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Dr. Zankel's presentation will include an update on Raptor's livertargeting platform based on human receptor-associated protein ("RAP"). Formore information on ILCA and the 2007 ILCA Conference, please visitwww.ilca-online.org. A synopsis of the poster will be available in theinvestor relations section of Raptor's website at www.raptorpharma.com shortlyafter Dr. Zankel presents at the conference.
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Current Program Updates:
Investigational New Drug Application ("IND")-Enabling Studies Initiatedfor HepTide(TM)
Based on promising results from ongoing preclinical studies of its RAPliver targeting program, Raptor has initiated a pre-IND program forHepTide(TM) (its liver targeting therapeutic conjugate using the RAP targetingplatform). The Company's goal is to file an IND for this therapeuticconjugate with the Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA") by the end of thesecond calendar quarter of 2008. To help execute this plan the Company hasretained Regulatory Professionals, Inc., a regulatory consulting firmexperienced in working with the FDA in all aspects of regulatory affairsincluding preclinical and clinical support for pre- and post-approvalproducts, and preparation and submission of regulatory filings for marketingapproval.
Donna Kato, the CEO of Regulatory Professionals, Inc. stated, "We are veryexcited to be working with Raptor as it advances toward clinical trials."
Dr. Christopher Starr, Raptor's CEO stated, "Building an internal team ofhigh-quality individuals would take a great deal of time and money, whileDonna and her team provide us access to the best talent under a tightdevelopment timeline and operational flexibility essential to an emergingcompany." More information on Regulatory Professionals, Inc. can be found ontheir website www.regprofessional.com.
In addition, Raptor has initiated proof-of-principle preclinical studiestargeting a new therapeutic area: the use of the HepTide delivery molecule toenhance the distribution of antiviral drugs to the liver for the treatment ofviral hepatitis. HepTide has shown strong hepatotrophic activity by bindingselectively to liver cells or to infected liver cells in preclinical studies.Conjugates of HepTide and antiviral agents could significantly improveaccumulation of these agents in the liver and reduce the amount of powerfulantiviral agents elsewhere in the body.
Stanford University Grant Renewed for NeuroTrans(TM) in NeurodegenerativeDiseases
Based on promising early results in blood-brain barrier ("BBB") transportmodels from its collaboration initiated in August 2006, Raptor has renewed itsgrant with Dr. William Mobley's neuroscience laboratory at StanfordUniversity. In the first year of the collaboration, a number of RAP peptideswere tested for their ability to cross the BBB. From these experiments, theteam selected a lead candidate transport peptide called RAP-2s. In thissecond year, the team will continue to assess the bio-distribution of RAP-2swithin various brain compartments, commence testing of RAP-2s' ability todeliver Nerve Growth Factor ("NGF") across the BBB, and to investigate thepotential for RAP-NGF conjugates to prevent or reverse neuronal injury inpreclinical models.
Preclinical Testing Completed for WntTide(TM) in Osteoporosis
Raptor has completed preclinical testing of WntTide, for its osteoporosisprogram, utilizing Mesd and engineered Mesd-based peptides, and is awaitingthe fi
