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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) March 15, 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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31 Newbury Street, Suite 300
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 March 15, 1999 the Company announced that twice-weekly, relatively low
dosages of its anti-angiogenic protein, Troponin I, significantly suppressed
experimental lung metastases in a rigorous animal model of metastatic melanoma.
These results and other findings related to the discovery of the anti-angiogenic
properties of Troponin I were published in the March 16, 1999 edition of the
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The study, designed to
determine the initial dosing schedule for human clinical trials, involved 300
animals and demonstrated that 1mg/kg of Troponin administered twice-weekly
suppressed the majority of lung metastases from intravenously injected melanoma.
The Company believes that such a relatively modest dosing regimen could prove
both practical and convenient for patients and also have a very positive impact
on manufacturing and cost issues.
On March 16, 1999 the Company issued a statement to reiterate that the Company
owns the exclusive license to the U.S. patent on the use of Troponin I to treat
a broad spectrum of angiogenic diseases, including, but not limited to, solid
tumors, eye diseases and arthritis.
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 March 15, 1999.
99.2 Press Release, dated March 16, 1999.
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SIGNATURES
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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 authorized.
BOSTON LIFE SCIENCES, INC.
Dated: March 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. Page(s)
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99.1 Press Release, dated March 15, 1999 4, 5
99.2 Press Release, dated March 16, 1999 6
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Exhibit 99.1
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Contacts:
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Media Contact Analyst Contact Boston Life Sciences, Inc.
Jim Weinrebe or Lloyd Benson Neil Berkman Marc E. Lanser, MD
Schwartz Communications Berkman Associates Chief Scientific Officer
781-684-0770 310-277-5162 617-425-0200
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TWICE-WEEKLY ADMINISTERED ANTI-ANGIOGENIC TROPONIN SHOWS UNUSUALLY POTENT EFFECT
IN SUPPRESSION OF
EXPERIMENTAL TUMOR METASTASES
Report in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
March 15 (5:15 pm), 1999, Boston, Mass.--Boston Life Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:
BLSI) announced that twice-weekly, relatively low dosages of its anti-angiogenic
protein, Troponin I, which had previously been shown to inhibit primary cancers
in animals, significantly suppressed experimental lung metastases in a rigorous
animal model of metastatic melanoma. These results, as well as other scientific
findings related to the discovery of the anti-angiogenic properties of Troponin
I, are to be published tomorrow in the Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences (PNAS).
The extensive dose-ranging study, which involved 300 animals and was conducted
at a leading independent research laboratory specializing in experimental
oncology, was designed to determine the initial dosing schedule for human
clinical trials. The data demonstrated that 1mg/kg of Troponin administered
twice-weekly suppressed the majority of lung metastases from intravenously
injected melanoma.
The report in PNAS, entitled "Troponin I is Present in Human Cartilage and
Inhibits Angiogenesis," was authored by Moses et al from Children's Hospital,
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and MIT in Massachusetts. The manuscript
was communicated by Robert Langer, professor of Biochemical Engineering, MIT,
and member of the National Academy of Sciences.
"Both the in vitro and animal data support our view that Troponin is an
unusually potent, naturally occurring anti-angiogenic factor," said Marc E.
Lanser, MD, chief scientific officer of BLSI. "The fact that doses as little as
1mg/kg given twice-weekly suppressed the majority of melanoma lung metastases is
highly significant in that this quantity appears to be significantly lower than
the amount required by most other established anti-angiogenic factors to achieve
the same degree of suppression achieved in this very difficult model."
Lanser continued, "If conventional extrapolation from mouse to human dosing were
to ultimately hold true, between 5 and 50mg of Troponin given twice-weekly per
patient could potentially be found appropriate for use in human cancer therapy
aimed at control of metastatic cancer. Such a relatively modest dosing regimen
could prove not only quite practical and convenient for patients, but would also
have a very positive impact on manufacturing and cost issues."
"The company believes that this publication in one of the most prestigious,
peer-reviewed scientific journals in the world delineates the scientific basis
for our enthusiasm for Troponin as a potentially important anti-angiogenic
product for the treatment and prevention of solid tumor metastases in human
cancer therapy," stated David Hillson, president and CEO of BLSI. "We are very
gratified that this program, which was one of the very first in anti-
angiogenesis, has now achieved this significant recognition and we look forward
to initiating human clinical trials, hopefully later this year."
more
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Boston Life Sciences, Inc.
Publication in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Page 2
Founded in 1992 by Dr. Marc Lanser, Boston Life Sciences, Inc. is a
biotechnology company engaged in the development and commercialization of novel
therapeutic and diagnostic compounds that have significant market potential.
Compounds awaiting FDA review, in clinical trials or in preclinical development
include Therafectin for the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis; Altropane(TM), a
radiopharmaceutical-imaging agent for the detection of Parkinson's Disease;
Troponin, an anti-angiogenic protein for the prevention and treatment of solid
tumor metastases; Axogenesis Factor I (AF-1) for the treatment of stroke and
spinal cord injury; and small molecule inhibitors to Cmaf and NIP45 for the
treatment of allergies and asthma.
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Statements made in this press release that are not historical facts include
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
indicated by such forward-looking statements include uncertainties associated
with the results of human clinical trials, regulatory approval processes and
other factors. The foregoing contains forward-looking statements with regard to
product development, which may not be realized due to the uncertainties inherent
in the research and development process, including applying laboratory results
to the design and completion of clinical trials as well as the previously
mentioned uncertainties.
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Exhibit 99.2
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BOSTON LIFE SCIENCES INC. REITERATES ITS
EXCLUSIVE PATENT POSITION ON THE USE OF TROPONIN I
March 16, 1999, Boston, Mass.--In the wake of a misleading television report,
Boston Life Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLSI) reiterates that the Company owns the
exclusive license to the recently issued (November 1998) U.S. patent on the use
of Troponin I to treat a broad spectrum of angiogenic diseases, including solid
tumors, eye diseases, atherosclerosis, hypertrophic scarring (including in the
spinal cord), arthritis and psoriasis.
Boston Life Sciences Inc. announced yesterday that twice-weekly, relatively low
dosages of its anti-angiogenic protein, Troponin I, which had previously been
shown to inhibit primary cancers in animals, significantly suppressed
experimental lung metastases in a rigorous animal model of metastatic melanoma.
These results, as well as other scientific findings related to the discovery of
the anti-angiogenic properties of Troponin I, were published today in the
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
# # #
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