Barricade Therapeutics

Recent headlines surrounding colorectal cancer are alarming:

“Colorectal cancer rates are skyrocketing in young adults” — Cancer Research Institute.

“Rectal cancer deaths rising rapidly among millennials” — NBC News.

“What is behind the rise in younger colorectal cancers?” — NPR.

Colorectal is now the leading cause of cancer death in men, and second in women, under the age of 50. Barricade Therapeutics is working on a solution.

This biotech startup is developing BT-1501, an oral therapy designed for a specific mutation associated with colorectal cancer (CRC). This mutation is known as APC-mutant and is found in roughly eighty percent of all CRC patients.

Backed by seventeen million dollars in funding from the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas and an investment from the American Cancer Society, Barricade is preparing for its first-in-human studies.

Barricade is trying to do something different when it comes to cancer treatment. Many existing therapies — chemotherapy, for example — take a broad-attack approach to treatment. They target rapidly-dividing cells, which includes cancer cells and healthy ones. That’s why these treatments often come with harsh side effects and inconsistent outcomes.

Instead of attacking cancer broadly, Barricade is targeting a specific genetic driver that fuels tumor growth. In APC-mutant CRC, a mutation in the APC gene acts like a broken switch, constantly telling cells to grow and divide. BT-1501 is designed to interrupt that signal at the molecular level, essentially cutting off the instructions that allow the tumor to keep expanding.

Notably, BT-1501 is delivered as a pill, not an IV infusion. Many cancer therapies require frequent hospital visits, complex administration, and high costs. An oral therapy can simplify treatment, making it easier for patients to stay consistent and potentially lowering the burden on the healthcare system.

As mentioned, CRC is fast-becoming a leading form of cancer. According to Grand View Research, the colorectal-cancer therapeutics market was valued at more than eleven billion dollars in 2022, and is projected to surpass sixteen billion dollars by 2030.

In 2024, there were 1.9 million new cases of CRC worldwide with 935,000 deaths. Twenty percent of CRC patients present with Stage IV metastatic colorectal cancer (this means the cancer has spread to other parts of the body). And only eight percent of metastatic CRC patients survive five years.

With respect to revenue potential, there are roughly 36,000 Stage-IV CRC patients a year in the U.S. Using an estimated annual per-patient treatment cost comparable to existing therapies, and if BT-1501 were to receive FDA approval, the total sales opportunity would reach roughly $1.8 billion.

Barricade is raising funds to initiate Phase 1 clinical trials. This will involve evaluating BT-1501 in patients with advanced or metastatic APC-mutation CRC who have already received doses of chemotherapy.

Team Background

Neil Thapar - Co-Founder & CEO

Neil is a clinical pharmacologist with more than twenty years of experience in oncology drug development.

Prior to starting Barricade, he was a consultant for a drug-development firm in Dallas. Before that, he was Director of Clinical Pharmacology with ESSA Pharmaceuticals.

Earlier in his career, he was VP of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics at Claria Biosciences, taking this role after spending six years in the same position with Reata Pharmaceuticals.

Neil began his career as a clinical pharmacology research specialist with MD Anderson Cancer Center. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Pharmacology from Western University, a degree in Pharmacy from the University of Houston, and completed his post-doctoral fellowship in clinical pharmacology at the University of Texas.

John Walling - Co-Founder & SVP

John is an organic chemist with thirty-five years of experience. He holds multiple patents for his work and has a track record of commercialization.

Most recently, he was a consultant to small pharmaceutical companies. Before that, he held a part-time Vice President role with Salarius Pharmaceuticals, after spending more than a decade as VP of Quality Operations with Reata Pharmaceuticals.

Earlier in his career, John was Director of Chemistry with Ilex Oncology Services and was a senior scientist with Abbott Laboratories, a biotech firm.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Northern Iowa and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Iowa State.

Co-Investors

BrightEdge

The philanthropic fund of the American Cancer Society, investing in companies that focus on fighting cancer.