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: April, 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.
April 8, 2004
By: /s/David Skinner
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David Skinner
Director, Legal Affairs,
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
NEUROCHEM INC.
1375 Trans-Canada Highway, suite 530
[LOGO (NEUROCHEM)] Dorval (Quebec) H9P 2W8
________________________________________________________________________________
NEUROCHEM CONSOLIDATES OPERATIONS
AS IT REACHES NEW LEVEL OF GROWTH
ACQUIRES STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES FOR ITS NEW HEADQUARTERS
MONTREAL, CANADA, APRIL 8, 2004 - Neurochem Inc. (NASDAQ: NRMX, TSX: NRM) is
pleased to announce today that the Company has signed a conditional agreement to
purchase the Shire BioChem facilities located in the Parc scientifique et de
haute technologie de Laval for CAN$10.5 million. Upon completion of the
transaction, Neurochem will relocate its headquarters and employees, corporate
and scientific, on the same site. The transaction will be financed by
asset-backed funding and cash on-hand.
"The Company is able to acquire the former Shire BioChem facilities in suburban
Laval, Quebec, on favorable terms that entail a low outlay of capital," said Dr.
Francesco Bellini, Chairman and CEO of Neurochem. "We explored a number of
alternatives and this location is the best solution, given the necessity to act
quickly to accommodate the rapid expansion of our workforce. Our growth over the
past several years has extended Neurochem's operations out over separate sites
in the Montreal area. As we expect the growth rate in the number of employees to
be sustained over 2004, we are pleased to have secured a larger property, which
will provide for greater efficiencies in many aspects of our daily activities.
The consolidation of our operations and occupancy of the new headquarters site
is scheduled for May 2004."
The building consists of approximately 160,000 square feet, 40% of which is
state-of-the-art research and development space to cost-effectively support
Neurochem's rapidly advancing programs in Alzheimer's disease, hemorrhagic
stroke due to cerebral amyloid angiopathy and Amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis. The
facility will bring together Neurochem's current 125 employees and will allow
for future expansion as the Company prepares for the commercialization of its
product candidates.
Given the fact that the R&D facilities presently exceed Neurochem's current
needs, a portion of the building will be leased to ViroChem Pharma Inc. ViroChem
is a pharmaceutical antiviral research and development organization, led by Dr.
Gervais Dionne, CEO and Chief Scientific Officer and by Mr. Francois Legault,
President and Chief Operating Officer.
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ABOUT NEUROCHEM
Neurochem is focused on the development and commercialization of innovative
therapeutics for neurological disorders. The Company's pipeline of proprietary,
disease-modifying, oral products addresses critical unmet medical needs.
Fibrillex(TM), designated as an orphan drug and as Fast Track Product candidate,
is in a Phase II/III clinical trial for the treatment of AA amyloidosis.
Alzhemed(TM) and Cerebril(TM) have completed a Phase II clinical trial for the
treatment of Alzheimer's disease and for the prevention of hemorrhagic stroke
caused by cerebral amyloid angiopathy respectively. For additional information
on Neurochem, please visit our website at: www.neurochem.com.
Certain statements contained in this news release, other than statements of fact
that are independently verifiable at the date hereof, may constitute
forward-looking statements. Such statements, based as they are on the current
expectations of management, inherently involve numerous risks and uncertainties,
known and unknown, many of which are beyond Neurochem's control. Such risks
include but are not limited to: 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 as well as other risks included in public filings of
Neurochem. Consequently, actual future results may differ materially from the
anticipated results expressed in the forward-looking statements. The reader
should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements included in
this news release. These statements speak only as of the date made and Neurochem
is under no obligation and disavows any intention to update or revise such
statements as a result of any event, circumstances or otherwise.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Lise Hebert, Ph.D.
Vice President, Corporate Communications
lhebert@neurochem.com
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Tel: (514) 337-4646
Fax: (514) 684-7972