NuCana Appoints Theresa Bruce as COO to Advance Cancer Drug Pipeline
Key Insights
NuCana (search) plc appointed Theresa Bruce as Chief Operating Officer effective January 1, 2026, bringing over 25 years of oncology research and development experience to the clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company.
Bruce will oversee advancement of NuCana (search)'s pipeline, including generating 2026 data from the Phase 1/2 expansion study of NUC-7738 combined with pembrolizumab in melanoma patients.
The company's ProTide technology transforms nucleoside analog chemotherapy agents into more effective and safer cancer medicines, with NUC-7738 disrupting RNA polyadenylation (search) and targeting the tumor microenvironment.
NuCana (search) plc has appointed Theresa Bruce as Chief Operating Officer, effective January 1, 2026, as the clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company advances its innovative cancer therapy pipeline. The appointment comes at a critical juncture for NuCana, with multiple anticipated data readouts planned for 2026 and a cash runway extending into 2029.
Leadership Expertise in Oncology Development
Bruce brings more than 25 years of experience in oncology research and development, with leadership responsibility across all aspects of clinical planning and delivery in oncology, hematology, and endocrinology. She previously served as Chief Operating Officer at Nexus Oncology (search) and held senior leadership roles at clinical research organizations and biotechnology companies, including Senior Vice President of Clinical Operations at Chiltern (search) and Veristat (search).
"Theresa brings more than two decades of experience leading global clinical development programs across biotechnology companies and clinical research organizations," said Hugh S. Griffith, NuCana (search)'s Founder and Chief Executive Officer. "Her operational leadership and deep clinical expertise will be instrumental as we advance our pipeline."
Most recently, Bruce served as Senior Vice President of Clinical Operations at NuCana (search) and worked as an independent consultant to U.S.-based biotechnology companies, supporting the expansion of clinical trial portfolios outside of North America. She holds an MBA from Glasgow Caledonian University with a focus on Executive Leadership and Strategic Management.
Pipeline Advancement and Strategic Focus
Bruce's appointment positions NuCana (search) to execute key strategic initiatives in 2026, including generating data from the Phase 1/2 expansion study of NUC-7738 in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with melanoma, designated as NuTide:701. The company also plans to prepare an optimal registration strategy to support potential marketing approval of NUC-7738 and further characterize the mode of action and potential target indications for NUC-3373.
"NuCana (search) has an innovative pipeline and a clear strategic focus on developing more effective and safer cancer therapies," Bruce stated. "With multiple anticipated data readouts, particularly for NUC-7738, and an anticipated cash runway extending into 2029, I look forward to contributing to the Company's continued progress and long-term value creation."
ProTide Technology Platform
NuCana (search)'s proprietary ProTide technology transforms widely prescribed chemotherapy agents, specifically nucleoside analogs, into more effective and safer medicines. While conventional nucleoside analogs remain part of the standard of care for treating many solid and hematological tumors, they have significant shortcomings that limit their efficacy and are often poorly tolerated.
The company's ProTides are designed to overcome key limitations of nucleoside analogs and generate much higher concentrations of anti-cancer metabolites in cancer cells. NuCana (search)'s pipeline includes two primary candidates: NUC-7738 and NUC-3373.
Clinical Development Programs
NUC-7738 represents a novel anti-cancer agent that disrupts RNA polyadenylation (search), profoundly impacts gene expression in cancer cells, and targets multiple aspects of the tumor microenvironment. The compound is currently in the Phase 2 part of a Phase 1/2 study evaluating NUC-7738 as a monotherapy in patients with advanced solid tumors and in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with melanoma.
NUC-3373 is a new chemical entity derived from the nucleoside analog 5-fluorouracil, a widely used chemotherapy agent. The compound was recently evaluated in a Phase 1b/2 modular study (NuTide:303) of NUC-3373 in combination with the PD-1 (search) inhibitor pembrolizumab for patients with advanced solid tumors and in combination with docetaxel for patients with lung cancer. NuCana (search) is currently evaluating further characterization of mode of action and target indications for additional clinical studies of NUC-3373.