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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) October 17, 2000
ALTEON INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
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)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (201) 934-5000
_________________________________________________________________
(Former Name or Former Address, If Changed Since Last Report)
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Item 5. Other Events
On October 17, 2000 Alteon Inc. issued the following press release:
ALTEON GRANTED PATENT ON NEW CLASS OF A.G.E. CROSSLINK BREAKERS; COMPOUNDS HAVE
POTENTIAL TO REVERSE AGE-RELATED DISEASES
RAMSEY, N.J., Oct. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Alteon Inc. (Amex: ALT) announced
today that it has received a patent covering a new class of A.G.E.
crosslink breaker compounds. A.G.E. crosslink breakers offer the
possibility of the first therapeutic approach to reverse cardiovascular
disease and other age-related disorders by cleaving Advanced Glycosylation
End-product, or A.G.E., crosslinks between proteins, thereby restoring
flexibility and elasticity to stiffened tissues. Alteon now has a library
of over 375 A.G.E. crosslink breaker compounds in several classes. U.S.
Patent #6,121,300, "Reversing Advanced Glycosylation Cross-links Using
Heterocyclic Substituted Thiazolium Salts," brings Alteon's total number of
U.S. patents to 104, the majority covering A.G.E. technology. Alteon is
evaluating the new class of compounds for possible clinical use.
"This patent clearly adds to our leadership position in the A.G.E. field,"
said Kenneth I. Moch, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We have been
aggressively patenting and developing this technology with the belief that
it will play an important role in the future treatment of many diseases,
and are pleased to have coverage on an entirely new class of compounds."
Alteon's lead A.G.E. crosslink breaker, ALT-711, is in Phase IIa clinical
trials in patients with measurable cardiovascular stiffening, with results
anticipated near year-end.
Other patents recently issued include U.S. patent #6,114,323, "Methods for
Inhibiting the Advanced Glycosylation of Proteins," and U.S. patent
#6,110,968, "Methods for Treatment Predicated on the Presence of Advanced
Glycosylation End-products in Tobacco and its Combustion Byproducts."
Alteon's Technology Platform - The A.G.E. Pathway
The Pathological Role of A.G.E. Crosslinks in Aging and Diabetes
Decreased elasticity of the cardiovascular system and the stiffening of
tissues and organs is one of the hallmarks of the normal aging process. The
resulting loss of flexibility and function ultimately leads to diseases or
disorders involving tissues that depend on elastic properties, including
vascular disorders, cardiomyopathies, ophthalmologic diseases and skin
aging.
A key mechanism involved in this aging process is the reaction of a simple
sugar, glucose, with natural proteins such as collagen and elastin. This
non-enzymatic chemical reaction results in the formation throughout the
body of "molecular glue-like" complexes called Advanced Glycosylation
End-products (A.G.E.s). While the formation of A.G.E.s in the human body
usually takes place at a slow, progressive rate that results in disease
later in life, A.G.E. formation can be significantly accelerated by
conditions such as diabetes where
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glucose levels are increased. This same chemical process of A.G.E.
formation occurs during cooking, where it is called the Maillard or
"browning" reaction. As with humans, this cooking process results in the
toughening and discoloration of food, and can be accelerated by increased
temperature and sugar levels.
The A.G.E. pathway may provide the scientific explanation for how and why
many of the complications of the aging process occur with higher frequency
and earlier in life in diabetic patients. Once A.G.E.s form on proteins,
they eventually crosslink to other proteins, forming pathological complexes
that have been shown in preclinical models to be responsible for many
age-related and diabetic disorders. In tissues and organs that depend on
elastic properties to function, normal physiologic functions are
compromised by A.G.E. formation and crosslinking.
Because A.G.E.s have been implicated in a broad range of pathologies,
therapeutic intervention may provide relief for many medical conditions
where A.G.E. crosslinking has contributed to a loss of normal function,
elasticity and/or flexibility.
ALT-711:
A Drug for Reversing Cardiovascular Disease and Other Diseases of Aging and
Diabetes
How ALT-711 Works
Recent discoveries at Alteon have indicated that many of the diseases that
are caused by A.G.E.s, and which were previously believed to be permanent
and irreversible pathologies, may in the future be treatable.
Alteon's lead A.G.E. Crosslink Breaker, ALT-711, is the first in a new
class of novel pharmaceuticals that have been shown to "break" A.G.E.
crosslinks, thereby restoring more normal function to organs and tissues
that have lost flexibility. Through a unique mechanism of action, ALT-711
restores normal elastic function to stiffened arteries and heart tissue in
diabetic and aging animal models. In rodents, canines and in primates,
medical researchers have documented important improvements to the
cardiovascular system using ALT-711; in effect, ALT-711 has demonstrated
the ability to restore the cardiovascular system to a more youthful state.
In cardiovascular disease, restoring normal arterial wall function is an
important therapeutic goal in preventing the subsequent development of
serious cardiomyopathies. By breaking the pathological A.G.E. crosslinks,
thereby restoring normal arterial function, ALT-711 may treat
cardiovascular disease itself, not just the symptoms. ALT-711 is currently
undergoing Phase II human clinical testing for cardiovascular disease, and
is being evaluated in several other conditions where the loss of tissue
flexibility and function leads to pathology.
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
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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 inhibit or
break 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 its effect on cardiovascular compliance, with results
from this trial anticipated near year-end. 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. 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.
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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: October 30, 2000
