Bicycle Therapeutics, a UK-based biotech firm, has entered into a significant partnership with Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and its commercialisation arm to develop a novel approach to targeting cancer. This collaboration will focus on the clinical development of BT1718, a Bicycle Drug Conjugate (BDC) designed for patients with advanced solid tumours. BT1718 specifically targets Membrane Type 1 Matrix Metalloproteinase (MT1-MTP), which is highly expressed in many solid tumours, including triple negative breast cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.
Dr. Udai Banaji, the principal investigator for the phase 1 trial, expressed enthusiasm about the potential of BT1718, highlighting the impressive pre-clinical data and the opportunity to evaluate its clinical utility. The Bicycle peptides developed by Bicycle Therapeutics offer the affinity and target specificity of monoclonal antibodies but with the added advantages of rapid and deep tissue penetration due to their small size. This allows for targeted treatment from within tissues and tumours. Additionally, their peptidic nature enables a tunable pharmacokinetic half-life and a renal route of clearance, avoiding liver and gastrointestinal tract toxicity associated with other drug modalities.
Dr. Kevin Lee, CEO of Bicycle Therapeutics, emphasized the importance of the collaboration with CRUK, aiming to advance BT1718 through phase 1 trials and leverage CRUK's extensive network and expertise to explore the potential of this transformative class of cancer treatment. Bicycle Therapeutics retains the right to further advance the BT1718 programme, with future payments to CRUK based on success milestones and royalties.
This partnership follows closely on the heels of Bicycle Therapeutics' recent research collaboration with AstraZeneca, focusing on the development of bicyclic peptides for treating respiratory, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases. The AstraZeneca deal could potentially bring Bicycle Therapeutics over $1 billion in upfront and milestone payments, plus royalties on future sales, contingent on the successful development and market introduction of the planned programmes.
