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) December 14, 1998
ENZON, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 0-12957 22-2372868
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS EMPLOYER
or incorporation) File Number) Identification)
20 Kingsbridge Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (732) 980-4500
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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Item 5. Other Events
Enzon, Inc. (the "Company") has filed a patent infringement suit in Federal
Court in New Jersey against Shearwater polymers, Inc., ("Shearwater") for
infringement of U.S. Patent 5,643,575, one of the patents covering the Company's
second generation PEG technology. The patent covers a proprietary form of
polyethylene glycol ("PEG") called "Branched PEG".
Pegylation involves the chemical combination of PEG with protein and small
molecule drugs to increase their circulation time in the body and decrease their
immunogenicity. Branched PEG is a unique form of high molecular weight PEG
covered under the Company's patent and pending U.S. and foreign patent
applications.
Shearwater recently announced the signing of a royalty-bearing license
agreement with Hoffmann-La Roche, Ltd. ("Roche"). According to the announcement,
Shearwater will supply its version of branched PEG to Roche for manufacture of
Roche's pegylated 40-K interferon alfa- 2a. According to Shearwater, Roche's
product is in Phase III clinical trials for the treatment of hepatitis C.
The Company manufactures two FDA approved products that utilize its first
generation PEG technology, ONCASPAR(R), which is used to treat acute
lymphoblastic leukemia and ADAGEN(R), a treatment for a form of severe combined
immunodeficiency disease. The Company also licenses its PEG technologies to
strategic partners for commercialization.
Except for the historical information herein, the matters discussed in this
Form 8-K include forward-looking statements that may involve a number of risks
and uncertainties. Actual results may vary significantly based upon a number of
factors which are described in the Company's Form 10-Ks, Form 10-Qs and Form
8-Ks on file with the SEC, including without limitation, risks in obtaining and
maintaining regulatory approval for expanded indications, market acceptance of
an continuing demand for Enzon's products and the impact of competitive products
and pricing.
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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.
Dated: January 15, 1999
ENZON, INC.
(Registrant)
By: /s/ Kenneth J. Zuerblis
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Kenneth J. Zuerblis
Vice President, Finance
and Chief Financial Officer (Principal
Financial Officer and Principal
Accounting Officer)
