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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
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Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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DATE OF REPORT: December 9, 1999
(Date of earliest event reported)
PHOTOGEN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
NEVADA 0-23553 36-4010347
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or Identification No.)
organization)
7327 OAK RIDGE HIGHWAY, SUITE B
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE 37931
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(423) 769-4011
(Registrant's telephone number including area code)
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
Photogen Technologies, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release
announcing that the Company's research reveals over 80% eradication rate of
ocular melanoma tumors using photodynamic treatment. The Press Release, dated
December 9, 1999, is attached as Exhibit 99 hereto.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
(c) The following exhibit is filed with this report:
99 Press release of the Company, dated December 9, 1999, announcing
that the Company's research reveals over 80% eradication rate of
ocular melanoma tumors using photodynamic treatment.
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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.
Photogen Technologies, Inc.
By: /s/ John Smolik
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John Smolik, President
Date: December 9, 1999
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Description
No.
99 Press release of the Company, dated December 9, 1999, announcing
that the Company's research reveals over 80% eradication rate of
ocular melanoma tumors using photodynamic treatment.
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Exhibit 99
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PHOTOGEN REVEALS OVER 80% ERADICATION RATE OF OCULAR
MELANOMA TUMORS USING PHOTODYNAMIC TREATMENT
MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY RESEARCHER DR. LUCY YOUNG
PRESENTS FINDINGS AT ANNUAL RETINA SOCIETY MEETING
KNOXVILLE, TENN., DEC. 9, 1999 -- Photogen Technologies (NASDAQ: PHGN) today
announced that Lucy Young, M.D., Ph.D., working under a research agreement
with the Company, presented findings showing complete eradication of ocular
melanoma tumors in 84% of lab animals following a single treatment with its
multi-photon excitation (MPE) technology.
Ocular melanoma is the most common form of eye cancer in adults, growing in
the back of the eye, under the retina. While the number of annual cases of
ocular melanoma is small, the technology serves as a stepping stone to the
treatment of other melanomas. Human experiential trials for the treatment are
anticipated to begin in 2000 or 2001.
Dr. Young, a leading researcher at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, a
Harvard Medical School teaching affiliate, delivered her findings last week
(Dec. 1-4) at the Retina Society Annual Meeting in Maui, Hawaii. The results
are based on the fact that melanin precursors become extremely phototoxic in
melanoma tumor cells when activated with certain light sources. Using
Photogen's multi-photon excitation (MPE) technology, tumorous cells die,
while healthy tissue remains unharmed. No additional phototoxic agents are
administered.
"Current treatments for ocular melanoma may involve surgery, radiation or
even removal of the eye," said Dr. Young. "I am pleased to share these highly
promising results that I've found using Photogen's MPE technology with my
colleagues at the Retina Society meeting."
"Our joint research with Dr. Young will go a long way, not only to
drastically improve treatment for ocular melanoma, but to also open the doors
to treatment of so many other diseases," said John Smolik, president and CEO
of Photogen. "Metastatic melanomas in the lungs and liver and primary
melanomas of the skin are larger markets where we envision future treatments
using MPE technology."
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Photogen's MPE technology for melanoma treatment uses an ultrafast-laser, at
1047 nanometers and differs from conventional photodynamic therapy in that it
uses pulsed, longer wavelength light. Further, since naturally occurring
agents are used for tumor destruction, no drug is necessary. Such photoactive
agents are effectively stimulated using MPE, thus allowing deeper tissue
penetration and significantly improved light precision, which is especially
useful for treating delicate tissues, such as the eye.
"I hope our findings will eventually enhance survival rates and provide
better visual outcome for patients suffering from ocular melanoma," added Dr.
Young.
About Dr. Young
Dr. Lucy Young is MEEI's principal investigator for the ocular melanoma
project. She holds an M.D. degree from the University of Wisconsin, earned in
1981. She earned her Ph.D. in 1984 from Harvard University, and holds a Board
Certification in Ophthalmology, earned in 1991. Dr. Young's clinical
interests include diseases and surgery of the retina and vitreous, diabetic
retinopathy, ocular trauma and AIDS-related retinal diseases. She has more
than 30 scholarly publications and reviews to her credit, and she is the
recipient of numerous research grants, including grant from the National
Institutes of Health and the Cancer Research Institute.
About Photogen
Photogen Technologies, Inc. is a development-stage company focused on
creating therapeutic and diagnostic products based on its proprietary
multi-photon excitation and other related technologies. The company has
discovered new methods for using energy from lasers, x-rays or other sources
to activate photoactive agents within tissue sufficient to produce a range of
beneficial therapeutic and diagnostic outcomes. These technologies involve
methods, materials and devices that may be used to produce light or other
energy combined with various photoactive agents to destroy diseased cells,
remove tissue or identify and diagnose disease. Photogen has U.S. patents and
additional pending applications in the U.S. and worldwide for certain of its
proprietary technology. The company has no products or operating revenue at
this time.
Statements in this release that are not strictly historical are
"forward-looking" statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor
provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, which may cause
the company's actual results in the future to differ materially from expected
results. These risks and uncertainties include: the ability of the company to
develop a product and obtain regulatory approval for its use; the ability of
the company to successfully market and sell any products and equipment; the
company's
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ability to manufacture products in sufficient quantities; the company's
ability to maintain intellectual property protection for its proprietary
products, to defend its existing intellectual property rights from challenges
by third parties, and to avoid infringing intellectual property rights of
third parties; unforeseen operating risks; the company's ability to secure
collaborative agreements with third parties for various research,
development, manufacturing, marketing and other functions; competition; risks
associated with the dependence on manufacturers of the company's proposed
products; the availability of capital to finance planned activities; and the
extent to which the clinicians performing the procedures are able to obtain
third-party reimbursement. These risks are qualified in their entirety by
cautionary language and risk factors set forth in the company's filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Media Contacts: Hilary Kaye or Joan Murray at Hilary Kaye Associates
(714) 426-0444 (PST) or [email protected].
Investor Relations Contact: Jonathan Fassberg at The Trout Group
(212) 477-9007 (EST) or [email protected].
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