<PAGE>
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):
February 1, 1999
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: 732-676-1200
________________________________________________________________________________
(Former name or former address, if changed from last report)
<PAGE>
-2-
Item 5. Other Events
------------
Roberts Pharmaceutical Corporation announced today that it has
entered into an agreement for future distribution in Korea of its platelet
reducing drug Agrylin (R) (anagrelide hydrochloride).
Roberts said that Yuhan Corporation, a pre-eminent Korean pharmaceutical
company, has signed an agreement for exclusive distribution rights for Agrylin
in that market. Yuhan has also agreed to pursue the drug registration process
necessary for securing regulatory approval to market Agrylin in Korea. The
company noted that clinical data previously used in successfully achieving U.S.
marketing clearance for Agrylin would be employed in pursuing the drug's
approval in Korea. Roberts has received an up-front payment from Yuhan, however,
financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
Agrylin is the only drug cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
for the treatment of thrombocythemia (elevated platelet counts), secondary to
myeloproliferative disorders to reduce the platelet count and the risk of
thrombosis (blood clotting) and to ameliorate associated symptoms including
thrombohemorrhagic events (e.g., heart attack and stroke). Myeloproliferative
disorders include essential thrombocythemia, polycythemia vera and chronic
myelogenous leukemia.
The Company further stated that Agrylin is the first Roberts' developed
product with worldwide potential which is evident from today's announcement and
from the drug's prior approvals in the U.S., Canada and Israel. Roberts is
committed to positioning itself for growth in the international pharmaceutical
market.
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: February 2, 1999 /s/ Anthony A. Rascio
----------------------------------
Anthony A. Rascio
Vice President
<PAGE>
-3-
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements included in Item 5 of this form 8-K are intended to be,
and are hereby identified as, forward looking statements for purposes of the
safe harbor provided by Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The
Registrant cautions readers that forward looking statements, including, without
limitation, those relating to the Registrant's future business prospects,
revenues, cost of sales, intangible dispositions and write-offs, continuing
operations and discontinued operations, and liquidity and capital resources, are
subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the
ability of the Registrant to secure regulatory approval in the United States and
in foreign jurisdictions for the Registrant's developmental pipeline drugs, the
efforts of the Registrant's competitors and the introduction of rival
pharmaceutical products which may prove to be more effective than the
Registrant's products, general market conditions, the availability of capital,
and the uncertainty over the future direction of the healthcare industry, that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the
forward looking statements.
