Raptor Pharmaceuticals Announces Completion of Patient Enrollment in Phase 2a Clinical Trial in Non-Alcoholic Steatohepati...( Study Evaluating Cysteamine in Collab...),Health

Study Evaluating Cysteamine in Collaboration with UC San Diego

NOVATO, Calif., Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Raptor Pharmaceuticals Corp. ("Raptor" or the "Company") (OTC Bulletin Board: RPTP), today announced the completion of patient enrollment in its Phase 2a open-label clinical trial to evaluate cysteamine bitartrate ("cysteamine") in patients diagnosed with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis ("NASH"). NASH, a progressive form of liver disease that accounts for approximately 10% of newly diagnosed cases of chronic liver disease, is one of the leading causes of cirrhosis in the U.S. NASH patients are currently limited to managing their disease through weight control, diet and exercise.

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NASH is believed to affect 2% to 5% of the U.S. population. While commonly diagnosed in insulin-resistant obese adults, NASH can also occur in children, elderly and non-diabetic persons of average weight. Though most people with NASH feel healthy and show no outward signs of liver disease, NASH causes decreased liver function and potentially leads to cirrhosis, liver failure and end-stage liver disease. In more severe cases, the progressive nature of NASH may require liver transplantation in affected patients.

Under a collaboration agreement between the University of California, San Diego ("UC San Diego") and Raptor, UC San Diego is conducting the Phase 2a clinical trial at UC San Diego's General Clinical Research Center. In the six-month, open-label clinical trial, UC San Diego enrolled a total of 12 adolescent NASH patients receiving a twice daily oral dose of cysteamine and will measure possible reduction of blood alanine aminotransferase ("ALT") and aspartate aminotransferase ("AST") levels as a biomarker of cysteamine's efficacy for potentially t
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