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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) December 6, 2000
ALTEON INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
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<S> <C> <C>
Delaware 0-19529 13-3304550
(State or Other Juris- (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
diction of Incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
170 Williams Drive, Ramsey, New Jersey 07446
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
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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 December 6, 2000 Alteon Inc. issued the following press release:
ALTEON APPOINTS MILAN KOVACEVIC, M.D., PH.D., AS MEDICAL DIRECTOR
Ramsey, New Jersey, December 6, 2000 -- Alteon Inc. (AMEX: ALT) announced
today the appointment of Milan Kovacevic, M.D., Ph.D., as Medical Director.
Dr. Kovacevic's primary responsibility will be the design and
implementation of clinical trials for Alteon's products, particularly
ALT-711, Alteon's lead A.G.E. crosslink breaker.
Prior to joining Alteon, Dr. Kovacevic was Medical Officer for Kendle
International Inc., a contract research organization, where he was
responsible for medical and safety monitoring and clinical study design. He
also served as a Project Manager at Kendle and was responsible for the
coordination of a number of clinical research projects. Previously, Dr.
Kovacevic worked with Cangene Corporation, a biotech company in Canada, as
a clinical research scientist. In addition to his clinical responsibilities
there, he interacted with the regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration.
Dr. Kovacevic is a specialist in Internal Medicine. Before his
pharmaceutical career, he practiced medicine for 11 years. He received his
M.D. from the University of Beograd, Yugoslavia in 1984 and a Ph.D. in
Nephrology from the same university in 1993.
"Dr. Kovacevic's extensive background includes years of clinical experience
as a physician and teacher as well as in clinical research in the biotech
industry," said Robert C. deGroof, Ph.D., Alteon's Senior Vice President
for Scientific Affairs. "He provides us with the background and skills that
are critical to Alteon in our current stage of development, and we are
delighted to have him."
About Alteon
Alteon is a leader in the discovery and development of pharmaceuticals for
the treatment of cardiovascular and renal diseases and other disorders of
diabetes and aging, based on slowing or reversing a fundamental
pathological process caused by protein-glucose complexes called Advanced
Glycosylation End-Products (A.G.E.s).
A.G.E.s ultimately form crosslinks with adjacent proteins, leading to a
loss of flexibility and function in body tissues, organs and cells. This
A.G.E. pathway represents one of several pathological processes believed to
be responsible for aging, including regulation of telomere length, DNA
turnover, and build-up of senescent products, among others. A.G.E.s have
been shown to be causative factors in many of the complications of diabetes
and age-related diseases, including cardiovascular disease, kidney disease,
nerve damage and retinopathy. Alteon's unique approach is to break or
inhibit the formation of A.G.E.s and their chemical crosslinks.
Alteon's lead A.G.E. crosslink breaker, ALT-711, is in Phase IIa clinical
testing to evaluate
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its effect on cardiovascular compliance. Detailed analyses from that trial
are being conducted. Additional indications being evaluated include
non-obstructive uropathy, peritoneal dialysis and scleroderma. The company
is seeking a corporate partner to help fund the continued development of
its A.G.E.-formation inhibitor, Pimagedine, based on the results of a Phase
II/III trial in Type 1 diabetic patients with progressive kidney disease.
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. The information contained in this press
release is accurate as of the date indicated. Actual results, events or
performance 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.
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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
Chief Executive Officer
Dated: December 13, 2000
