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 February 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
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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
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If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-
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DOCUMENTS INDEX
DOCUMENTS DESCRIPTION
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1. Press Release of February 14, 2003: AEterna Receives
Milestone Payment from Baxter
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[AETERNA LOGO]
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AETERNA RECEIVES MILESTONE PAYMENT FROM BAXTER
QUEBEC CITY, CANADA, FEBRUARY 14, 2003 - AEterna Laboratories Inc. (TSX:
AEL; NASDAQ: AELA) announced that Baxter Healthcare S.A. has made
another payment in a series of milestone payments to its subsidiary
Zentaris AG, for further assessment of the compound D-63153, an LHRH
antagonist currently being assessed in a Phase II clinical trial for
prostate cancer. The milestone is part of the ongoing agreement between the
two companies.
The agreement provides Baxter with worldwide rights to this compound for
all indications, while Baxter assumes 100% of all clinical development
costs. Additional milestones are projected, based on successful
development of the drug.
"We are very pleased with the development of this collaboration with
Baxter. It is once again a recognition of the potential of our drug
discovery platform," said Dr. Jurgen Engel, Chief Executive Officer at
Zentaris as well as AEterna's Executive Vice President, Global Research
and Development and Chief Operating Officer.
"This agreement is an additional example of the worldwide growth potential
provided by our recent acquisition of Zentaris AG," concluded Gilles
Gagnon, President and Chief Executive Officer at AEterna.
ABOUT D-63153
D-63153 is a peptide-based active substance presently in a Phase II clinical
trial for prostate cancer. The development of this Luteinizing Hormone
Releasing Hormone (LHRH) antagonist is aimed at the treatment of advanced
prostate cancer. D-63153 has significant potential for development in both
oncology and endocrinology.
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 preclinical stage up to
commercialization. AEterna has strategic worldwide partners such as Access
Oncology, Ardana Bioscience, Baxter Healthcare S.A., Grupo Ferrer, Hainan
Tianwang International Pharmaceutical, Mayne Group, Medac GmbH, Nippon
Kayaku, Serono International S.A., Shionogi & Co., Ltd. and Solvay
Pharmaceuticals B.V.
AEterna owns 100% of the biopharmaceutical company, Zentaris AG, based in
Frankfurt, Germany.
AEterna also owns 61.8% of Atrium Biotechnologies Inc., which develops and
markets nutritional supplements, as well as active ingredients and fine
chemicals intended for the cosmetics, nutritional, fine chemical and
pharmaceutical 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.
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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) 577-7700 Fax: (418) 577-7700
E-mail: paul.burroughs@aeterna.com E-mail: jacques.raymond@aeterna.com
USA EUROPE
THE INVESTOR RELATIONS GROUP ZENTARIS AG
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
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: February 14, 2003 By: /s/ Claude Vadboncoeur
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Claude Vadboncoeur
Vice President, Legal Affairs and
Corporate Secretary