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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported) September 13, 1999
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BOSTON LIFE SCIENCES, INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware 0-6533 87-0277826
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(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization) File No.)
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137 Newbury Street
8/th/ Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02116
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(Address of principal executive offices) Zip Code
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (617) 425-0200
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Item 5. Other Events.
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On September 13, 1999, the Company announced that it had entered into a
development and licensing agreement with Pfizer, Inc. to further develop a major
sector of the Company's C-Maf technology. C-Maf is an important transcriptional
regulator of IL-4 production and is the only known tissue-specific transcription
factor that is capable of physiologically transforming Th1 cells into Th2 cells.
The Company believes that C-Maf inhibitors could potentially be used to treat a
broad spectrum of allergies and asthma.
Under the terms of the agreement (which includes a transfer of the technology),
Pfizer will screen its small molecule collection for potential inhibitors of
C-Maf, with the goal of developing a small molecule therapeutic drug for the
treatment of a wide range of allergies and asthma. The Company will receive an
undisclosed initial payment and royalties on eventual sales of any product
potentially derived from the development effort. The Company stated that it will
continue to independently develop C-Maf as gene therapy for the treatment of
severe autoimmune disease such as Type 1 Diabetes and Multiple Sclerosis.
The foregoing contains forward-looking statements with regard to product
development intentions on the part of BLSI and its licensees and assumptions on
the clinical efficacy and commercial viability of products and/or technologies,
which may not be realized due to the uncertainties inherent in the research and
development process, regulatory approval process and the determination of
licensees with respect to their continued development of technology licensed
from BLSI.
Item 7. Exhibits.
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The following Exhibits are filed as part of this report on Form 8-K:
99.1 Press Release, dated September 13, 1999.
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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 authorized.
BOSTON LIFE SCIENCES, INC.
Dated: September 22, 1999 By: /s/Joseph Hernon
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Joseph Hernon
Chief Financial Officer
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BOSTON LIFE SCIENCES, INC.
CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Pages
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99.1 Press Release, dated September 13, 1999 4 - 5
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Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BOSTON LIFE SCIENCES SIGNS LICENSING AGREEMENT WITH PFIZER
FOR ALLERGY AND ASTHMA
September 13, 1999, Boston, MA--Boston Life Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLSI)
announced that the Company had entered into a development and licensing
agreement with Pfizer, Inc. to further develop a major sector of BLSI's C-Maf
technology.
"Since the discovery by Professor Laurie Glimcher of C-Maf and its publication
in Cell (vol. 85; 973-983; 1996), we have been collaborating with Prof. Glimcher
to develop a high-throughput screen that can be used to identify inhibitors of
C-Maf. C-Maf is an important transcriptional regulator of IL-4 production and is
the only known tissue-specific transcription factor that is capable of
physiologically transforming Th1 cells into Th2 cells. Conversely, as elucidated
by Prof. Glimcher, inhibition of C-Maf transforms Th2 cells into Th1 cells.
Since Th2 cells are essential to the triggering of allergies and asthma and
their debilitating symptomatology, C-Maf inhibitors potentially could be used to
treat a broad spectrum of these conditions. We are delighted that Pfizer intends
to utilize this technology to identify potential small molecule inhibitors of
C-Maf and thus embark on a new approach to the treatment of allergies and
asthma," stated Dr. Marc Lanser, Chief Scientific Officer of BLSI.
Under the terms of the agreement (which includes a transfer of the technology to
Pfizer), Pfizer will screen its small molecule collection for potential
inhibitors of C-Maf, with the goal of developing a small molecule therapeutic
drug for the treatment of a wide range of allergies and asthma. BLSI will
receive an undisclosed initial payment and royalties on eventual sales of any
product potentially derived from the development effort.
"BLSI will also continue to independently further develop C-Maf as gene therapy
for the treatment of severe autoimmune disease such as Type 1 Diabetes and
Multiple Sclerosis," added Dr. Lanser.
"Given the extremely important transcription factor and gene vector technologies
discovered by Prof. Glimcher delineating the key role that Th1 and Th2 cells
play in the development of autoimmune disease and allergies, we believe that
several collaborative relationships can eventually radiate from the core of her
work, which is centered on controlling the production of critical cytokines
(immune system regulators) at the genetic level. We hope to co-develop two gene
therapy products, and at least four small molecule inhibitors for the treatment
of autoimmune disease, allergies, cancer and AIDS based on this work," stated
Dr. Lanser.
--more--
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About Boston Life Sciences, Inc.
BLSI is developing novel treatments for cancer, autoimmune disease, and central
nervous system disorders. In addition to C-Maf, products awaiting FDA review, in
clinical trials or in preclinical development by BLSI include Therafectin(R) for
the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis; Altropane(TM), a radioimaging agent for
the diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD); Troponin I, an anti-angiogenic factor for the treatment of
solid tumor metastases; AF-1 for the potential treatment of stroke and spinal
cord injury; and fusion toxins for the treatment of adenocarcinomas, allergies,
and multiple sclerosis.
The foregoing contains forward-looking statements with regard to product
development intentions on the part of BLSI and its licensees and assumptions on
the clinical efficacy and commercial viability of products and/or technologies,
which may not be realized due to the uncertainties inherent in the research and
development process, regulatory approval process and the determination of
licensees with respect to their continued development of technology licensed
from BLSI.
For further information
Media Contact Analyst Contact Boston Life Sciences, Inc.
Jim Weinrebe Neil Berkman Marc E. Lanser, M.D.
Lauren Arnold Neil Berkman Associates Chief Scientific Officer
Schwartz Communications 310.277.5162 617.425.0200
781.684.0770 www.bostonlifesciences.com
781.684.0771
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