Collaborations
Raptor works with several leading research institutions and nonprofit organizations as part of our efforts to expand the reach and benefit of established therapeutics.
Roche (SWX: ROG.VX; RO.S, OTCQX:
RHHBY)
In June 2009,
we entered a collaboration and licensing agreement with Roche to
evaluate therapeutic delivery of select molecules attached to
Raptor’s proprietary
NeuroTrans™ blood-brain barrier (“BBB”) transporter
platform. Roche will fund initial studies conducted by
scientists at both companies. Raptor received an initial upfront
payment to fund the initial stage of the collaboration and is
eligible for future collaboration support, development milestone
payments and net sales royalties from Roche.
University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Medical Center
On December 17, 2007, we acquired an exclusive worldwide license for Delayed-Release cysteamine bitartrate (DR Cysteamine), a
clinical product candidate. We have collaborated with clinicians at UCSD in studies for the DR Cysteamine programs in
cystinosis and NASH. Raptor's license also covers other
indications in which cysteamine has been studied, including Huntington’s Disease and schizophrenia.
Johns Hopkins University
Raptor has an exclusive license agreement with Johns
Hopkins University (JHU) for intellectual property related to
the novel use of glutamate receptor antagonists, including
tezampanel and NGX426, for the prevention and treatment of
stroke, heart attack and other conditions associated with
increased platelet aggregation. The intellectual property is
based on research conducted in the JHU laboratories of Craig
Morrell, D.V.M., Ph.D., and Charles Lowenstein, M.D., that
demonstrates the importance of glutamate release in promoting
platelet activation and thrombosis and which identifies the AMPA
receptors on platelets as a new antithrombotic target.
Washington University, St. Louis
Raptor maintains a license through the technology office at Washington University in St.
Louis for the Mesd technology we use in our WntTide™ program for oncology
applications. This technology was developed in the labs of Dr. Bu, professor of Pediatrics and Cell Biology and
Physiology. Dr. Bu is a member of Raptor's Advisory Board.
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Raptor has a collaborative research agreement with the Brigham
and Women's Hospital involving the characterization of certain
modified RAP proteins. At the Hospital, this research will be
conducted in the laboratory of
Dr. Stephen Blacklow, who is a member of Raptor's scientific
advisory board.
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d'Angers (CHU d'Angers)
Raptor is collaborating with
CHU d'Angers in a Phase 2 study of DR Cysteamine in
Huntington's Disease. The French Ministry of
Health is providing a grant that supports the two-year, multi-center study. CHU d'Angers and the Curie Institute
collaborated on the protocol, advancing preclinical work by scientists at the Curie Institute.
The Cystinosis Foundation
The Cystinosis Foundation is an
all-volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing services for those suffering from
cystinosis through parental
support, education, research support and affiliations. Raptor has an informal and ongoing collaboration with the Cystinosis
Foundation to further patient care and education.
The Cystinosis Research Foundation (CRF)
The Cystinosis Research Foundation (Natalie's Wish) is dedicated to
finding better treatments to improve the quality of life for those with
cystinosis and to finding a cure for this devastating
disease through research support and education. Raptor collaborates with CRF in a variety of ways to improve the
standard of care for cystinosis sufferers and their families.