FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
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Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of January 2005
AETERNA ZENTARIS INC.
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(Formerly named AEterna Laboratories Inc.)
1405, boul. du Parc-Technologique
Quebec, Quebec
Canada, G1P 4P5
(Address of principal executive offices)
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
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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 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Yes _____ No X
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If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-_____
DOCUMENTS INDEX
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Documents Description
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1. Press release dated January 6, 2005 - AEterna Zentaris Strengthens
its Position in the Development of Innovative Signal Transduction
Inhibitors as a Potential Way to Treat Cancer
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LOGO - AETERNA ZENTARIS
AETERNA ZENTARIS INC. 1405 du Parc-Technologique Blvd.
Quebec (Quebec) Canada G1P 4P5 T 418 652-8525 F 418 652-0881
www.aeternazentaris.com
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
AETERNA ZENTARIS STRENGTHENS ITS POSITION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE
SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION INHIBITORS AS A POTENTIAL WAY TO TREAT CANCER
o Acquisition of Echelon Biosciences in the United States
o Enhanced collaboration with North American Partner, Keryx Biopharmaceuticals
(Nasdaq: KERX) for the development and commercialization of another signal
transduction inhibitor candidate, Erucylphosphocholine (ErPC)
QUEBEC CITY, CANADA, JANUARY 6, 2005 - AEterna Zentaris Inc. (TSX: AEZ; Nasdaq:
AEZS) today announced the closing of the acquisition of all issued and
outstanding shares of Echelon Biosciences Inc., a privately-held
biopharmaceutical company based in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. The amount of the
transaction could reach up to US$5.6 million. At today's closing, AEterna
Zentaris paid US$2.7 million by the issuance of 443,905 common shares of AEterna
Zentaris at US$6.11 per share. The residual amount will be payable upon reaching
pre-defined development and commercial milestones through the issuance of
additional AEterna Zentaris common shares over a period of up to three years.
Echelon's product pipeline is focused on the rapidly emerging field of
transduction signalling technology. It has early therapeutic leads (mostly
direct PI3K inhibitors) against some forms of cancer and is in a position to
deliver new highly-effective oncology therapeutics. The focus is also on small
molecule agonists and antagonists to lipid-protein signalling interactions which
are new and important therapeutic targets. Furthermore, Echelon markets chemical
reagents, and sales reached nearly US$2.2 million during the last twelve months.
"First and foremost, this acquisition provides us with a complementary strategic
fit for our signal transduction inhibitors platform, mainly represented by
perifosine, our lead compound in oncology", said Gilles Gagnon, President and
CEO of AEterna Zentaris. "It also marks our entry into the United States, a
crucial market for our growth strategy. Last but not least, we are very happy to
acquire a company whose management has succeeded in developing compounds while
using a business model which enabled them to minimize their burn rate through
the creation of a customized reagents business involving several major
accounts", he added.
LOGO - AETERNA ZENTARIS
W. Tim Miller, President of Echelon Biosciences mentioned, "AEterna Zentaris is
an exciting growth company with a rich pipeline of clinical and preclinical drug
programs, an experienced and successful development infrastructure, impressive
and established relationships with pharmaceutical partners, and where excellent
scientific synergy exists with Echelon's early stage drug development projects.
We are proud to be part of AEterna Zentaris' family and we look forward to help
bring added value to the Company through this exciting development and
commercialization partnership."
In line with the strategic development of compounds that can block the PI3K-AKT
pathways, AEterna Zentaris announced that it has initiated preclinical
development of Erucylphosphocholine or ErPC (ZEN 027) an analog of perifosine
which is suitable for intravenous administration. AEterna Zentaris has also
licensed to Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, its current North American partner for
perifosine, certain rights to develop and market ErPC in North America, South
Africa, Israel, Australia and New Zealand while keeping those rights for the
rest of the world.
Like perifosine, ErPC belongs to a new class of compounds based on
alkylphosphocholines developed in Germany by AEterna Zentaris.
"We have been excited about the potential of signal transduction inhibitors in
oncology for a long time. The acquisition of Echelon as well as the expansion of
our successful collaboration with Keryx Biopharmaceuticals will allow AEterna
Zentaris to further manifest its leading position in this field", stated
Dr. Jurgen Engel, Executive Vice President, R&D and COO of AEterna Zentaris.
ABOUT ECHELON BIOSCIENCES INC.
Echelon Biosciences Inc. is engaged in furthering the science of lipid cell
signalling and critical metabolic enzymes, which provide new and viable targets
for the development of potential drugs and diagnostics for cancer, diabetes,
inflammation, infections, and cardiovascular disease. The company was co-founded
by University of Utah Professors Glenn Prestwich and Dale Poulter, with
G. Thomas Heath, former Pfizer executive. Echelon was incorporated under the
laws of the state of Utah as Echelon Research Laboratories, Inc. on October 3,
1997. Based in Salt Lake City, the Company has 30 employees.
ABOUT AETERNA ZENTARIS INC.
AEterna Zentaris Inc. is an oncology and endocrine therapy focused
biopharmaceutical company with proven expertise in drug discovery, development
and commercialization. The Company's broad, renewable product pipeline leverages
five different therapeutic approaches, including LHRH antagonists and signal
transduction inhibitors. The lead LHRH antagonist compound, cetrorelix, is
currently marketed for IN VITRO fertilization under the brand name Cetrotide(R),
and has successfully completed a broad Phase II program in endometriosis and
benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The lead signal transduction inhibitor
compound, perifosine, is an orally-active AKT inhibitor that is in several
Phase II trials for multiple cancers.
LOGO - AETERNA ZENTARIS
AEterna Zentaris also owns 61.1% of Atrium Biotechnologies Inc., an
international company that develops, manufactures and markets added-value active
ingredients and specialty chemicals for the cosmetics, chemical, pharmaceutical
and nutritional industries, as well as health and nutrition products.
News releases and additional information about AEterna Zentaris are available on
its new Web site www.aeternazentaris.com.
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe
harbor provisions of the U.S. Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties,
which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those
in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among
others, the availability of funds and resources to pursue R&D projects, the
successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the ability of the Company
to take advantage of business opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry,
uncertainties related to the regulatory process and general changes in economic
conditions. Investors should consult the Company's quarterly and annual filings
with the Canadian and U.S. securities commissions for additional information on
risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statements. Investors
are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. The Company does
not undertake to update these forward-looking statements.
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CONTACTS:
MEDIA RELATIONS INVESTOR RELATIONS
Paul Burroughs Jacques Raymond
(418) 652-8525 ext. 406 (418) 652-8525 ext. 360
paul.burroughs@aeternazentaris.com jacques.raymond@aeternazentaris.com
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EUROPE
Dr. Matthias Seeber
+49-6942602-3425
matthias.seeber@zentaris.com
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SIGNATURE
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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.
AETERNA ZENTARIS INC.
Date: January 6, 2005 By: /s/Mario Paradis
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Mario Paradis
Senior Finance Director and Corporate
Secretary