FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of June 2009
AETERNA ZENTARIS 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 /X/ Form 40-F / /
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/
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-__
DOCUMENTS INDEX
DOCUMENTS DESCRIPTION
1. Aeterna Zentaris Partner Keryx Reports Positive Phase 2 data for
Perifosine (KRX-0401) in Colon and Kidney cancer at ASCO Meeting.
[AETERNA ZENTARIS LOGO]
AETERNA ZENTARIS INC. 1405 du Parc-Technologique Blvd.
Quebec (Quebec) Canada G1P 4P5 T 418 652-8525 F 418 652-0881
www.aezsinc.com
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
AETERNA ZENTARIS PARTNER KERYX REPORTS POSITIVE PHASE 2 DATA FOR PERIFOSINE
(KRX-0401) IN COLON AND KIDNEY CANCER AT ASCO MEETING
DATA DEMONSTRATES PERIFOSINE'S ANTI-CANCER ACTIVITY AND EFFICACY BOTH AS A
SINGLE AGENT AND IN COMBINATION THERAPY
QUEBEC CITY, CANADA, JUNE 1, 2009 - AEterna Zentaris Inc. (TSX: AEZ; Nasdaq:
AEZS), a global biopharmaceutical company focused on endocrine therapy and
oncology, today announced that its partner, Keryx Biopharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:
KERX), presented positive Phase 2 data on the clinical activity of perifosine
(KRX-0401), an Akt-inhibitor compound for cancer, as a treatment for advanced
metastatic colon cancer and advanced renal cell carcinoma. Data was presented
over the weekend at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual
Meeting, currently being held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando,
Florida.
ADVANCED METASTATIC COLON CANCER
The poster #4081 entitled, "RANDOMIZED PHASE 2 STUDY OF PERIFOSINE IN
COMBINATION WITH CAPECITABINE VERSUS CAPECITABINE ALONE IN PATIENTS WITH SECOND-
OR THIRD-LINE METASTATIC COLON CANCER", showed that perifosine combined with
capecitabine, more than doubled time to progression versus capecitabine plus
placebo with a statistically significant p-value (0.0006). In addition,
perifosine plus capecitabine more than doubled the Overall Response Rate and
almost doubled the Clinical Benefit Rate versus capecitabine plus placebo.
ADVANCED METASTATIC RENAL CELL CANCER
The poster #5034 entitled, "PHASE 2 STUDY OF PERIFOSINE IN METASTATIC RENAL CELL
CARCINOMA (RCC) PROGRESSING AFTER PRIOR THERAPY (RX) WITH A VEGF RECEPTOR",
demonstrated impressive single agent efficacy of perifosine in patients who
progressed after failing treatment either with a VEGF receptor inhibitor or
after treatment with both a VEGF receptor inhibitor and an mTOR inhibitor.
"We are encouraged as well as excited about the recent data presented on
perifosine by our partner Keryx at ASCO", stated Juergen Engel, Ph.D., President
and CEO of AEterna Zentaris. "This data further shows perifosine's potential as
a novel anticancer compound both as a single
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agent and in combination therapy. We now look forward to Keryx's future plan to
develop perifosine in oncology."
Copies of the abstracts are currently available and can be viewed on-line
through the ASCO website: http://www.asco.org/.
ABOUT PERIFOSINE (KRX-0401)
Perifosine is the first orally active Akt inhibitor in multiple Phase 2 trials
in cancer. The compound modulates several key signal transduction pathways,
including Akt, MAPK, and JNK that have been shown to be critical for the
survival of cancer cells. Perifosine has demonstrated single agent anti-tumor
activity in Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies and is currently being studied as a
single agent and in combination with several forms of anti-cancer treatments for
various forms of cancer. Perifosine is licensed to Keryx Biopharmaceuticals in
the United States, Canada and Mexico.
ABOUT AETERNA ZENTARIS INC.
AEterna Zentaris Inc. is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on endocrine
therapy and oncology, with proven expertise in drug discovery, development and
commercialization. News releases and additional information are available at
www.aezsinc.com.
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, and we disclaim any
obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any
revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect
future results, events or developments except if we are requested to do so by a
governmental authority or applicable law.
INVESTOR RELATIONS MEDIA RELATIONS
Ginette Vallieres Paul Burroughs
Investor Relations Coordinator Director of Communications
(418) 652-8525 ext. 265 (418) 652-8525 ext. 406
gvallieres@aezsinc.com pburroughs@aezsinc.com
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SIGNATURE
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: June 1, 2009 By: /s/Dennis Turpin
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Dennis Turpin
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer