DGAP-News: Raptor Pharmaceutical to Enroll Five Additional Patients in Pivotal Phase 3 Clinical Trial of DR Cysteamine for the Potential Treatment of Nephropathic Cystinosis
ID: 348464
15.02.2011 09:34
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Data From Trial Expected to be Released in Second Quarter of 2011
NOVATO, Calif., 2011-02-15 09:34 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp. ('Raptor' or the 'Company') (Nasdaq:RPTP), today
announced it has reopened enrollment in its Phase 3 clinical trial of its
proprietary delayed-release oral formulation of cysteamine bitartrate ('DR
Cysteamine') in patients with nephropathic cystinosis ('cystinosis'). The
pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial is designed as a study of the safety,
tolerability, pharmacokinetics ('PK') and pharmacodynamics ('PD') of DR
Cysteamine compared with immediate-release cysteamine bitartrate.
The design of the pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial is a result of discussions
with the FDA through which the FDA provided significant guidance on trial
protocol design, clinical endpoints, and a statistical analysis plan ('SAP').
The primary endpoint of the trial is the steady-state white blood cell ('WBC')
cystine levels of patients taking DR Cysteamine, dosed every twelve hours,
compared to immediate-release cysteamine bitartrate, which requires dosing
every six hours. At defined intervals during the clinical study, WBC cystine
measurements are taken from each patient, one per day, over three day periods.
The spread of these daily measurements is used to calculate a statistical value
called the intra-patient variance and this value, as defined in the SAP, is
used to determine the total number of patients required in the study.
As defined in the SAP, the total number of patients required to complete the
study, is determined by an interim statistical analysis of intra-patient
variance of the first 20 patients once they had completed the study. Last
month, the Company reported completion of enrollment based upon an
intra-patient variance report received by the Company, which determined that a
total of 30 patients would be required to complete the study. As of February 7,
2011, a total of 31 patients successfully completed the study. Upon final
quality control and quality assurance review of the clinical data set, but
prior to database lock, it was reported to the Company that the calculation
used to determine the intra-patient variance value contained a mathematical
error. A repeat of the 20-patient interim analysis of the intra-patient
variance using the corrected data resulted in an increase in the required
patient number to 36 patients, rather than 30, as previously reported.
Therefore, as required in the SAP, the Company is obligated to enroll at least
36 patients in the trial.
'Based on these findings, the Company has directed its clinical sites to reopen
enrollment to include at least 5 additional patients,' stated Patrice Rioux,
M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer of Raptor. 'Our sites report that potential
additional patients have already been identified and clinical teams are still
in place to enroll and manage these patients through the clinical protocol.'
'Although this requirement to enroll additional patients will result in an
unanticipated delay of our goal of clinical data reported by the end of March
2011, we are fortunate to have found this error early in our data review,' said
Christopher M. Starr, Ph.D., CEO of Raptor. 'Although we are doing all we can
to quickly enroll these additional patients and complete our study, we know
that a high quality, reliable data set to support our NDA filing is of prime
importance. We anticipate that this will result in reporting top line data from
this pivotal clinical trial sometime within the second quarter of 2011.'
About Nephropathic Cystinosis
Nephropathic cystinosis is an inborn metabolic error characterized by the
abnormal transport of cystine, an amino acid, out of the lysosomes. Poor
compliance with current treatments for nephropathic cystinosis can cause
serious health consequences, including renal failure and resultant need for a
kidney transplant; growth failure; rickets and fractures; 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 Cysteamine and DR Cysteamine
DR Cysteamine is Raptor's proprietary enteric-coated, microbead oral
formulation of cysteamine bitartrate designed to potentially reduce dosing
frequency and reduce gastrointestinal side effects associated with
immediate-release cysteamine bitartrate, which is approved for sale by the FDA
and EMA to treat nephropathic cystinosis.
In December 2007, Raptor obtained an exclusive, worldwide license from the
University of California, San Diego for the development DR Cysteamine for
nephropathic cystinosis and cysteamine for other potential indications
including Huntington's Disease, NASH and Batten Disease.
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 thrombotic disorder.
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.
The Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp. logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7180
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
Raptor will be able to enroll at least five additional patients in the clinical
study; that Raptor will meet its goal of reporting top line data from the Phase
3 clinical trial in the second quarter of 2011; the Raptor will be able to
submit a high quality, reliable data set to support its NDA filing; that Raptor
believes that twice-daily DR Cysteamine has the potential to be as efficacious
as immediate-release cysteamine bitartrate for cystinosis patients, but with a
more convenient dosing schedule and potentially improved tolerability; and that
Raptor will be able to successfully develop DR Cysteamine or any of its other
product candidates. 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 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; that Raptor's
products may not work as well as hoped or worse, that the Company's products
may harm recipients; and that Raptor may not be able to raise sufficient funds
for development or working capital. 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 annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC
on November 22, 2010; and Raptor's quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the
SEC on January 14, 2011; 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.
CONTACT: Trout Group (investors)
Lauren Glaser
(646) 378-2972
lglaser@troutgroup.com
The Ruth Group (media)
Jason Rando
(646) 536-7025
jrando@theruthgroup.com
News Source: NASDAQ OMX
15.02.2011 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP -
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Language: English
Company: Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp.
United States
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ISIN: US75382F1066
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Datum: 15.02.2011 - 09:34 Uhr
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