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, 2005
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.
January 20, 2005
By: /s/ Lise Hebert
----------------------------------------
Lise Hebert
Vice-President, Corporate Communications
NEUROCHEM INC.
275 Armand-Frappier Blvd.
[NEUROCHEM(LOGO)] Laval, Quebec, Canada H7V 4A7
________________________________________________________________________________
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Lise Hebert, PhD Tel: (450) 680-4572
Vice President, Corporate Communications Fax: (450) 680-4501
lhebert@neurochem.com
FRANCESCO BELLINI RENEWS MANDATE FOR THREE-YEARS AS CHAIRMAN,
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF NEUROCHEM
NEUROCHEM INC. ANNOUNCES SENIOR MANAGEMENT APPOINTMENTS AND REASSIGNMENT OF
RESPONSIBILITIES
MONTREAL, JANUARY 20, 2005 - Neurochem Inc. (NASDAQ: NRMX; TSX: NRM), today
announced the renewed commitment by Francesco Bellini, Chairman and CEO, to
remain with the Company in an executive capacity for at least three more years
as Chairman, President and CEO. At the same time, the Company announces the
appointment of two new members to its senior management team as well as other
changes at the senior management level.
Joining Neurochem are Shona McDiarmid, PhD, Vice President - Intellectual
Property, and Daniel Delorme, PhD, as Vice President - Research. Philippe
Calais, Pharm. D., currently President, is appointed President - Global
Business, and Denis Garceau, PhD, Vice President - Drug Development, becomes
Senior Vice President, Drug Development. Francine Gervais, PhD, Vice President,
Research and Development, will be leaving Neurochem but will remain a consultant
to the Company.
"In light of the recent collaboration and distribution agreement for
Fibrillex(TM) and as the Company furthers its partnering discussions on
Alzhemed(TM), the additions to the senior management team and the reassignment
of responsibilities will strengthen the infrastructure necessary for Neurochem
to move to the next level," said Dr. Bellini. "I believe this Company will be a
leader within the global biopharmaceutical industry and this is why I committed
myself to Neurochem for three additional years."
"I am very happy to welcome Dr. McDiarmid and Dr. Delorme to Neurochem. I have
known them for many years during which I have been able to appreciate their
great expertise in our sector and, at the same time, I want to thank Dr. Gervais
for her valuable contribution to the Company."
Dr. Shona McDiarmid is a lawyer who brings to Neurochem more than fifteen years
experience securing and defending intellectual property rights in the
pharmaceutical, medical and biotechnology fields. Dr. McDiarmid began her career
in intellectual property at Bereskin & Parr in Toronto, where she practiced
intellectual property law with a focus on biotechnology and pharmaceutical
patents and related litigation. In 1996 she joined BioChem Pharma as Director of
Intellectual Property, where she managed an extensive international patent
portfolio in core fields, including CNS, antivirals, anti-infectives, oncology,
biologics and vaccines. Following the merger of BioChem Pharma with Shire
Pharmaceuticals Group in 2001, Dr. McDiarmid was promoted to Vice President of
Global Intellectual Property for the Shire Pharmaceuticals Group. Dr. McDiarmid
holds a PhD in biology from the University of Western Ontario, and a law degree
from the University of Ottawa. Dr. McDiarmid is also a member of the Ontario Bar
and a registered Canadian patent agent.
Dr. Daniel Delorme has almost 20 years experience in biotechnology and
pharmaceutical companies. Prior to joining Neurochem, he served between 2003 and
2005 as Vice President, Research and Development, at the Canadian
biopharmaceutical company Phagetech Inc. and from 1998 to 2003, Dr. Delorme was
Vice President Medicinal Chemistry at Methylgene Inc. From 1995 to 1998, Dr.
Delorme served as Associate Director at AstraZeneca, Montreal, and prior to that
as a Research Fellow at Merck-Frosst. He is the co-inventor of 33 US patents and
patent applications and the author of 42 scientific papers. Dr. Delorme received
his doctoral degree in Organic Chemistry from the Universite de Montreal.
The responsibilities of Dr. Calais as President, Global Business, will encompass
the establishment of Neurochem's international marketing and sales operations in
North America and Europe and the management of collaborative activities with
business partners.
With his nomination, Dr. Garceau will be adding to his current role in drug
development, a more active participation in determining the Company's strategic
scientific direction.
ABOUT NEUROCHEM INC.
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. 1,3-
propanedisulfonate (1,3PDS; Fibrillex(TM)) is designated as an orphan drug and a
Fast Track Product candidate and is also part of an FDA Continuous Marketing
Applications Pilot 2 program. The Phase II/III clinical trial of
Fibrillex(TM)for the treatment of AA Amyloidosis was recently concluded and the
study data are expected to be released in the second quarter of 2005.
3-amino-1-propanesulfonic acid (3APS; Alzhemed(TM)), for the treatment of
Alzheimer's Disease, is in a Phase III clinical trial and 3APS; Cerebril(TM),
for the prevention of Hemorrhagic Stroke caused by Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy,
has completed a Phase II clinical trial.
TO CONTACT NEUROCHEM INC.
For additional information on Neurochem Inc. and its drug development programs,
please call the North American toll-free number 1-877-680-4500 or 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 Inc.'s control. The 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 Inc. 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 Inc. 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, the
forward-looking statements included in this news release. These statements speak
only as of the date made and Neurochem Inc. is under no obligation and disavows
any intention to update or revise such statements as a result of any event,
circumstances or otherwise.