<PAGE>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 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): January 13, 2000
LJL BIOSYSTEMS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
000-23647
(Commission File Number)
DELAWARE 77-0360183
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation)
405 TASMAN DRIVE
SUNNYVALE, CA 94089
(Address of principal executive offices, with zip code)
(408) 541-8787
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
<PAGE>
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
On January 13, 2000, LJL BioSystems, Inc. announced expansion of its
genomics platform with Informatics tools to enable automated SNP scoring and
that Incyte Europe adopts LJL SNP Scoring Platform. Further details regarding
this announcement are contained in the company's news release dated January 13,
2000 attached as an exhibit hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
On January 13, 2000, LJL BioSystems, Inc discusses pivotal year and
entry into genomics market at Chase Hambrecht & Quist conference. Further
details regarding this announcement are contained in the company's news release
dated January 13, 2000 attached as an exhibit hereto and incorporated herein by
reference.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS
(a) Exhibits:
99.7 LJL BioSystems, Inc. News Release dated January 13, 2000
99.8 LJL BioSystems, Inc. News Release dated January 13, 2000
-2-
<PAGE>
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 duly authorized.
LJL BIOSYSTEMS, INC.
Date: January 13, 2000 By: /s/ LEV J. LEYTES
------------------------
Lev J. Leytes
President and CEO
-3-
<PAGE>
Exhibit 99.7
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS:
LJL BIOSYSTEMS, INC.: MEDIA RELATIONS:
LARRY TANNENBAUM FRIESTEDT INTERNATIONAL
CFO AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT SUSANNE FRIESTEDT
408-548-0542 619-223-8844
[email protected] [email protected]
- ---------------------- ------------------
LJL BIOSYSTEMS EXPANDS ITS GENOMICS PLATFORM WITH INFORMATICS TOOLS TO ENABLE
AUTOMATED SNP SCORING
o INCYTE EUROPE ADOPTS LJL SNP SCORING PLATFORM
SUNNYVALE, CA -JANUARY 13, 2000 - LJL BioSystems, Inc. (NASDAQ: LJLB) today
announced the addition of customized algorithms and IT tools, HEFP
AlleleSorter-TM-, designed to enable automated genotype calling on LJL's SNP
(single nucleotide polymorphism) genotyping platform. HEFP AlleleSorter-TM- is
an extension to the products LJL is already offering through its Genomics
Science Group.
Since the creation of the Genomics Science Group in August, 1999, a number of
leading researchers in the field have adopted LJL's proprietary method of
detection, High Efficiency Fluorescence Polarization (HEFP-TM-), as the method
of choice for cost-effective, high throughput genotyping of SNPs. In particular,
in collaboration with Incyte Europe, LJL presented at the Automation in Mapping
and Sequencing Conference held at the Sanger Centre, Hinxton, UK. Speaking at
the conference, Tom Weaver, Head of Development for Incyte Europe, stated, "We
are adopting LJL's HEFP-SNP genotyping platform for our in-house genotyping
efforts. Speed and accuracy of base calling, combined with reduced cost per
genotype gives LJL's system clear superiority to alternative techniques."
"We are very pleased with the commercial development and market acceptance of
our approach for high throughput genotyping. The key drivers to our growth in
the genomics market are the same basic drivers that are propelling LJL's
products within the drug discovery and screening markets. Namely, our ability to
provide cost-efficient delivery of rapid, robust and sensitive SNP detection,
using our proprietary HEFP-SNP platform, is key to LJL's success in addressing
this increasingly important area of genomics research," stated Lev J. Leytes,
Chairman and CEO of LJL. "With the addition of the HEFP AlleleSorter-TM-, we
move closer to a seamless approach for preparation, identification and data
analysis of large numbers of samples for genotyping," continued Mr. Leytes.
<PAGE>
"As SNP discovery work progresses, SNP screening will become more demanding upon
throughput and cost per data point performance. We believe that the HEFP-SNP
platform is superior to any of the current technologies on the market and expect
over time that it will be a significant contributor to LJL's revenues," stated
Mr. Leytes.
ABOUT LJL BIOSYSTEMS, INC.
LJL BioSystems supplies infrastructure tools to pharmaceutical and biotech
companies engaged in the highly competitive search for new medicines in this
genomics era. LJL's family of proprietary products, marketed as CRITERION-TM-,
consists of instruments, consumables, and services. The Company intends to
establish CRITERION as the gold standard for addressing many of the key
bottlenecks in drug discovery. LJL's worldwide customers include, among others,
AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Company, Johnson and Johnson,
Merck and Co., Tularik, Inc., Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., DuPont
Pharmaceuticals Company, Amgen, Inc., Monsanto Company, Pharmacia & Upjohn and
SmithKline Beecham. LJL is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California and has a
subsidiary in the United Kingdom. Additional information on LJL and CRITERION
technology can be found at www.ljlbio.com
--------------
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in
this news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act, including statements regarding LJL's
"expectations", "goals", "beliefs", "hopes", "designs", "intentions",
"strategies" or the like. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially, including such factors,
among others, as the impact of competitive products and pricing, the timely
development and market acceptance of new products, the ability to raise capital,
concentration of HTS and Ultra-HTS markets, market conditions, the mix between
domestic and international sales, manufacturing and cost of LJL's products,
dependence on collaborative partners, the enforcement of intellectual property
rights, and uncertainties relating to sole source suppliers, technological
approaches, FDA and other regulatory approvals. These and other risk factors are
discussed in LJL's Report on Form 10-K, filed March 30, 1999, Reports on Form
10-Q filed May 14, 1999, August 16, 1999 and November 15, 1999 and Form S-3
dated July 22, 1999 (see, in particular, Risk Factors and Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations). LJL
disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
As a result of these and other factors, LJL expects to experience significant
fluctuations in operating results, and there can be no assurance that LJL will
become or remain consistently profitable in the future.
For information on LJL BioSystems, Inc. contact Larry Tannenbaum, Chief
Financial Officer, at 408-548-0542 or [email protected].
-----------------------
<PAGE>
Exhibit 99.8
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS:
LJL BIOSYSTEMS, INC.: MEDIA RELATIONS:
LARRY TANNENBAUM FRIESTEDT INTERNATIONAL
CFO AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT SUSANNE FRIESTEDT
408-548-0542 619-223-8844
[email protected] [email protected]
- ---------------------- ------------------
LJL BIOSYSTEMS, INC DISCUSSES PIVOTAL YEAR AND ENTRY INTO GENOMICS MARKET AT
CHASE HAMBRECHT & QUIST CONFERENCE
SUNNYVALE, CA - JANUARY 13, 2000 - LJL BioSystems, Inc. (NASDAQ: LJLB) today
presented the Company's success in addressing some of the most challenging
drug discovery problems with its platform of instrument systems and
consumables. Also, at the Chase Hambrecht & Quist Healthcare Conference, Lev
J. Leytes, Chairman and CEO of LJL discussed the Company's accomplishments in
extending its technology into the SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism)
genotyping market. The Company's HEFP-SNP(TM) platform is now being utilized
to genotype SNPs at leading genomics centers and research labs.
"We believe that the growing acceptance of our technologies by
industry-leading customers demonstrates that LJL's solutions have exciting
potential in the rapidly growing markets of genomics and drug discovery,"
commented Lev J. Leytes.
Earlier this week,. LJL announced preliminary record revenue of approximately
$4.0 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 1999. These initial
results compare to revenue of $1.6 million in the fourth quarter of 1998 and
represent more than a 140% increase over the year ago quarter and more than
50% growth from the third quarter of 1999.
During the fourth quarter, the company added several new customers, including
three major pharmaceutical companies. The Company shipped its 100th system
just a little more than a year and a half after commencing shipment of its
first High Throughput Screening (HTS) instrument. During this time, LJL has
begun to successfully penetrate its target customer base, and has sold
systems to 21 of the top 25 pharmaceutical companies in the world, with
approximately two-thirds of those customers ordering more than one unit.
ABOUT LJL BIOSYSTEMS, INC.
LJL BioSystems supplies infrastructure tools to pharmaceutical and biotech
companies engaged in the highly competitive search for new medicines in the
genomics era. LJL's family of proprietary products, marketed as CRITERION-TM-,
consists of instruments, consumables, and services. The Company intends to
establish CRITERION as the gold standard for addressing
<PAGE>
many of the key bottlenecks in drug discovery. LJL's worldwide customers
include, among others, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Company,
Johnson and Johnson, Merck and Co., Tularik, Inc., Millennium Pharmaceuticals,
Inc., DuPont Pharmaceuticals Company, Amgen, Inc., Monsanto Company, Pharmacia &
Upjohn and SmithKline Beecham. LJL is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California and
has a subsidiary in the United Kingdom. Additional information on LJL and
CRITERION technology can be found at www.ljlbio.com
--------------
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed
in this news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act, including statements regarding
LJL's "expectations", "goals", "beliefs", "hopes", "designs", "intentions",
"strategies" or the like. Such statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including
such factors, among others, as the impact of competitive products and
pricing, the timely development and market acceptance of new products, the
ability to raise capital, concentration of HTS and Ultra-HTS markets, market
conditions, the mix between domestic and international sales, manufacturing
and cost of LJL's products, dependence on collaborative partners, the
enforcement of intellectual property rights, and uncertainties relating to
sole source suppliers, technological approaches, FDA and other regulatory
approvals. These and other risk factors are discussed in LJL's Report on Form
10-K, filed March 30, 1999, Reports on Form 10-Q filed May 14, 1999, August
16, 1999 and November 15, 1999 and Form S-3 dated July 22, 1999 (see, in
particular, Risk Factors and Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations). LJL disclaims any intent or
obligation to update these forward-looking statements. As a result of these
and other factors, LJL expects to experience significant fluctuations in
operating results, and there can be no assurance that LJL will become or
remain consistently profitable in the future.
For information on LJL BioSystems, Inc., contact Larry Tannenbaum, Chief
Financial Officer, at 408-548-0542 or [email protected].
-----------------------
