Raptor Pharmaceutical Inc., an early stage biotechnology research and development company owned by Novato-based Raptor Pharmaceuticals Corp., has announced that it has signed an exclusive, worldwide license agreement with Washington University in St. Louis for the use of Mesd reagents for therapeutic treatment of cancer and osteoporosis.  Mesd  is a chaperone protein needed for the proper folding of the signal transduction receptors LRP5 and LRP6.

The St. Louis Business Journal reported that Raptor intends initially to test the potential of Washington University’s Mesd-based peptides for the treatment of cancer and osteoporosis, and that CEO of Rapto Pharmaceuticals Corp., Dr. Christopher Starr explained the agreement as follows:

"Mesd significantly adds to our growing franchise in the drug targeting area. . . . Mesd complements and extends our current programs and we believe will increase our reach and capabilities into a number of under-served disease indications with substantial market potential."