Carrick Therapeutics announces collaboration with Roche to evaluate novel samuraciclib combination

The CDK7 inhibitor was identified by a collaborative research team at Imperial College London and Emory University in the US, supported by Cancer Research UK, EPSRC and by the NIHR Imperial BRC. Cancer Research UK funded a research programme at Imperial College London to develop the CDK7 inhibitor – ICEC0942 – as a promising new cancer treatment. In 2016, we licensed ICEC0942 also referred as CT7001 or Samuraciclib, as a pre-clinical compound, to Carrick Therapeutics, with support by Emory University and Imperial Innovations, the Technology Transfer Office of Imperial College London.

Collaboration leverages Roche’s MORPHEUS platform to accelerate development of samuraciclib in combination with Roche’s giredestrant

DUBLIN, Ireland and BOSTON, Aug. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Carrick Therapeutics, an oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company discovering and developing highly differentiated therapies, today announced a clinical collaboration with Roche to evaluate a novel combination of Carrick’s samuraciclib and Roche’s giredestrant in CDK4/6i resistant HR+, HER2- metastatic breast cancer. The collaboration will utilize Roche’s MORPHEUS Phase 1b/2 platform for rapid and efficient combination development, with upfront randomization versus a control group.

This new study expands Carrick’s portfolio of clinical trials with samuraciclib, which is also being evaluated in a Phase 2a study in combination with fulvestrant for CDK4/6i resistant HR+, HER2- metastatic breast cancer. Other ongoing studies include samuraciclib for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and prostate cancer – all settings in which CDK7 has been shown to act as a regulator of transcription, the cell cycle and endocrine receptor signalling.

“We are excited to initiate this collaboration with Roche to explore the broad potential of samuraciclib in combination with giredestrant, a next-generation oral SERD,” said Tim Pearson, Chief Executive Officer of Carrick Therapeutics. “Carrick’s preclinical studies have shown strong synergy combining CDK7 inhibitors with endocrine therapies, including models of resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors. This collaboration represents a shared commitment to maximize the potential of innovative combination treatment approaches and address significant unmet needs.”

Under the agreement, each company is supplying its respective anti-cancer agent to support the trial.