in 1997 and concluded a technology transfer license agreement with LLUMC in January 1999. The discovery operation continues to be located in the LLUMC environment where operations in 1999 were expanded to include clinical development of EPI's lead drug candidate E-7869 (now known as MPC-7869) for treatment of prostate and colon cancer. The company's research efforts have also led to the discovery of a g-tocopherol (member of the Vitamin E family) metabolite designated as E-8110 (also known as LLU-a) and bioanalogs which have natriuretic (sodium excretion) activity. These compounds are being examined for their anti-hypertensive, anti-oxidant and anti-cancer properties.