Irish biopharma Carrick Therapeutics has licensed exclusive global rights to develop and commercialize an investigational targeted ovarian cancer drug from specialist healthcare company BTG.  Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The therapy, CT900 (formerly BTG945) combines targeting folate receptor α (FRα) and inhibiting thymidylate synthase. The small molecule compound, which was discovered by the UK’s Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) – selectively enters cancer cells that over express FRα versus normal tissues and inhibits thymidylate synthase, leading to cell death.

In a Phase 1 study, seven out of 10 women with advanced ovarian cancer who had the particular molecular marker for the drug responded to treatment.  According to Carrick, there are around 240,000 new ovarian cancer patients every year worldwide, of which 70% present with advanced disease.

“The efficacy results that we have seen so far for CT900 are very promising. The beauty of this drug is that it is targeted to the tumor cells, meaning there are fewer side-effects and making it a very promising treatment for women with ovarian cancer,” said Paul Workman, ICR’s CEO  and president.

Elaine Sullivan, CEO of Carrick Therapeutics, added that in addition to ovarian cancer, the company will be investigating CT900 in other difficult-to-treat cancers that express high levels of FRα.