Over 1.8 million people are estimated to be stricken with colorectal cancer (CRC) every year (3rd most common cancer), and over 880,000 will die (2nd most common cancer). While improvements in prevention and screening have led to increased survival over the past several decades, metastatic cancer still has a poor prognosis (11% 5-year survival) despite best available therapies. Treatment for CRC relies heavily on non-specific chemotherapy drugs with harsh side effects. Under prior CPRIT research awards, scientists at the University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) identified a class of highly specific drugs for CRC, referred to as TASINs, that selectively inhibit a mutated gene (adenomatous poly...

Read More

Over 1.8 million people are estimated to be stricken with colorectal cancer (CRC) every year (3rd most common cancer), and over 880,000 will die (2nd most common cancer). While improvements in prevention and screening have led to increased survival over the past several decades, metastatic cancer still has a poor prognosis (11% 5-year survival) despite best available therapies. Treatment for CRC relies heavily on non-specific chemotherapy drugs with harsh side effects. Under prior CPRIT research awards, scientists at the University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) identified a class of highly specific drugs for CRC, referred to as TASINs, that selectively inhibit a mutated gene (adenomatous polyposis coli, or APC) present in greater than 80% of CRC patients. Mutations in APC are one of the earliest and critical events responsible for initiation and progression of CRC. In animal studies, TASINs significantly reduced tumor growth without harming normal cells. Barricade has selected the TASIN molecule that will move forward into human studies in 2020, with the goal of improving the survival of CRC patients diagnosed. The selective nature of TASINs combined with the prevalence of its target in CRC makes Barricade’s drug an attractive candidate for treating millions of people suffering from CRC worldwide. Barricade’s experienced Texas-based drug development team plans to bring TASIN to market by 2026.

Read Less