FORM 6 - K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of December 1999
Commission File Number 0-29350
VASOGEN INC.
(Translation of Registrant's name into English)
2155 Dunwin Drive, Suite 10, Mississauga, Ontario, L5L 4M1
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover 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 ]
This Form 6-K consists of:
A press release issued by Vasogen Inc. on December 14, 1999, titled: "Vasogen
Plans to Move VAS981 Into Clinical Trials in Leukemia"
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.
VASOGEN INC.
By /s/Christopher Waddick
----------------------
(Name: Christopher Waddick)
(Title: Vice-President, Finance & CFO)
Date: December 14, 1999
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Vasogen Inc. INVESTOR CONTACT
2155 Dunwin Drive, Suite 10 Trevor Burns
Mississauga, ON, Canada L5L 4M1 Investor Relations
tel (905) 569-2265 fax (905) 569-9231 tel (905) 569-9065
http://www.vasogen.com e-mail [email protected]
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VASOGEN PLANS TO MOVE VAS981 INTO CLINICAL TRIALS IN LEUKEMIA
Toronto, Ontario (December, 14, 1999) -- Vasogen Inc. (TSE:VAS; AMEX:MEW) today
announced results of the final phase of the Company's pre-clinical research in
the prevention of Graft-versus-Host Disease (GvHD). These results have supported
regulatory submissions to commence a clinical trial of its VAS981 cell
processing technology in the prevention of GvHD. GvHD is a potentially fatal
complication of bone marrow transplantation performed to treat leukemias and
other types of cancer that no longer respond to conventional therapy.
GvHD develops as part of an immune response that occurs when T cells, given with
the donated bone marrow (graft), identify cells in the recipient's body (host)
as foreign and reject them. GvHD causes symptoms ranging from anorexia and
severe vomiting to malabsorption and liver dysfunction. The costs of treating
the complications of GvHD exceed $400 million annually.
Previously announced results from research conducted at the Division of Cancer
Biology Research, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, University of Toronto, under
the direction of Dr. David Spaner, demonstrated that the treatment of donor
immune cells with VAS981 prior to transplantation prevented GvHD in animal
models. Recently completed research extended these studies to investigate the
effects of VAS981 on human immune cells that are administered in bone marrow
grafts and cause GvHD. The results showed that VAS981-treated cells produced
much lower levels of the inflammatory cytokines that are associated with GvHD.
The in vitro changes seen in these laboratory studies on human cells closely
mirrored those seen in vivo in the pre-clinical models, where they were
associated with a dramatic reduction in GvHD.
"Bone marrow transplantation is a potentially life-saving procedure for many
patients suffering from leukemia and lymphoma," said Dr. Spaner. "Unfortunately,
the success of bone marrow transplantation can be compromised by GvHD.
Overcoming this problem would represent a major breakthrough in the treatment of
cancer patients and could extend the use of life-saving bone marrow
transplantation to thousands more patients each year."
Currently, over 30,000 bone marrow transplant procedures are performed annually.
Nearly half of those cancer patients who receive bone marrow transplants develop
GvHD. Although drugs that suppress the immune system, such as cyclosporine, can
help decrease the severity of this problem, GvHD remains the major cause of
death, either directly or indirectly, in these patients.
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Vasogen is focused on developing immune modulation therapies to advance the
treatment of cardiovascular, autoimmune and related inflammatory diseases.
These therapies are designed to target fundamental disease-causing
events, providing safe, effective treatment.
Statements contained in this press release, including those pertaining to
scientific and clinical research, commercialization plans, strategic alliances,
and intellectual property protection, other than statements of historical fact,
are forward-looking statements subject to a number of uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from statements made.
