DGAP-News: Raptor Pharmaceutical Licenses Intellectual Property Related to Parkinson's Disease From Universite Laval
(firmenpresse) - Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp.
20.06.2012 12:30
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NOVATO, Calif., June 20, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp.
('Raptor' or the 'Company') (Nasdaq:RPTP), today announced that the Company has
acquired exclusive rights to intellectual property related to cysteamine and
related compounds in the potential treatment of Parkinson's Disease from
Universite Laval ('Laval'), Quebec, Canada.
Raptor's agreement with Laval provides exclusive rights to technology related
to the use of cysteamine and related compounds to potentially modify the
progression of Parkinson's Disease. Researchers at Laval reported that
administration of cystamine (an oxidized form of cysteamine) in an animal model
of Parkinson's Disease showed signs of preventing neuron loss and rescuing
neurons undergoing a degenerative process. Signs of restoration and partial
reversal of behavioral impairments were also observed.
Dr. Patrice P. Rioux, Raptor's Chief Medical Officer, stated, 'The agreement
with Laval extends our existing portfolio in neurodegenerative diseases. We are
currently conducting a Phase 2/3 clinical trial in France of Delayed-release
Cysteamine Bitartrate capsules (RP103), for the potential treatment of
Huntington's Disease. The researchers at Laval have compiled a solid
preclinical foundation which, when combined with the existing safety profile of
cysteamine, may enable us to more rapidly advance this program for the
potential treatment of Parkinson's Disease in to a Phase 2 clinical trial. We
plan to seek grant support to help fund the clinical development of RP103 in
Parkinson's, as we have done with our Huntington's and NASH programs.'
Dr. Francesca Cicchetti, Professor at the Faculty of Medicine at Universite
Laval, said, 'Treatments for Parkinson's Disease that provide
neuroprotective/neurorestorative effects remain an urgent unmet clinical need.
Our preclinical results obtained in various animal models of parkinsonism
substantiate the need for more research with cysteamine for this indication. We
hope to see the study of this potential cysteamine treatment move to clinical
trial.'
About Cysteamine and RP103
RP103 is Raptor's proprietary delayed release oral medication currently being
investigated in several indications. RP103 is an enteric coated, microbead
formulation of cysteamine bitartrate.
In December 2007, Raptor obtained an exclusive, worldwide license from the
University of California, San Diego for the development of RP103 and other
forms of cysteamine for the potential treatment of Huntington's Disease
currently in a Phase 2/3 clinical trial in France, non-alcoholic
steatohepatitis ('NASH') currently in a Phase 2b clinical trial in the U.S. and
for the development of RP103 for the potential treatment of nephropathic
cystinosis which Raptor has recently filed for marketing approval in the U.S.
and E.U. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ('FDA') has accepted for filing
Raptor's New Drug Application ('NDA') for RP103 for the potential treatment of
nephropathic cystinosis and assigned the user fee goal date of January 30,
2013. Raptor's E.U. marketing application of RP103 for the potential treatment
of nephropathic cystinosis is under review by the EMA, and Raptor expects a
decision in the first half of calendar 2013. Raptorhas licensed issued patents
related to the potential treatment of Huntington's Disease and other
neurodegenerative diseases with cysteamine and related compounds from Niigata
University and Weizmann Institute and patent applications for the potential
treatment of malaria and other parasitic diseases from McGill University.
Raptor has been granted orphan product designation for RP103 for the potential
treatment of nephropathic cystinosis by the European Medicines Agency and FDA
and for the potential treatment of Huntington's Disease by the FDA.
About Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp.
Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp. (Nasdaq:RPTP) ('Raptor') seeks to research,
produce, and deliver medicines that improve life for patients with severe, rare
disorders. Raptor currently has product candidates in clinical development
designed to potentially treat nephropathic cystinosis, Non-alcoholic
Steatohepatitis ('NASH'), Huntington's Disease ('HD'), aldehyde dehydrogenase
deficiency ('ALDH2'), 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 and related proteins that are designed to target
cancer 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
About Universite Laval
Located in Quebec City, Universite Laval is the first French-language
university in North America. It is one of Canada's leading universities,
ranking 7th among the country's 95 university-level institutions in terms of
research funding, with more than $300 million devoted to research last year.
Universite Laval's 1,300 professors-researchers share their knowledge with some
44,000 students, 10,000 of whom are enrolled in graduate-level programs.
For additional information, please visit www.ulaval.ca.
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
cysteamine and related compounds could potentially modify the progression of
Parkinson's Disease or provide restorative benefits; that Raptor can rapidly
advance the Parkinson's program to a Phase 2 clinical trial; that Raptor can
attract grant funding to help fund the clinical development of RP103 in
Parkinson's; that Raptor will continue its collaboration with the researchers
at Laval, as well as other clinical thought leaders in Parkinson's Disease;
that the FDA and EMA will deliver a decision regarding marketing approval of
RP103 for the potential treatment of nephropathic cystinosis on January 30,
2013 or the first half of calendar 2013, respectively; and that Raptor will be
able to successfully develop RP103 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, as amended by Form10-K/A, filed with the
SEC on November 11, 2011 and December 19, 2011, respectively; and Raptor's
quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on April 9, 2012; 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.
Trout Group (investors)
Lauren Glaser
(646) 378-2972
lglaser(at)troutgroup.com
EVC Group (media)
Janine McCargo
(646) 688-0425
jmccargo(at)evcgroup.com
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Language: English
Company: Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp.
United States
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ISIN: US75382F1066
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