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: October, 2004
Commission File Number: 000-50393
NEUROCHEM INC.
275 Armand-Frappier Boulevard
Laval, Quebec
H7V 4A7
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.
October 5, 2004
By: /s/ David Skinner
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David Skinner
Director, Legal Affairs,
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
NEUROCHEM
275 Armand-Frappier Blvd.
[NEUROCHEM (lOGO)] Laval, Quebec, Canada H7V 4A7
________________________________________________________________________________
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Lise Hebert, PhD Tel: (450) 680-4500
Vice President, Corporate Communications lhebert@neurochem.com
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NEUROCHEM APPOINTS DR. ANDREAS ORFANOS TO POSITION OF
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT,
STRATEGIC PLANNING AND SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS
MONTREAL, OCTOBER 5, 2004 - Neurochem Inc. (NASDAQ: NRMX; TSX: NRM) today
announced the appointment of Andreas Orfanos, M.B.B.Ch, MBA to the position of
Executive Vice President, Strategic Planning and Scientific Affairs. Dr. Orfanos
will assume overall responsibility for many of Neurochem's activities including
research and development, as well as drug development and global strategic
planning.
"Dr. Orfanos brings to Neurochem close to 25 years of extensive and solid
experience in the healthcare, medical and pharmaceutical fields, including the
area of research and development, strategic planning, as well as
commercialization," said Francesco Bellini, PhD, Chairman and CEO of Neurochem.
"Throughout his career he has held leadership positions with major
pharmaceutical companies, both here in Canada and internationally. His global
business experience will be invaluable to Neurochem," Dr. Bellini concluded.
Dr. Orfanos began his career in healthcare in South Africa and helped launch and
manage private hospitals in South Africa with Lifecare (Pty) Ltd. In 1987 he
joined Sandoz Products in South Africa as Medical Director and substantially
increased the company's participation in international clinical trials. Dr.
Orfanos was transferred to Sandoz Canada in 1991, where he soon led the R&D
department responsible for Phase II to Phase IV clinical trials. He expanded the
role of clinical studies to support products pre- and post- launch. In 1993, he
established the first business unit within Sandoz worldwide and championed the
successful development, pre-marketing, launch, marketing and sales of the
company's number one product.
Within Novartis (following the merger of Sandoz and Ciba-Geigy) he served as
Vice President of the Specialty Business, during which he launched the oncology
business in Canada and ensured double digit sales growth across the three areas
of neurology, immunology and oncology. He then moved on to leading the company's
Strategic Planning and New Product Development during which he led the strategic
planning of
the company and his team mapped out the entire process for taking a product from
Phase II to post-launch. At the same time he was a key member of the
international launch teams for Novartis' priority future products. Thereafter
reporting to the Global Business Unit Head, Basle, Switzerland, he successfully
led the Transplantation-Immunology Business Unit in the face of intense market
competition.
For the past two years, Dr. Orfanos has held the position of Vice President at
Picchio Pharma responsible for identifying, evaluating and determining business
opportunities in the biotechnology field. He has worked closely with the
companies in which Picchio has invested on both R&D and commercial projects at a
strategic and tactical level. Dr. Orfanos has had extensive experience taking
products from the Phase II clinical development stage through to launch and
successful commercialization.
Dr. Orfanos completed his medical degree in Johannesburg, South Africa, at the
University of Witwatersrand in 1981 where he also obtained his MBA in 1984. His
MBA thesis focused on strategic healthcare marketing.
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 a Fast Track Product
candidate, is also part of a Continuous Marketing Applications Pilot 2 program
and is currently in a Phase II/III clinical trial for the treatment of AA
Amyloidosis. Alzhemed(TM), for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease, is in a
Phase III clinical trial and Cerebril(TM), for the prevention of Hemorrhagic
Stroke caused by Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy, has completed a Phase II clinical
trial.
TO CONTACT NEUROCHEM
For additional information on Neurochem and its drug development programs,
please call the North American toll-free number 1 877 680-4500 or visit our Web
Site at: www.neurochem.com.
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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 disclosed 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 , if any, 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.