Biopharmaceutical company Carrick Therapeutics said on Wednesday that it has acquired the exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialise BTG945, now CT900, from the global specialist healthcare company BTG plc (LSE:BTG).

CT900, which is an investigational targeted ovarian cancer drug, is a targeted therapy that combines targeting folate receptor α (FRα) and inhibiting thymidylate synthase. The small molecule compound selectively enters cancer cells that over express folate receptor α (FRα) versus normal tissues and inhibits thymidylate synthase, leading to cell death. It was discovered by The Institute of Cancer Research, London, who led its earlier development with support from Cancer Research UK and BTG.

Under the phase I study[1] led by The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, which was presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting 2017, seven of ten women with advanced ovarian cancer who had the particular molecular marker for the drug responded to treatment.

Pursuant to the agreement with BTG, Carrick has received the exclusive worldwide development and commercialisation rights to CT900 and has already commenced preparations for pivotal studies. A clinical development programme in other cancers will be undertaken. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

In conjunction, Carrick has elected Dr George Golumbeski as chairman of its board of directors. Currently, Dr Golumbeski is the president of GRAIL, a company focused on early detection of cancer. Previously, he has served as executive vice president of Business Development at Celgene.