-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, IMItVDcvdsJXpzC3lhsS5y3SQW2Ll7ZbD7QtPsmIeH/iSZ2f9m47pHbl8rFuMh/v 9eEJuzwULsQAHvHSThCbBw== 0001036050-98-000354.txt : 19980313 0001036050-98-000354.hdr.sgml : 19980313 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001036050-98-000354 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 19980309 ITEM INFORMATION: ITEM INFORMATION: FILED AS OF DATE: 19980312 SROS: NASD FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: BOSTON LIFE SCIENCES INC /DE CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000094784 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834] IRS NUMBER: 870277826 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-06533 FILM NUMBER: 98564163 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 31 NEWBURY ST STREET 2: SUITE 300 CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02116 BUSINESS PHONE: 6178908263 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 31 NEWBURY STREET STREET 2: SUITE 300 CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02116 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: GREENWICH PHARMACEUTICALS INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: STRATEGIC MEDICAL RESEARCH CORP /DE DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19790521 8-K 1 FORM 8-K (DATE 03/09/98) 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) March 9, 1998 ------------- 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 it had licensed from Harvard University the rights to a recently discovered gene that controls apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in T-cells. The discovery of this gene, termed BCLx-gamma, was published in the journal Immunity. According to the article, when BCLx-gamma is turned on following T-cell activation, the T-cells undergo clonal expansion and survive to fulfill their immune function. If however, BCLx-gamma is not turned on following T-cell activation, the T-cells apoptose, and no immune reaction occurs. Thus, it appears that activation of BCLx-gamma is necessary for an effective and prolonged T-cell response. The Company believes that the discovery is of great significance in the understanding of T-cell mediated diseases, particularly autoimmune disease, and hopes to develop a screen to identify compounds that work to inhibit BCLx-gamma and therefore eliminate the T-cells that are activated in autoimmune diseases. In addition to the licensing of this technology, the Company also provided the following product development update: The results of the recently completed Phase III trial of Therafectin has been submitted to a peer review journal for possible publication. The Company plans to file an amendment to the current Therafectin NDA in the near future seeking marketing approval for the drug. Discussions concerning the manufacture, marketing and distribution of Therafectin have been initiated with a number of large pharmaceutical firms; The Company is currently able to produce sufficient quantities of active recombinant Troponin under GMP conditions to enable the initiation of human clinical trials. The Company is presently conducting more extensive preclinical efficacy studies to support the filing of an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) for the treatment of solid tumors. Studies are also being conducted at the Scheppens Eye Institute and Yale University pertaining to ophthalmic indications; Discussions are underway with a number of pharmaceutical companies regarding the establishment of an R&D collaboration to identify compounds that inhibit C-Maf, the Company's T-cell switch factor. Such compounds could have therapeutic applications in allergies and asthma; The Company expects four articles to be published in the upcoming issue of the neurological journal Synapse, pertaining to the Company's Parkinson's Disease diagnostic agent, Altropane. 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 March 9, 1998. 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: March 11, 1998 By:/s/ Joseph Hernon ----------------- Joseph Hernon Chief Financial Officer BOSTON LIFE SCIENCES, INC. CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit No. Page(s) - ----------- ------- 99.1 Press Release, dated March 9, 1998 5-6 EX-99.1 2 NEWS RELEASE Exhibit 99.1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BOSTON LIFE SCIENCES ANNOUNCES THE LICENSING OF T-CELL APOPTOSIS GENE AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT UPDATE BOSTON, MA--MARCH 9, 1998. BOSTON LIFE SCIENCES, INC. (NASDAQ: BLSI) announced that it has licensed from Harvard University the rights to a recently discovered gene that controls apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in T cells. The discovery of this gene, termed BCLx-gamma was published in the journal Immunity (Vol. 7, pp 629-639, 1997). The senior author of the article is Harvey Cantor, Professor of Immunology, Harvard Medical School. According to the article, when BCLx-gamma is turned on following T-cell activation, the T-cells undergo clonal expansion and survive to fulfill their immune function. If however, BCLx-gamma is not turned on following T-cell activation, the T-cells apoptose, and no immune reaction occurs. Thus, it appears that activation of BCLx-gamma is necessary for an effective and prolonged T-cell response. "We believe that this discovery is of great significance in the understanding of T-cell mediated diseases, particularly autoimmune disease", said Marc Lanser, MD, Chief Scientific Officer of BLSI. "By inhibiting BCLx-gamma, or by interfering with its interaction with other proteins, we hope to eliminate the T-cells that are activated in autoimmune diseases. This approach could be of substantial therapeutic benefit in these conditions. We hope to develop a screen to identify compounds that work by such a mechanism", added Dr. Lanser. In addition to the licensing of this technology, the Company also provided the following product development update: - -The results of the recently completed Phase III trial of Therafectin has been submitted to a peer review journal for consideration for publication. In addition, the Company plans to file an amendment to the current Therafectin NDA in the near future seeking marketing approval for the drug, though there can be no assurance that such approval will be obtained. Discussions concerning the manufacture, marketing and distribution of Therafectin have been initiated with a number of large pharmaceutical firms, though there can be no assurance that an agreement will be reached. - -The Company is currently able to produce sufficient quantities of active recombinant Troponin under GMP conditions to enable the initiation of human clinical trials. Consequently, the Company is presently engaged in conducting more extensive preclinical efficacy studies to support the filing of an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) for the treatment of solid tumors. In parallel, studies using Troponin are being conducted at the Scheppens Eye Institute and Yale University pertaining to ophthalmic indications. Preliminary results look promising, the Company said. - -Discussions are underway with a number of pharmaceutical companies regarding the establishment of an R&D collaboration to identify compounds that inhibit C- Maf, the Company's T-cell switch factor. Such compounds could have therapeutic applications in allergies and asthma. - -The Company expects four articles to be published in the upcoming issue of the neurological journal Synapse, pertaining to the Company's Parkinson's Disease diagnostic agent, Altropane. The foregoing contains certain forward-looking statements with regard to projected or estimated dates for submission of certain regulatory filings and completion of certain stages of product development which may not be realized due to the uncertainties inherent in the research and development and regulatory processes. For additional information contact: Marc E. Lanser, MD Chief Scientific Officer 617-425-0200 -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----