Exhibit 99.2
CONTACTS: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Donald W. Fallon, CFO Donald C. Weinberger
CEPTOR CORPORATION, INC. Andria Pilo-Arena (Media)
(410) 527-9998 Fax (410) 527-9867 WOLFE AXELROD WEINBERGER ASSOC. LLC
dfallon@ceptorcorp.com (212) 370-4500 Fax (212) 370-4505
don@wolfeaxelrod.com
andria@wolfeaxelrod.com
CEPTOR'S DRUG DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES SUBSTANTIATED BY
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE ARTICLE
- ARTICLE IMPLICATES CALPAIN IN DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY AND
OTHER NEUROMUSCULAR AND NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES -
HUNT VALLEY, MD - JUNE 22, 2005 -- CEPTOR CORPORATION, INC. (OTC BB: CEPO), a
development-stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on cell targeted
therapeutic products for neuromuscular and neurodegenerative diseases, noted
that the recent NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE (June 9, 2005 issue) lead review
article, "MECHANISMS OF DISEASE: CALPAINS AND DISEASE" implicates calpain as a
primary protease that, when up-regulated, initiates accelerated tissue breakdown
in several neuromuscular and neurodegenerative diseases. This includes Duchenne
muscular dystrophy (DMD), a genetic disease which affects 1 out of every 3,500
male children rendering them wheelchair dependent by about the age of 12 with
death common in late adolescence. The article substantiates CepTor's drug
development initiatives of MYODUR to treat DMD by targeting a leupeptin analogue
into the muscle cells to inhibit calpain in order to preserve muscle.
According to Norman Barton, M.D., PhD, Executive Vice President and Chief
Medical Officer of CepTor, "This is a very important article as it is further
validation that our research and development strategy for MYODUR is on the right
track. We have been focused on calpain inhibition for DMD, and as a result of
extensive research we believe that we have developed a unique, proprietary, safe
and efficient, targeted calpain inhibitor." Dr. Barton continued, "Currently, we
are preparing to file an investigational new drug application and move MYODUR
into phase I/II clinical trials for DMD in children with this devastating
disease."
ABOUT MYODUR:
- -------------
MYODUR targets muscle cells by using a carnitine carrier molecule and inhibits
calpain by attaching a leupeptin analogue onto the carrier. Leupeptin has been
studied extensively in a variety of animal models and was shown to be an
effective means of slowing or delaying muscle wasting. Carnitine is a compound
present in skeletal muscle involved in the transfer of fatty acids across
mitochondrial membranes. CepTor's technology uses the carnitine carrier molecule
to direct the leupeptin analogue into targeted cells where it inhibits the
up-regulation of calpain. Therefore, by targeting a calpain inhibitor to muscle
cells, it is believed that MYODUR will prevent the degradation and promote the
preservation of functional muscle.
ABOUT CALPAIN:
- --------------
Calpain exists in every cell of the body and is a protease that degrades
cellular proteins naturally in a normal metabolic process. When calpain is
abnormally up regulated, the accelerated degradation process breaks down cells
and tissues faster than they can be restored, resulting in several serious
neuromuscular and neurodegenerative diseases.
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ABOUT CEPTOR
CEPTOR CORPORATION is a development-stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in
the discovery, development, and commercialization of proprietary, cell-targeted
therapeutic products for the treatment of neuromuscular and neurodegenerative
diseases with a focus on orphan diseases. The Company's mission is to increase
the quality and quantity of life of people suffering with these diseases. An
orphan disease is defined in the United States as a serious or life-threatening
disease that affects less than 200,000 people and for which no definitive
therapy currently exists. CepTor Corporation seeks to create an efficient orphan
drug platform by taking advantage of the legislative, regulatory and commercial
opportunities common to these rare diseases. CepTor's primary efforts are
currently being focused on moving its lead product, MYODUR, into phase I/II
clinical trials for Duchenne's muscular dystrophy. The Company's broad platform
technology also includes the development of products for multiple sclerosis,
retinal degeneration and epilepsy.
THIS NEWS RELEASE CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. SUCH STATEMENTS ARE VALID
ONLY AS OF TODAY, AND WE DISCLAIM ANY OBLIGATION TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION.
THESE STATEMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO KNOWN AND UNKNOWN RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT
MAY CAUSE ACTUAL FUTURE EXPERIENCE AND RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THE
STATEMENTS MADE. THESE STATEMENTS ARE BASED ON OUR CURRENT BELIEFS AND
EXPECTATIONS AS TO SUCH FUTURE OUTCOMES. DRUG DISCOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT INVOLVE
A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. FACTORS THAT MIGHT CAUSE SUCH A MATERIAL DIFFERENCE
INCLUDE, AMONG OTHERS, UNCERTAINTIES RELATED TO THE ABILITY TO ATTRACT AND
RETAIN PARTNERS FOR OUR TECHNOLOGIES, THE IDENTIFICATION OF LEAD COMPOUNDS, THE
SUCCESSFUL PRECLINICAL DEVELOPMENT THEREOF, THE COMPLETION OF CLINICAL TRIALS,
THE FDA REVIEW PROCESS AND OTHER GOVERNMENT REGULATION, OUR PHARMACEUTICAL
COLLABORATOR'S ABILITY TO SUCCESSFULLY DEVELOP AND COMMERCIALIZE DRUG
CANDIDATES, COMPETITION FROM OTHER PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES, PRODUCT PRICING AND
THIRD PARTY REIMBURSEMENT.
