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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) April 19, 1999
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ALTEON INC.
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Delaware 0-19529 13-3304550
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(State or Other Juris- (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
diction of Incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
170 Williams Drive, Ramsey, New Jersey 07446
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (201) 934-5000
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(Former Name or Former Address, If Changed Since Last Report)
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Item 5. Other Events.
On April 19, 1999, Alteon Inc. issued the following press
release:
"ALTEON INC. ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE OF
ANTHONY CERAMI FROM BOARD OF DIRECTORS
"Ramsey, New Jersey, April 19, 1999 - Alteon Inc. (Nasdaq: ALTN)
announced today that Anthony Cerami, Ph.D., one of the Company's
founders and a member of the Board of Directors since October 1993,
has resigned from the Company's Board of Directors.
"'Tony Cerami has made remarkable contributions to the
understanding of diabetic complications and the aging process,'
said Kenneth I. Moch, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Alteon. 'As one of the Company's founders and through his critical
role in its scientific activities, he has shown how the
pathological effects of Advanced Glycosylation End-products
(A.G.E.s) can be reduced. He is an extraordinarily accomplished
scientist and we thank him for the pivotal role he has played
through Alteon's critical development years.'
"Alteon is a leader in the discovery and development of
pharmaceutical products for the treatment of the complications of
diabetes and age-related diseases. Alteon's proprietary technology
focuses on Advanced Glycosylation End-products, or A.G.E.s, formed
as a result of circulating blood glucose reacting with proteins.
A.G.E.s have been shown to be a causative factor in many of the
complications of diabetes and age-related diseases, including
kidney disease, nerve damage, atherosclerosis and retinopathy.
Alteon's approach is to inhibit or break A.G.E.s or their chemical
crosslinks, thereby potentially impacting such disease states. The
company is continuing its evaluation of its lead A.G.E.-formation
inhibitor, pimagedine, based on the results of the Phase III trial
of pimagedine in Type 1 diabetic patients with progressive kidney
disease. A meeting is planned with the FDA to discuss next steps
with pimagedine. Alteon's lead A.G.E. crosslink breaker, ALT-711,
has completed a series of Phase I human clinical trials and is
expected to enter Phase II trials in 1999. Alteon is also pursuing
the development of a novel series of glucose lowering agent (GLA)
compounds.
# # #
"Any statements contained in this press release that relate to
future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements
that involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to,
those relating to technology and product development, regulatory
approval processes, intellectual property rights and litigation,
competitive products, ability to obtain financing, and other risks
identified in Alteon's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Actual results, events or performances may differ
materially. Alteon undertakes no obligation to publicly release
the result of any revision to these forward-looking statements that
may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date
hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
"This press release is also available at http://www.alteonpharma.com"
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SIGNATURE
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.
Alteon Inc.
By: /s/ Kenneth I. Moch
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Kenneth I. Moch
President and
Chief Executive Officer
Date: April 23, 1999
