0001036050-99-002458.txt : 19991201 0001036050-99-002458.hdr.sgml : 19991201 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001036050-99-002458 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 19991129 ITEM INFORMATION: ITEM INFORMATION: FILED AS OF DATE: 19991130 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: 99766267 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 137 NEWBURY STREET STREET 2: 8TH FLOOR CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02116 BUSINESS PHONE: 6174250200 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 137 NEWBURY STREET STREET 2: 8TH FLOOR 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 FOR BOSTON LIFE SCIENCES 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) November 29, 1999 ------------------------ 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 incorporation or organization) File No.) Identification No.) 137 Newbury Street 8th Floor Boston, Massachusetts 02116 --------------------------------------- ------------ (Address of principal executive offices) Zip Code Registrant's telephone number, including area code (617) 425-0200 ----------------- Item 5. Other Events. ------------- On November 29, 1999, the Company announced that its second nerve growth factor, AF-1, was able to regenerate axons in the corticospinal tract of the spinal cord following experimental transection in an animal model. The axon-regenerative ability of AF-1 was similar to that achieved using Inosine, which was the subject of a recently published paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) and an extensive press release by Children's Hospital, Boston dated November 11, 1999. The activity reported for Inosine was the first published instance of substantial regeneration of the corticospinal tract after injury. The corticospinal tract is extremely important, as it controls all motor function in humans and higher primates. The Company has licensed both Inosine and AF-1 from Children's Hospital. Dr. Larry Benowitz, Director of the Laboratories for Neuroscience Research in Neurosurgery at Children's Hospital, led the team working on both growth factors. The experimental study using AF-1 was identical to the study published in PNAS, except that highly purified AF-1 was substituted for Inosine. Following corticospinal tract hemi-transection, AF-1 was administered directly to that section of the motor cortex of the brain that gives rise to axons descending in the uninjured side of the corticospinal tract. Following 10 days of treatment, numerous axons were seen to cross from the uninjured side of the corticospinal tract to the injured side below the level of the transection. These axons then descended down the injured side, thereby effectively reconstituting the transected corticospinal tract. The Company believes that these results strengthen its position as one of the leaders in the field of CNS regeneration, and expects to determine which growth factor will be its lead clinical development compound in the coming months. Item 7. Exhibits. --------- The following Exhibits are filed as part of this report on Form 8-K: 99.1 Press Release, dated November 29, 1999. 1 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: November 30, 1999 By: /s/ Joseph Hernon ----------------------- Joseph Hernon Chief Financial Officer 2 BOSTON LIFE SCIENCES, INC. CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Pages ----------- ----- 99.1 Press Release, dated November 29, 1999 4
3 EX-99.1 2 PRESS RELEASE DATED NOVEMBER 29, 1999 Exhibit 99.1 BOSTON LIFE SCIENCES' SECOND NATIVE GROWTH FACTOR (AF-1) REGENERATES CORTICOSPINAL TRACT IN EXPERIMENTAL SPINAL CORD INJURY November 29, 1999--Boston, MA--Boston Life Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLSI) announced that AF-1, a naturally-occurring small molecule secreted by support cells of the Central Nervous System (CNS), was able to regenerate axons in the corticospinal tract of the spinal cord following experimental transection in an animal model. The axon-regenerative ability of AF-1 was similar to that achieved using Inosine, which was the subject of a recently published paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) and an extensive press release by Children's Hospital, Boston dated November 11, 1999. The activity reported for Inosine was the first published instance of substantial regeneration of the corticospinal tract after injury. The corticospinal tract is extremely important, as it controls all motor function in humans and higher primates. BLSI has licensed both Inosine and AF-1 from Children's Hospital. Dr. Larry Benowitz, Director of the Laboratories for Neuroscience Research in Neurosurgery at Children's Hospital, leads the team working on both growth factors. The experimental study using AF-1 was identical to the study published in PNAS, except that highly purified AF-1 was substituted for Inosine. Following corticospinal tract hemi-transection, AF-1 was administered directly to that section of the motor cortex of the brain that gives rise to axons descending in the uninjured side of the corticospinal tract. Following 10 days of treatment, numerous axons were seen to cross from the uninjured side of the corticospinal tract to the injured side below the level of the transection. These axons then descended down the injured side, thereby effectively reconstituting the transected corticospinal tract. "We believe that these results strengthen our position as one of the leaders in the field of CNS regeneration," stated Marc Lanser, MD, and Chief Scientific Officer of BLSI. "We now have two extremely potent natural compounds that have demonstrated the ability to regrow long nerve tracts in the important corticospinal tract of the spinal cord. We expect to determine which growth factor will be our lead clinical development compound in the coming months. Additional animal models of spinal cord injury and stroke should help us make that determination," added Dr. Lanser. BLSI is developing novel treatments for cancer, autoimmune diseases, and central nervous system disorders. In addition to AF-1 and Inosine, BLSI's products awaiting FDA review, in clinical trials or in preclinical development include: Altropane(TM), a radioimaging agent for the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder and Parkinson's Disease; Troponin I, a naturally-occurring anti- angiogenesis factor for the treatment of solid tumors; and Therafectin(R), an oral drug for the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Statements made in this press release other than statements of historical fact represent forward-looking statements. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding expectations or beliefs as to future results or events, such as the expected timing and results of clinical trials, schedules of IND, NDA, and other regulatory submissions, the timing of product introductions, the market size for the Company's products and possible advantages of the Company's products. All such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties and actual results may vary materially from these statements. Factors that may affect future results include: results of scientific data from clinical trials; delays in the regulatory or development processes; the ability to obtain intellectual property protection, the availability of financing, market acceptance of the Company's products and other possible risks and uncertainties that have been noted in reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A. For additional information, please contact: Corporate Investor Media Marc Lanser, M.D. Maria Zapf Jim Weinrebe Chief Scientific Officer Investor Relations Schwartz Communications 617.425.0200 617.425.0200 781.684.0770