NOVATO, Calif., July 16 Raptor Pharmaceuticals Corp. ("Raptor" or the "Company") (OTC Bulletin Board: RPTP), today announced that Patrice P. Rioux, M.D., Ph.D., Raptor's Chief Medical Officer, will present an update on the Company's ongoing Phase 2b study of delayed-release cysteamine bitartrate ("DR Cysteamine") for the potential treatment of cystinosis, and its plans for further clinical development of the product candidate, at the Cystinosis Research Network ("CRN") Family Conference, taking place July 16-18, 2009 in Atlanta, GA.
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Cystinosis is a rare genetic disease characterized by the abnormal transport of cystine, an amino acid, out of the lysosomes. Patients are typically diagnosed in the first two years of life. Failure to treat cystinosis can cause serious health consequences, including renal failure (and resultant kidney transplant), growth failure, rickets, photophobia and blindness. Cystinosis is typically treated with an immediate-release form of cysteamine bitartrate, which is currently the only therapeutic treatment available to cystinosis patients.
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DR Cysteamine is Raptor's proprietary, enteric-coated micro-bead formulation of cysteamine bitartrate contained in a gelatin capsule and designed for improved absorption, less frequent dosing and improved tolerability relative to the current standard of care. Published studies have shown that fewer than 25% of patients taking immediate-release cysteamine bitartrate are fully-compliant due to a strict every-six hour dosing schedule and dose-limiting side effects, including gastrointestinal ("GI") problems such as stomach aches, nausea and vomiting.
Dr. Rioux stated, "We greatly appreciate all the support that we receive from the CRN and the broader cystinosis community. At the conference we look forward to interacting directly with the medical, research and patient communities regarding progress and enrollment criteria for our Phase 2b trial. We realize the effort necessary for patients to participate in clinical trials and extend our thanks to all who have participated in the studies that have brought DR Cysteamine to late-stage development. We are confident that DR Cysteamine has the potential to positively impact the long-term health of cystinosis patients, and our clinical team is working hard to make this option available to this entire patient population."
About Cystinosis Research Network
The Cystinosis Research Network is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and advocating research, providing family assistance and educating the public and medical communities about cystinosis. The vision of the Cystinosis Research Network is the discovery of improved treatments and ultimately a cure for cystinosis. Its commitment to its community lies in its tireless efforts to provide family assistance through facilitating several support groups as well as hosting an annual conference. At this conference the Cystinosis Research Network brings families and the medical community together in hopes to accelerate the accomplishment of its stated goals and objectives.
About Raptor Pharmaceuticals Corp.
Raptor Pharmaceuticals Corp. ("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 to treat nephropathic cystinosis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis ("NASH"), Huntington's Disease ("HD"), and aldehyde dehydrogenase ("ALDH2") deficiency.
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 Phase 2b study of DR Cysteamine will be fully enrolled; that data from the Phase 2b clinical trial of DR Cysteamine will be positive; that DR Cysteamine can positively impact the long-term health of cystinosis patients; that DR Cysteamine; and that any of the Company'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 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 its Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, that was declared effective on August 7, 2008; its annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on October 30, 2008, as amended by that Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on December 23, 2008; and its Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on July 15, 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 the Company's reports filed with the SEC. Raptor expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
For more information, please contact: Karl Cahill, Investor Relations (858) 531-6100 [email protected] The Ruth Group Sara Ephraim Pellegrino (investors) / Janine McCargo (media) (646) 536-7002 / (646) 536-7033 [email protected] / [email protected]
SOURCE Raptor Pharmaceuticals Corp.
