A New Era in Colorectal Cancer Therapy
Backed by over $17M in non-dilutive funding, Barricade is advancing a first-in-class oral therapy designed to change how colorectal cancer is treated.
Colorectal cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Despite advances in oncology, significant unmet need persists — particularly as incidence rises among younger adults.
In this video overview, Barricade’s founder discusses the biological drivers of colorectal cancer, the limitations of current treatment strategies, and the scientific rationale behind our investigational program, BT-1501.
BT-1501 is an investigational drug candidate and has not been approved by the FDA.
Why Colorectal Cancer Needs a New Approach
The Problem
Colorectal cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related death — and incidence is rising in younger populations.
A Disease Still Winning
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common and deadly malignancies worldwide. In the United States alone, hundreds of thousands of new cases are diagnosed each year, and mortality remains significant despite advances in screening and early detection.
Alarmingly, recent epidemiological data show colorectal cancer has become the leading cause of cancer-related death among adults under 50. This shift reflects changing disease biology and highlights the urgent need for improved therapeutic strategies.
While surgical intervention and chemotherapy have improved outcomes for early-stage disease, treatment options for advanced and metastatic colorectal cancer remain limited. Standard regimens often rely on cytotoxic chemotherapy, which can carry substantial systemic toxicity and frequently fail to prevent disease progression.
Survival rates for advanced colorectal cancer have seen only modest improvements over the past several decades. Many patients ultimately develop resistance to existing therapies, underscoring the need for mechanism-driven approaches that address the biological drivers of tumor growth.
Colorectal Cancer at a Glance
2nd Leading Cause
of Cancer Death in the United States
Leading Cause
of Cancer Death in Adults Under 50
Limited Effective Treatment Options
for Advanced and Metastatic Disease
High Rates of Therapeutic Resistance
in Late-Stage Colorectal Cancer
The Solution
A First-in-Class, Targeted Oral Therapy for Colorectal Cancer
A Precision Oral Approach to Colorectal Cancer
Barricade Therapeutics is developing BT-1501, an investigational small-molecule therapy designed to target key genetic drivers of colorectal cancer progression.
Unlike conventional treatment regimens that rely on broad cytotoxic mechanisms, BT-1501 is engineered to act at the molecular origin of tumor growth — where disease progression begins.
As a once-daily oral therapy, BT-1501 is being developed to offer a differentiated treatment approach that may reduce treatment burden while maintaining mechanistic precision.
In preclinical studies, BT-1501 has demonstrated tumor-targeting and cell-disruption activity in relevant colorectal cancer models and continues to advance toward clinical evaluation.
Independent Validation from Leading Institutions
Barricade’s scientific foundation is supported by established research institutions and experienced pharmaceutical leadership. Our team brings decades of oncology, drug development, and clinical advancement expertise to the development of BT-1501.
$17M in Non-Dilutive CPRIT Funding
Barricade has secured $17 million in non-dilutive funding from the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), one of the largest public funders of cancer research in the United States.
CPRIT funding supports advancement of BT-1501 toward IND submission and first-in-human clinical trials and is awarded through a rigorous scientific and regulatory review process.
Investment from the American Cancer Society
Barricade is backed by the American Cancer Society’s BrightEdge Fund, a mission-driven investor supporting the development of high-impact cancer therapies.
BrightEdge participation provides external scientific validation and reinforces Barricade’s patient-focused development strategy.
Strong Global IP Position
Barricade holds issued composition-of-matter and method-of-use patents protecting BT-1501 and the TASIN platform through 2039, with additional expansion potential.
Freedom-to-operate analyses have been completed with no blocking intellectual property identified.
The Opportunity
A Large and Durable Oncology Market with Persistent Unmet Need
The Scale and Clinical Urgency of the Colorectal Cancer Market
Colorectal cancer remains one of the largest and deadliest cancer markets worldwide, driven by high incidence, long treatment durations, and limited durable options across multiple disease stages.
Over $13B global colorectal cancer market, with continued expansion expected
More than 1.9 million new cases diagnosed globally each year
Approximately 935,000 deaths annually, underscoring the magnitude of unmet need
Growth sustained by disease progression, treatment resistance, and lack of curative options
Despite advances in biologics and immunotherapy, most patients eventually exhaust existing treatments — creating ongoing demand for new, differentiated therapies.
Why This Market Supports Long-Term Commercial Potential
Current colorectal cancer treatments remain costly, complex, and burdensome, reinforcing demand for innovation.
Many leading therapies rely on injectables or combination regimens with limited durability
Strong clinical and commercial demand exists for oral therapies that can be used earlier, longer, or alongside existing standards of care
Long treatment timelines and recurring use support durable commercial potential
BT-1501 is being developed to address this unmet need within a large, established, and growing global oncology market.
As patients progress through multiple lines of therapy, treatment options become increasingly limited, reinforcing long-term demand for new, differentiated approaches.
Executive Leadership
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Neil C. Thapar, PharmD, RPh
Co-Founder, Board Chairman, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Scientific Officer
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John Walling, PhD
Co-Founder, SVP, CMC
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Mariam E. Morris
Chief Operating Officer
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Scott Jordan, MBA
Chief Financial Officer
Barricade Therapeutics
Barricade Therapeutics is a clinical-stage oncology company focused on developing first-in-class oral therapies for genetically driven cancers with significant unmet need.
Led by experienced scientific, clinical, and financial leadership, Barricade is advancing BT-1501—an oral EBP inhibitor designed to target the underlying drivers of colorectal cancer. The company’s approach prioritizes precision, patient tolerability, and durable therapeutic potential across large, established oncology markets.
With independent validation from leading institutions, long-dated intellectual property, and a clear development pathway, Barricade is positioned to translate rigorous science into meaningful clinical and commercial impact.
Investment Opportunity Now Available
Barricade Therapeutics is currently conducting a capital raise through StartEngine.
BT-1501 is investigational and has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Securities are offered through StartEngine Primary, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment involves risk.