UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of: January, 2004
Commission File Number: 000-50393
NEUROCHEM INC.
7220 Frederick-Banting, Suite 100
Saint-Laurent, Quebec
H4S 2A1
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F [ ] Form 40-F [X]
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
Yes [ ] No [X]
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
Yes [ ] No [X]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes [ ] No [X]
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
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, thereunto duly authorized.
NEUROCHEM INC.
January 21, 2004
By: /s/ David Skinner
-----------------------------------------
David Skinner
Director, Legal Affairs,
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
[NEUROCHEM LOGO]
NEUROCHEM 7220
Frederick-Banting, Suite 100
Saint-Laurent, QC H4S 2A1 Canada
________________________________________________________________________________
TO SUPPORT ITS SYNTHETIC VACCINE PROGRAM FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
NEUROCHEM FORMS STRATEGIC ALLIANCE
WITH THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA
AND ANNOUNCES LICENSING AGREEMENT
WITH PRAECIS PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
-- NEUROCHEM TAKES MAJOR STEP FORWARD IN ITS EFFORTS TO PREVENT
AND TREAT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE --
MONTREAL, CANADA, JANUARY 20, 2003 -- Neurochem Inc. (NASDAQ: NRMX, TSX: NRM)
announced today that the Company is advancing its efforts to prevent and treat
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) by forging a strategic alliance with the National
Research Council of Canada's Institute for Biological Sciences, (NRC-IBS), and
more specifically with Dr. Harold J. Jennings, a world leader in the development
of innovative conjugated vaccines. Neurochem also announced today that it has
entered into a licensing agreement with PRAECIS PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED, a
leading biopharmaceutical company, relating to certain a amyloid peptides for
use in the development of a novel synthetic vaccine to prevent and treat AD.
With a promising drug candidate, Alzhemed(TM), currently in clinical development
for AD, Neurochem is reinforcing its commitment to the prevention and treatment
of AD through these relationships, and its focus on neurological disorders.
Financial terms of the agreements were not disclosed but all future commercial
rights in therapies developed by Neurochem under the agreements will belong to
Neurochem.
NRC-IBS' Dr. Jennings is one of Canada's premier researchers in the vaccine
field. One of Dr. Jennings' greatest achievements was the development of a
technology that can be used to produce innovative conjugated vaccines against
meningitis A, B and C, or the bacteria Haemophilus influenzae. The vaccines for
meningitis C and Haemophilus influenzae are currently on the market, preventing
these diseases in millions of children in North America and Europe.
Dr. Francesco Bellini, Chairman and CEO of Neurochem, has stated that "With
these important relationships in place, Neurochem intends to address AD at its
different stages from its very early symptoms through the entire disease course.
Since AD is a complex disease affecting multiple areas of the brain, Neurochem
is using a comprehensive approach by working to develop a 'cocktail' solution
and a multi-product treatment for the disease."
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ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIPS
Neurochem has concluded this strategic alliance with the National Research
Council of Canada and Dr. Jennings to collaborate on the discovery and
assessment of certain vaccine approaches in animal models, and work towards the
development of a specific vaccine using amyloid protein fragment conjugates.
This collaboration also includes the possibility of preclinical and clinical
development as well as future commercialization in the field of
A(beta)-peptide-protein conjugates. Through the licensing agreement with
PRAECIS, Neurochem is expanding its pool of intellectual property relating to
specific A(beta)-derived peptide sequences.
Neurochem's expertise in the field of amyloid and AD coupled with Dr. Jennings'
world renowned expertise in conjugated synthetic vaccine development brings
strength to the early studies that Neurochem has completed on a vaccine approach
to the prevention and treatment of this serious disease.
ABOUT THE VACCINE
Neurochem's vaccine program targets a specific region of the A(beta) protein.
This fragment, when made of D amino acids conjugated to a carrier, generates an
immune response where antibodies recognize only the soluble form of the A(beta)
protein. Preliminary experiments at Neurochem's laboratories have shown that
this type of conjugates protect mice as efficiently as the reported vaccine made
with the full A(beta) protein. One advantage of Neurochem's approach is that the
antibodies do not recognize plaques and therefore could help circumvent the risk
of developing brain inflammation as was seen with the full A(beta) protein
vaccine. Neurochem's vaccine technology teamed with NRC's (Dr. Jennings)
know-how on vaccine technology is expected to lead to the development of a safe
vaccine protecting humans against Alzheimer's Disease.
ABOUT NEUROCHEM
Neurochem is focused on the development and commercialization of innovative
therapeutics for neurological disorders. The Company's staged pipeline of
proprietary, disease-modifying, oral products addresses critical unmet medical
needs. Fibrillex(TM), designated an orphan drug, is in a Phase II/III clinical
trial for AA amyloidosis. Alzhemed(TM) has completed a Phase II clinical trial.
Cerebril(TM) is in a Phase II trial for the prevention of hemorrhagic stroke
caused by cerebral amyloid angiopathy. For additional information on Neurochem,
please visit our website at: www.neurochem.com.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA
Recognized globally for research and innovation, Canada's National Research
Council (NRC) is a leader in the development of an innovative, knowledge-based
economy for Canada through science and technology. Celebrating 75 years of
research excellence, the NRC Institute for Biological Sciences is focused on
innovative research of interest to the health-care and pharmaceutical sectors.
You can visit their web site at www.nrc.gc.ca.
ABOUT PRAECIS PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
PRAECIS PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED is a biopharmaceutical company focused on
the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapies to
address significant unmet medical needs. In the United States, PRAECIS has
received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration to market
Plenaxis(TM) (abarelix for injectable suspension). PRAECIS employed its
proprietary LEAP(TM) (Ligand Evolution to Active Pharmaceuticals) technology in
the development of Plenaxis(TM). PRAECIS also has an innovative product
pipeline, including clinical programs in Alzheimer's disease, non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma and endometriosis, as well as discovery programs in oncology,
inflammation and anti-viral therapies.
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All of the statements contained in this news release, other than statements of
fact that are independently verifiable at the date hereof, are forward-looking
statements. Such statements, based as they are on the current expectations of
management, inherently involve numerous risks and uncertainties, known and
unknown. Some examples of known risks are: the impact of general economic
conditions, general conditions in the pharmaceutical industry, changes in the
regulatory environment in the jurisdictions in which Neurochem does business,
stock market volatility, fluctuations in costs, and changes to the competitive
environment due to consolidation or otherwise. Consequently, actual future
results may differ materially from the anticipated results expressed in the
forward-looking statements.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Lise Hebert, Ph.D.
Vice President, Corporate Communications
lhebert@neurochem.com
Tel: (514) 337-4646
Fax: (514) 684-7972
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