Venn Life Sciences finds 'model client' in Carrick Therapeutics

Integrated drug development company Venn Life Sciences announced a partnership with Carrick Therapeutics on Friday.

The AIM-traded firm said Carrick Therapeutics was building a portfolio of first-in-class treatments that targeted multiple mechanisms of the most aggressive forms of cancer, and were optimised to a patient's individual tumour through identification of predictive biomarkers.

It said Carrick had built a network of partners and collaborators to progress its technology portfolio, with Venn “delighted” to join that network as a provider of early development and clinical research capabilities.

“In so many respects, Carrick Therapeutics represents the model client for Venn,” said Venn Life Sciences chief executive officer Tony Richardson.

“Highly innovative with a portfolio approach focusing on their core intellectual property, while working on an outsource basis with a well-developed network of support partners.

“At Venn we have built a suite of capabilities designed to address all of the development requirements of this model and are delighted to partner with Carrick in the development of their first in class treatments.”

Elaine Sullivan, chief executive officer of Carrick Therapeutics, added that by linking a network of clinicians and scientists in internationally-leading research institutes and hospitals, her firm would use its multi-asset portfolio to drive the development of “groundbreaking” cancer therapies from laboratory to clinic.

“Together with our academic and biotech partners, we are looking to detect predictive biomarkers in each of our projects to enable us to identify those who would benefit most from our therapies.

“These targeted treatments will bring a higher quality of life to cancer patients around the world,” Sullivan said.

“We are partnering with Venn to provide development and clinical capabilities and they are a welcome addition to our network.”