Raptor Pharmaceutical Obtains Tissue Fibrotic Disease Intellectual Property Related To Cysteamine

NOVATO, Calif., Oct. 10, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp. ("Raptor" or the "Company") (Nasdaq:RPTP), today announced that the Company has acquired exclusive world-wide rights to intellectual property related to cysteamine and related compounds in the potential treatment of tissue fibrosis from the Seattle Children's Research Institute ("SCRI").

Raptor's agreement with SCRI provides exclusive rights to technology related to compositions and methods for treating patients having or being at risk of developing pathological fibrosis including chronic kidney disease ("CKD"). Raptor holds a portfolio of intellectual property related to composition of matter and methods of use of cysteamine and related compounds, covering therapeutic applications, including genetic diseases, metabolic disorders and neurological diseases. Raptor's RP103, its proprietary, delayed-release oral formulation of cysteamine bitartrate, is in clinical development for the potential treatment of nephropathic cystinosis, a rare metabolic lysosomal storage disease, Huntington's Disease, a genetic neurological disease, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis ("NASH"), a severe form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

In addition to other fibrotic conditions, the license covers the use of cysteamine or cystamine in the potential amelioration of progressive interstitial renal fibrosis by modulating oxidative stress. Researchers at SCRI have shown in preclinical studies in mice that daily treatment with cysteamine attenuated renal fibrosis, with up to 25% reduction of extracellular fibrotic material observed over a 21-day study period.

"Fibrosis can occur in many organ systems in the body resulting in serious health and in some cases life-threatening consequences," said Patrice P. Rioux, M.D., Ph.D., Raptor's Chief Medical Officer. "This licensing agreement with Seattle Children's Research Institute further expands the applications of our cysteamine formulations in the potential treatment of fibrotic disease, including chronic kidney, liver and severe gastrointestinal diseases, as well as metabolic diseases, and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with the SCRI researchers as we expand our clinical development into these areas."

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