NuCana adds GSK oncology president to its board

Life sciences company NuCana today bolstered its boardroom with the appointment of Paolo Paoletti, president of oncology at drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline.

The Edinburgh-based firm, which specialises in anti-cancer medicines and earlier this year secured the biggest ever private investment for a Scottish life sciences business, said Paoletti would bring “significant international experience” in clinical development and commercial strategy.

Chief executive and co-founder Hugh Griffith added: “This is an exciting time for NuCana as the company continues to gather compelling efficacy and safety data in patients with advanced solid tumours.”

Paoletti has been president of oncology at GSK since 2010, having joined the group in 2004. Prior to that he served as the vice-president of clinical development for Lilly Oncology.

“I strongly believe that NuCana’s new medicines could have a major impact on the way we treat cancer patients in the future,” he said today.

In April, NuCana received a $57 million (£36.3m) injection led by a new investor, Californian venture capital firm Sofinnova Ventures, to fund the development of its portfolio of anti-cancer treatments.

The fundraising was supported by substantial investments from other existing investors, including Paris-based Sofinnova Partners, Morningside Ventures, Alida Capital International and the Scottish Investment Bank, the investment arm of Scottish Enterprise.