FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of June 2003
AETERNA LABORATORIES INC.
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(Translation of registrant's name into English)
1405, boul. du Parc-Technologique
Quebec, Quebec
Canada, G1P 4P5
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F / / Form 40-F /X/
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Yes / / No /X/
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-___
DOCUMENTS INDEX
Documents Description
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1. Press Release dated June 18, 2003: AEterna Extends Successful
Collaboration with Sereno on Cetrotide(R)
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[LOGO]
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AETERNA EXTENDS SUCCESSFUL COLLABORATION
WITH SERONO ON CETROTIDE(R)
Cetrotide(R) developed by AEterna subsidiary, Zentaris
QUEBEC CITY, CANADA FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY, JUNE 18, 2003 -- AEterna
Laboratories Inc. (NASDAQ: AELA, TSX: AEL) today announced the extension of the
existing license agreement between its subsidiary Zentaris and Serono (Virt-X:
SEO, NYSE: SRA) for worldwide marketing rights, except in Japan, for
Cetrotide(R), a novel compound used for IN VITRO fertilization. The amended
agreement provides for Zentaris to receive a signature fee, as well as fixed
annual payments until 2010 followed by royalties starting 2011. In addition,
Zentaris will supply Serono with the finished product at a fixed price. In turn,
Serono is granted a perpetual fully paid-up license upon expiry of the last
relevant patent held by Zentaris.
"We are very pleased to extend our existing agreement with a leading company
such as Serono. This very important partnership secures AEterna long-term
guaranteed income", stated Gilles Gagnon, President and Chief Executive Officer
of AEterna. "It also reflects the added value that our subsidiary Zentaris
brings to the Company and represents a step forward in positioning AEterna as a
global biopharmaceutical company".
Prof. Jurgen Engel, Chairman and Managing Director at Zentaris, as well as
AEterna's Executive Vice President, Global Research and Development and Chief
Operating Officer added, "The extension of the successful collaboration with
Serono, a worldwide leader in reproductive health, is a major vote of confidence
in our capacity to develop high quality pharmaceutical products".
ABOUT SERONO
Serono is a global biotechnology leader with six recombinant products on the
worldwide market: Gonal-F(R), Luveris(R), Ovidrel(R)/Ovitrelle(R), Rebif(R),
Serostim(R) and Saizen(R) (Luveris(R) is not approved in the USA). In addition
to being the world leader in reproductive health, Serono has strong market
positions in neurology, metabolism and growth. The company's research programs
are focused on growing these businesses and on establishing new therapeutic
areas. Currently, there are over 30 projects in development.
Serono was granted the International James D. Watson Helix 2003 Award from the
Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) in recognition of the company's
outstanding leadership and highest standards of scientific and product
achievement.
In 2002, Serono achieved worldwide revenues of US$1.546 billion, and a net
income of US$321 million, making it the third largest biotech company in the
world. The company
has 4,500 employees worldwide, operates in 45 countries, and its products are
sold in over 100 countries.
Bearer shares of Serono S.A., the holding company, are traded on the virt-x
(SEO) and its American Depositary Shares are traded on the New York Stock
Exchange (SRA).
ABOUT CETROTIDE(R)
Cetrotide(R) is a peptide-based active substance which was developed by Zentaris
in cooperation with Nobel prize winner Professor Andrew Schally, of Tulane
University in New Orleans. The substance is an LHRH antagonist that blocks the
LHRH receptors at the pituitary gland level. In contrast to treatment with LHRH
agonists, LHRH antagonists permit dose-dependent hormone suppression which is of
critical importance for the tolerability of the hormone therapy.
Cetrotide(R) is the first LHRH antagonist which was approved for therapeutic use
as part of IN VITRO fertilization programs (controlled ovulation stimulation /
assisted reproductive technologies) in Europe in 1999 and was launched on the
market in the USA in 2001. Sales of Cetrotide(R) for 2002 amounted to US$18.4
million. Serono has the worldwide marketing rights for Cetrotide(R) for IN VITRO
fertilization, except for Japan, where rights are owned by Shionogi along with
Nippon Kayaku.
ABOUT AETERNA LABORATORIES INC.
AEterna is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel
therapeutic treatments, mainly in oncology and endocrinology. The product
pipeline includes 12 products ranging from the preclinical to marketing stage.
AEterna's strategic worldwide partners include Access Oncology, Ardana
Bioscience, Baxter Healthcare S.A., German Remedies Ltd., Grupo Ferrer
Internacional S.A., Hainan Chang An Pharmaceutical Ltd., LG Life Sciences Ltd.,
Mayne Group, Medac GmbH, Nippon Kayaku, Serono International S.A., Shionogi &
Co., Ltd., Solvay Pharmaceuticals B.V., and Teikoku Hormone Mfg. Co., Ltd.
AEterna owns 100% of the Frankfurt-based biopharmaceutical company, Zentaris
GmbH, having a strong expertise in the areas of endocrinology and oncology.
AEterna also owns 61.8% of Atrium Biotechnologies Inc., which develops and
markets nutritional supplements, as well as active ingredients and fine chemical
products intended for the cosmetics, nutrition, fine chemicals and
pharmaceuticals industries. Atrium markets over 500 products in 20 countries to
industry leaders such as Estee Lauder, L'Oreal, Clarins, Chanel, Aventis,
SanofiSynthelabo and Nestle.
AEterna and its entities have 270 employees in Canada and Europe.
AEterna shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (AEL) and the NASDAQ
National Market (AELA).
News releases and additional information about AEterna are available on its Web
site at www.aeterna.com.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant
to the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Forward-
looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could
cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others,
the availability of funds and resources to pursue R&D projects, the successful
and timely completion of clinical studies, the ability of the Company to take
advantage of the business opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry,
uncertainties related to the regulatory process and general changes in economic
conditions. Investors should consult the Company's ongoing quarterly and annual
filings with the Canadian and U.S. securities commissions for additional
information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking
statements. Investors are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking
statements. The Company does not undertake to update these forward-looking
statements.
CANADA
MEDIA RELATIONS: INVESTOR RELATIONS:
Paul Burroughs Jacques Raymond
Tel.: (418) 652-8525 ext. 406 Tel.: (418) 652-8525 ext. 360
Cell.: (418) 573-8982 Cell.: (514) 703-5654
Fax: (418) 577-7671 Fax: (418) 577-7700
E-mail: paul.burroughs@aeterna.com E-mail: jacques.raymond@aeterna.com
USA EUROPE
THE INVESTOR RELATIONS GROUP INVESTOR RELATIONS
Lisa Lindberg Matthias Seeber
Tel.: (212) 825-3210 Tel.: 011 49 69 4 26 02 34 25
Fax: (212) 825-3229 Fax: 011 49 69 4 26 02 34 44
E-mail: TheProTeam@aol.com E-mail: matthias.seeber@zentaris.de
EUROPE
MEDIA RELATIONS:
Dr. Mathias Pietras
Tel.: 011 49 69 4 26 02 34 23
Fax: 011 49 69 4 26 02 34 44
E-mail: mathias.pietras@zentaris.de
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, thereunto duly authorized.
AETERNA LABORATORIES INC.
Date: June 18, 2003 By: /s/Claude Vadboncoeur
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Claude Vadboncoeur
Vice President, Legal Affairs and
Corporate Secretary