Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 8-K
Current Report
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 7, 1998
Biogen, Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Massachusetts 0-12042 04-3002117
(State or other (Commission (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of File Number) Identification No.)
incorporation)
14 Cambridge Center
Cambridge, MA 02142
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (617) 679-2000
Item 5. Other Events.
On May 6, 1998, the Registrant publicly disseminated a press release
announcing a decision by the U.S. Federal District Court for the District of
Massachusetts in connection with a class-action suit relating to the
Registrant's 1994 public comments about HIRULOG(R) (bivalirudin) direct thrombin
inhibitor. The jury rejected all claims made by the plaintiffs against the
Registrant.
The information contained in the press release is incorporated herein
by reference and filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits.
99.1 The Registrant's Press Release dated May 6, 1998.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Biogen, Inc.
By: /s/ Michael J. Astrue
Michael J. Astrue
Vice President -General Counsel
Date: May 7, 1998
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number Description
99.1 The Registrant's Press Release
dated May 6, 1998
Exhibit 99.1
Media Contact:
Kathryn R. Bloom
Director of Communications
Biogen, Inc.
tel: (617) 679-2851
Investment Community Contacts:
John Conley Elizabeth Woo
Treasurer and Director, Investor Relations Manager, Investor Relations
Biogen, Inc. Biogen, Inc.
tel: (617) 679-2812 tel: (617) 679-2822
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BIOGEN WINS CLASS-ACTION SUIT;
UNANIMOUS DECISION CONFIRMS CASE WAS WITHOUT MERIT
Cambridge, MA (May 6, 1998) -- Biogen, Inc. (NASDAQ/BGEN) today said it was
pleased by a jury's verdict in the U.S. District Court for the District of
Massachusetts rejecting all claims made by a class of plaintiffs against the
company relating to Biogen's 1994 public comments on HIRULOG(R) (bivalirudin)
direct thrombin inhibitor.
Jim Vincent, Biogen's Chairman, said, "This abusive lawsuit is typical of the
kind of suit targeted by recent Congressional reform legislation, and
underscores the need for further reform in this area of our legal system such as
the legislation that is currently pending before Congress.
"As expected, the jury recognized that Biogen's statements were truthful,
complete and timely. In our 20-year history, we had never before had a
shareholder suit and we are pleased to retain our unblemished record of accuracy
and honesty. We will now put this matter behind us and continue our mission of
developing life-saving and life-improving drugs."
Biogen, Inc., headquartered in Cambridge, MA, is a biopharmaceutical company
principally engaged in discovering and developing drugs for human healthcare
through genetic engineering. The Company's revenues are generated from U.S. and
European sales of AVONEX(R) (Interferon beta-1a) for treatment of relapsing
forms of multiple sclerosis, and from the worldwide sales by licensees of a
number of products, including alpha interferon and hepatitis B vaccines and
diagnostic products. Biogen's research and development activities are focused on
novel products for multiple sclerosis, inflammatory, respiratory, kidney and
cardiovascular diseases and in developmental biology and gene therapy. For
copies of press releases and additional information about the Company, please
consult Biogen's Homepage on the World Wide Web at http://www.biogen.com.
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