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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. ___________)*
BIOCHEM PHARMA, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Issuer)
COMMON STOCK, NO PAR VALUE PER SHARE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Title of Class of Securities)
09058T108
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(CUSIP Number)
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(Date of Event Which Requires Filing This Statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:
[ ] Rule 13d-1(b)
[X] Rule 13d-1(c)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(d)
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would
alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed " for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however,
see the Notes).
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CUSIP No. 09058T108
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1. Names of Reporting Persons.
I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).
BB BIOTECH AG
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2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
(a)
(b)
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3. SEC Use Only
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4. Citizenship or Place of Organization
SWITZERLAND
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Number of 5. Sole Voting Power
Shares Bene- -0-
ficially
Owned by Each --------------------------------------------------------
Reporting
Person With: 6. Shared Voting Power
6,872,500
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7. Sole Dispositive Power
-0-
--------------------------------------------------------
8. Shared Dispositive Power
6,872,500
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9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
6,872,500
10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain shares
11. Percent of Class Represented by amount in Row (11)
6.4%
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12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
HC, CO
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Page 2 of 8 pages
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CUSIP No. 09058T108
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1. Names of Reporting Persons.
I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).
BIOTECH FOCUS S.A.
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2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group
(a)
(b)
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3. SEC Use Only
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4. Citizenship or Place of Organization
PANAMA
================================================================================
Number of 5. Sole Voting Power
Shares Bene- -0-
ficially --------------------------------------------------------
Owned by Each
Reporting 6. Shared Voting Power
Person With:
6,872,500
--------------------------------------------------------
7. Sole Dispositive Power
-0-
--------------------------------------------------------
8. Shared Dispositive Power
6,872,500
================================================================================
9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned By Each Reporting Person
6,872,500
10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain shares
11. Percent of Class Represented by amount in Row (11)
6.4%
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12. Type of Reporting Person
CO
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Page 3 of 8 pages
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ITEM 1.
(a) Name of Issuer
Biochem Pharma, Inc.
(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices
275 Frappier Boulevard,
Laval, Quebec, Canada H7V 4A7.
ITEM 2.
(a) Name of Person Filing
BB Biotech AG ("BB Biotech")
Biotech Focus S.A. ("Biotech Focus")
(b) Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence
BB Biotech Biotech Focus
Vordergasse 3 Swiss Bank Tower
8200 Schaffhausen Panama 1
CH/Switzerland Republic of Panama
(c) Citizenship
See Item No. 4 of cover pages.
(d) Title of Class of Securities
Common Stock, No Par Value Per Share
(e) CUSIP Number
09058T108
ITEM 3. IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 240.13d-1(b)
OR 240.13d-2(b) OR (c), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A:
(a) [ ] Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act
(15 U.S.C. 78o).
(b) [ ] Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).
(c) [ ] Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act
(15 U.S.C. 78c).
(d) [ ] Investment company registered under section 8 of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8).
Page 4 of 8 pages
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(e) [ ] An investment adviser in accordance with Section
240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
(f) [ ] An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with
Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
(g) [ ] A parent holding company or control person in accordance with
Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
(h) [ ] A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);
(i) [ ] A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an
investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);
(j) [ ] Group, in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).
ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP
Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and
percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1.
(a) Amount beneficially owned:
6,872,500
(b) Percent of class:
6.4%
(c) Number of shares as to which the person has:
(i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote
-0-
(ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote
6,872,500
(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of
-0-
(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of
6,872,500
Page 5 of 8 pages
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ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date
hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than
five percent of the class of securities, check the following [ ].
ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON.
Not applicable.
ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE
SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY
This statement is filed jointly by BB Biotech and Biotech Focus. Biotech
Focus is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BB Biotech.
ITEM 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP
Not applicable.
ITEM 9.
Not applicable.
ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the
purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the
issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection
with or as a participant in any transaction having that
purpose or effect.
Page 6 of 8 pages
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SIGNATURES
After reasonable inquiry and the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify
that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
BB BIOTECH AG
Date: July 17, 1998 By: /s/ Hans Joerg Graf
-------------------------------
Name: Hans Joerg Graf
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Signatory Authority
Date: July 17, 1998 By: /s/ Dr. Victor Bischoff
-------------------------------
Name: Dr. Victor Bischoff
-------------------------------
Vice Chairman and Director
BIOTECH FOCUS S.A.
Date: July 17, 1998 By: /s/ Dr. Andreas Bremer
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Name: Dr. Andreas Bremer
-------------------------------
Signatory Authority
Date: July 17, 1998 By: /s/ Dr. Daniel Bugmann
-------------------------------
Name: Dr. Daniel Bugmann
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Signatory Authority
Page 7 of 8 pages
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit 1: Translation of minutes of the January 3, 1997 Board of
Directors Meeting of Biotech Focus (evidencing a power of
attorney in favor of Anders Hove, Hans Joerg Graf,
Daniel Bugmann, Andreas Bremer and Nicolas Merian).*
Exhibit 2: Translation of evidence of a power of attorney in favor of
Victor Bischoff and Hans-Joerg Graf on behalf of BB Biotech.**
Exhibit 3: Agreement by and between BB Biotech and Biotech Focus with
respect to the filing of this disclosure statement.
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* See Power of Attorney, previously filed as Exhibit 8 to the Schedule 13D
relating to Biochem Pharma, Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on July 23, 1998, which Exhibit is incorporated herein by
reference.
** See Power of Attorney, previously filed as an Exhibit 99.E to the Schedule
13D relating to Biogen, Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on June 2, 1994, which Exhibit is incorporated herein by
reference.
Page 8 of 8 pages
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EXHIBIT 3
JOINT FILING AGREEMENT
We, the undersigned, hereby express our agreement that the attached
Schedule 13G (including all amendments thereto) is filed on behalf of each of
the undersigned.
BB BIOTECH AG
Date: July 17, 1998 By: /s/ Hans Joerg Graf
--------------------------
Name: Hans Joerg Graf
--------------------------
Signatory Authority
Date: July 17, 1998 By: /s/ Dr. Victor Bischoff
--------------------------
Name: Dr. Victor Bischoff
--------------------------
Vice Chairman and Director
BIOTECH FOCUS S.A.
Date: July 17, 1998 By: /s/ Dr. Andreas Bremer
--------------------------
Name: Dr. Andreas Bremer
--------------------------
Signatory Authority
Date: July 17, 1998 By: /s/ Dr. Daniel Bugmann
--------------------------
Name: Dr. Daniel Bugmann
--------------------------
Signatory Authority
