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FORM 8-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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 5, 1996
ROBERTS PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION
_______________________________________________________________________________
(exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New Jersey 1-1-432 22-2429994
__________ _______ __________
(State or other (Commission (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of File Number) Identification
incorporation) Number)
Meridian Center II
4 Industrial Way West
Eatontown, New Jersey 07724
________________________________________________________________________________
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 908-389-1182
Meridian Center II
4 Industrial Way West
Eatontown, New Jersey 07724
_______________________________________________________________________________
(Former name or former address, if changed from last report)
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Item 5. Other Events
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Roberts Pharmaceutical Corporation announced today that it has
agreed in principle to license from Lilly a developmental compound for
Functional Bowel Disorders (FBD), a potentially large and generally unsatisfied
gastrointestinal market. The compound, designated as LY315535, is being
licensed for Roberts for the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. This agreement
represents an expansion of previously announced licensing arrangements between
the two companies.
FBD may afflict 15%-20% of the world population with the corresponding
annual marketplace estimated at nearly a billion days of therapy. Current
therapies, ranging from dietary changes to over-the-counter medicines and
prescription antispasmodics, provide limited or erratic treatment response. The
LY315535 compound is a dipharmacophore, acting as both a muscarinic receptor
antagonist and as a seratonin (5-HT) receptor agonist with a high degree of
selectivity for the 5-HT1A receptor subtype. As a result of these two different,
but synergistic modes of action on the gastrointestinal tract, this compound
offers the potential to treat a wide spectrum of FBD symptoms.
Previously, Roberts announced it has licensed from Lilly two
other compounds for FBD. Those compounds included, an opioid mu receptor
antagonist and a 5-HT4 receptor antagonist. With the addition of LY315535,
Roberts proprietary pipeline now includes broad opportunities to develop
potentially novel breakthrough drugs for FBD.
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.
ROBERTS PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION
__________________________________
(Registrant)
Date: December 9, 1996 By: /s/ Anthony A. Rascio
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Anthony A. Rascio
Vice President
