8-K

 
                                 UNITED STATES
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, DC  20549

                                   FORM 8-K

                                CURRENT REPORT

    Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report  (Date of Earliest Event Reported)   October 20, 1997
                                                 ---------------------


                          BOSTON LIFE SCIENCES, INC.
          ----------------------------------------------------------
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



 
 
                                                  
          Delaware                           0-6533                 87-0277826
- --------------------------------             ------       ----------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of            (Commission   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
  incorporation or organization)            File No.)
 
31 Newbury Street, Suite 300
Boston, Massachusetts                                                    02116
- --------------------------------------                             ---------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                               Zip Code



Registrant's telephone number, including area code  (617)  425-0200
                                                  -------------------

 
Item 5.  Other Events.
         -------------
Boston Life Sciences, Inc. announced that in initial in vivo experiments, the
Company's Central Nervous System (CNS) growth factor, AF1, appeared to stimulate
regeneration of the optic nerve in mice.  Two weeks following surgical
transection of the optic nerve, the eyes were dissected and examined for optic
nerve regeneration.  In the group treated with AF1, all eyes showed evidence of
optic nerve axon regeneration, whereas in the control group, none of the eyes
showed evidence of optic nerve regeneration.

The Company believes that this is the first time that a single, naturally-
occuring nerve growth factor has been reported to regenerate CNS axons in an
animal model of CNS injury.   Based on these preliminary findings, the Company
is planning an extensive schedule of animal experiments to acquire further
evidence of efficacy in a variety of models of CNS injury.  The goal is to bring
AF1 into clinical testing as soon as possible for the treatment of stroke and
spinal cord injury.

BLSI is developing novel treatments for cancer, autoimmune diseases, and central
nervous system disorders.



Item 7.  Exhibits.
         --------- 
     The following Exhibits are filed as part of this report on Form 8-K:
 
     99.1    Press Release, dated October 20, 1997.

 
                                  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 hereunto authorized.

                         BOSTON LIFE SCIENCES, INC.

Dated: October 23, 1997  By:/s/ Joseph Hernon
                            -------------------      
                            Joseph Hernon
                            Chief Financial Officer

 
                          BOSTON LIFE SCIENCES, INC.

                          CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.                                             Page
- -----------                                             ----
99.1         Press Release, dated October 20, 1997        5

EX-99.1

 
                                 Exhibit 99.1

                             FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOSTON LIFE SCIENCES' AXOGENESIS FACTOR 1 (AF1) STIMULATES REGENERATION OF
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM AXONS IN PRELIMINARY ANIMAL STUDIES



Boston, MA--October 20, 1997--Boston Life Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLSI)
announced that in initial in vivo experiments, the Company's Central Nervous
System (CNS) growth factor, AF1, appeared to stimulate regeneration of the optic
nerve in mice.  Two weeks following surgical transection of the optic nerve, the
eyes were dissected and examined for optic nerve regeneration.  In the group
treated with AF1, all eyes showed evidence of optic nerve axon regeneration,
whereas in the control group, none of the eyes showed evidence of optic nerve
regeneration.

"This result, though preliminary, represents an extremely important "Proof of
Principle" milestone in confirming the potential of AF1 to promote in vivo
regeneration in the CNS.  We believe that this is the first time that a single,
naturally-occurring nerve growth factor has been reported to regenerate CNS
axons in an animal model of CNS injury", said Dr. Marc Lanser, Chief Scientific
Officer of BLSI.  "We are extremely encouraged by this result, since recovery
from stroke or other CNS injuries ultimately depends upon the regeneration of
axonal connections between nerve cells.  Based on these preliminary findings, we
are planning an extensive schedule of animal experiments to acquire further
evidence of efficacy in a variety of models of CNS injury.  Our goal is to bring
AF1 into clinical testing as soon as possible for the treatment of stroke and
spinal cord injury ", added Dr. Lanser.

BLSI is developing novel treatments for cancer, autoimmune diseases, and central
nervous system disorders.  In addition to AF1, BLSI's products in clinical
trials or in preclinical development include Troponin I, a natural anti-
angiogenesis factor for the treatment of solid tumors; Therafectin, an oral drug
for the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis; Altropane, a radioimaging agent for
the diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease; and transcription factors that may control
the expression of molecules associated with autoimmune disease and allergies.

For additional information contact:

Marc E. Lanser, MD
Chief Scientific Officer
(617) 425 0200