Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp. Announces Publication of Results from Phase 2a Trial of DR Cysteamine for Treatment of Cystinosis
Potential to Improve Treatment with Less Frequent Administration and Better Tolerability
NOVATO, Calif., Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Raptor
Pharmaceutical Corp. ("Raptor" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:RPTP) , today announced the publication
of results from a Phase 2a clinical trial of a prototype
formulation of its proprietary delayed-release cysteamine
bitartrate ("DR Cysteamine") in patients with nephropathic
cystinosis ("cystinosis"). Ranjan Dohil, M.D., Professor of
Pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego, was lead
author of the study to be published in the Journal of Pediatrics
and available online at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19775699?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=1.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071022/NYM074LOGO
)
The Phase 2a study demonstrated proof-of-concept for DR
Cysteamine, which is Raptor's proprietary, delayed-release,
enteric-coated microbead formulation of immediate release
cysteamine bitartrate contained in a gelatin capsule.
Immediate-release cysteamine bitartrate ("IR Cysteamine") is the
current standard of care for treating cystinosis. The results
indicated that when given twice daily, the prototype DR Cysteamine
formulation was effective at maintaining low white blood cell
("WBC") cystine levels (<2 nmol half-cystine/mg protein) in
subjects with cystinosis. Results also indicated that the prototype
DR Cysteamine effectively maintained trough WBC cystine levels
within a satisfactory range when patients received approximately
60% of the previous total daily dose of IR Cysteamine.
Dr. Dohil stated, "We are seeking to improve tolerability and
reduce dosing frequency requirements of IR Cysteamine which have
been documented challenges for cystinosis patients, leading to
widely reported instances of poor treatment compliance. We believe
the results of the Phase 2a study bring us significantly closer to
a potential treatment solution for cystinosis patients. The results
from our trial indicate prototype delayed-release cysteamine
formulation lead to improved tolerability and efficacy when
administered twice-daily and at a lower total daily dose than IR
Cysteamine. Based on these results, I believe that Raptor's final
DR Cysteamine formulation has the potential to improve compliance
and long-term treatment outcomes for cystinosis patients."
Based on these Phase 2a results, Raptor conducted a Phase 2b
clinical trial using its final commercial formulation of DR
Cysteamine and recently announced the following top-line Phase 2b
results: DR Cysteamine demonstrated improved tolerability and the
potential to reduce total daily dosage and administration frequency
compared to IR Cysteamine.
-- Pharmacokinetic evaluation showed that DR Cysteamine had a terminal
half-life more than three times longer than the terminal half-life of
IR Cysteamine.
-- Twice-daily DR Cysteamine may achieve the same pharmacodynamic result
while using a total daily dose 30% lower than IR Cysteamine
administered four times daily.
-- No adverse events recorded during the clinical trial were determined
by the principal investigator to be possibly or probably related to DR
Cysteamine. Nine adverse events recorded in the clinical trial were
determined to be possibly or probably related to IR Cysteamine.
-- The proprietary, final formulation of DR Cysteamine confirmed earlier
clinical trials conducted by Dr. Dohil using an enteric-coated
prototype formulation of cysteamine bitartrate, which was funded by
the Cystinosis Research Foundation ("CRF").
During the first quarter of 2010, Raptor plans to meet with the
Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") and European Medicines Agency
("EMEA") to discuss plans for a repeat-dose, pivotal, Phase 3
clinical trial in cystinosis patients. Upon receiving FDA and EMEA
agreements on protocol, Raptor intends to initiate its Phase 3
clinical trial at multiple sites in the US and Europe.
Cystinosis is an inborn metabolic error characterized by the
abnormal transport of cystine, an amino acid, out of the lysosomes.
Failure to treat cystinosis can cause serious health consequences,
including renal failure and resultant kidney transplant, growth
failure, rickets, photophobia and blindness. Symptom onset
typically occurs within the first year of life, when cystine
crystals accumulate in various tissues and organs, including the
kidneys, brain, liver, thyroid, pancreas, muscles and eyes.
About Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp.
Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp. (NASDAQ:RPTP) ("Raptor") is dedicated to
speeding the delivery of new treatment options to patients by
working to improve existing therapeutics through the application of
highly specialized drug targeting platforms and formulation
expertise. Raptor focuses on underserved patient populations where
it can have the greatest potential impact. Raptor currently has
product candidates in clinical development designed to potentially
treat nephropathic cystinosis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
("NASH"), Huntington's Disease ("HD"), aldehyde dehydrogenase
("ALDH2") deficiency, and a non-opioid solution designed to
potentially treat chronic pain.
Raptor's preclinical programs are based upon bioengineered novel
drug candidates and drug-targeting platforms derived from the human
receptor-associated protein ("RAP") and related proteins that are
designed to target cancer, neurodegenerative disorders and
infectious diseases.
For additional information, please visit www.raptorpharma.com. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This document contains forward-looking statements as that term
is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
These statements relate to future events or our future results of
operation or future financial performance, including, but not
limited to the following statements: that the results of the Phase
2a study bring Raptor significantly closer to a potential treatment
solution for cystinosis patients; that Raptor's DR Cysteamine
formulation has the potential to improve compliance and long-term
treatment outcomes for this highly unmet medical need; that
twice-daily DR Cysteamine may achieve the same pharmacodynamic
result while using a total daily dose 30% lower than IR Cysteamine
administered four times daily; that Raptor intends to initiate its
Phase 3 clinical trial at multiple sites in the US and Europe; and
that any of Raptor's clinical and preclinical drug candidates will
result in approved therapeutics. These statements are only
predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors, which may cause the Company's actual results to be
materially different from these forward-looking statements. Factors
which may significantly change or prevent the Company's forward
looking statements from fruition include: that Raptor may be
unsuccessful at raising funds to continue its development programs;
Raptor may be unsuccessful in developing any products or acquiring
products; that Raptor's technology may not be validated as it
progresses further and its methods may not be accepted by the
scientific community; that Raptor is unable to retain or attract
key employees whose knowledge is essential to the development of
its products; that unforeseen scientific difficulties develop with
the Company's process; that Raptor's patents are not sufficient to
protect essential aspects of its technology; that competitors may
invent better technology; and that Raptor's products may not work
as well as hoped or worse, that the Company's products may harm
recipients. As well, Raptor's products may never develop into
useful products and even if they do, they may not be approved for
sale to the public. Raptor cautions readers not to place undue
reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only
as of the date they were made. Certain of these risks,
uncertainties, and other factors are described in greater detail in
the Company's filings from time to time with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which Raptor strongly urges you to
read and consider, including Raptor's current report on Form 8-K as
filed with the SEC on November 17, 2009 and the joint proxy
statement/prospectus on Form S-4 filed with the SEC on August 19,
2009, all of which are available free of charge on the SEC's web
site at http://www.sec.gov/. Subsequent written and oral
forward-looking statements attributable to Raptor or to persons
acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by
the cautionary statements set forth in Raptor's reports filed with
the SEC. Raptor expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to
update any forward-looking statements.
For more information, please contact: Kim R. Tsuchimoto, CFO (415) 382-1390 ktsuchimoto@raptorpharma.com The Ruth Group Sara Ephraim Pellegrino (investors) (646) 536-7002 spellegrino@theruthgroup.com Janine McCargo (media) (646) 536-7033 jmccargo@theruthgroup.com
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PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp.
CONTACT: Kim R. Tsuchimoto, CFO of Raptor Pharmaceutical
Corp.,
+1-415-382-1390, or ktsuchimoto@raptorpharma.com;
Sara Ephraim Pellegrino,
investors, +1-646-536-7002, or spellegrino@theruthgroup.com,
Janine McCargo,
media, +1-646-536-7033, or jmccargo@theruthgroup.com,
both of The Ruth Group
for Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp.
Web Site: http://www.raptorpharma.com/
Posted: January 2010
