property, plant and equipment 917 1,109 Deferred tax asset 40 46 5,491 5,115 Current assets Prepayments, accrued income and other receivables 3,877 4,710 Current income tax receivable 6,932 8,481 Cash and cash equivalents 47,800 51,962 58,609 65,153 Total assets 64,100 70,268 Equity and liabilities Capital and reserves Share capital and share premium 82,783 80,840 Other reserves 64,360 62,737 Accumulated deficit (90,014 ) (80,055 )Total equity attributable to equity holders of the 57,129 63,522 Company Non-current liabilities Provisions 26 26 Lease liabilities 429 538 455 564 Current liabilities Trade payables 1,928 2,412 Payroll taxes and social security 151 160 Lease liabilities 246 268 Accrued expenditure 4,191 3,342 6,516 6,182 Total liabilities 6,971 6,746 Total equity and liabilities 64,100 70,268

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the six months ended June 30, 2020 2019 (in thousands) Cash flows from operating activities Loss for the period (10,027 ) (9,827 )Adjustments for: Income tax credit (2,593 ) (2,108 )Amortization and depreciation 440 336 Finance income (208 ) (616 )Interest expense on lease liabilities 14 - Share-based payments 1,669 1,166 Net foreign exchange (gains) losses (2,252 ) 22 (12,957 ) (11,027 )Movements in working capital: Decrease (increase) in prepayments, accrued income 802 (1,518 )and other receivablesDecrease in trade payables (484 ) (164 )Increase in payroll taxes, social security and 840 1,063 accrued expenditureMovements in working capital 1,158 (619 )Cash used in operations (11,799 ) (11,646 )Net income tax received 4,152 11 Net cash used in operating activities (7,647 ) (11,635 )Cash flows from investing activities Interest received 279 622 Payments for property, plant and equipment (14 ) (21 )Payments for intangible assets (804 ) (734 )Net cash used in investing activities (539 ) (133 )Cash flows from financing activities Payments of lease liabilities (148 ) (95 )Proceeds from issue of share capital ? exercise of 15 86 share optionsProceeds from issue of share capital 2,033 - Share issue expenses (105 ) - Net cash from (used in) financing activities 1,795 (9 )Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (6,391 ) (11,777 )Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 51,962 76,972 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash 2,229 (21 )equivalentsCash and cash equivalents at end of period 47,800 65,174

For more information, please contact:

NuCana plcHugh S. GriffithChief Executive OfficerT: +44 131 357 1111E: info@nucana.com

Westwicke, an ICR CompanyChris BrinzeyT: +1 339-970-2843E: chris.brinzey@westwicke.com

RooneyPartnersMarion JanicT: +1 212-223-4017E: mjanic@rooneyco.com