FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
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Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of March 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-__
DOCUMENTS INDEX
Documents Description
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1. Press Release of March 26, 2003: AEterna signs an agreement with LG Life
Sciences for marketing NeovastatTM in Korea
[LOGO OMITTED]
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AETERNA SIGNS AN AGREEMENT WITH LG LIFE SCIENCES
FOR MARKETING NEOVASTAT(TM) IN KOREA
*ALL AMOUNTS ARE IN CANADIAN DOLLARS
QUEBEC CITY, CANADA, MARCH 26, 2003 - AEterna Laboratories Inc. (TSX: AEL;
NASDAQ: AELA) today announced it has signed an agreement with Korean based LG
Life Sciences Ltd. (KSE: 68870.KS), an affiliate of the LG Group for marketing
Neovastat in Korea. The agreement provides AEterna with upfront and milestone
payments, as well as a return on manufacturing and sales of Neovastat. Together
with earlier agreements with Medac GmbH of Germany, Grupo Ferrer Internacional
of Spain and Mayne Pharma of Australia, the partnership with LG Life Sciences
Ltd. extends AEterna's coverage for Neovastat to nearly 50% of the oncology
world market and allows the Company to surpass the $50 million mark in milestone
payments.
"This new agreement marks our entry into the Asian market and secures the
distribution of Neovastat in eight of the top ten markets in the world,"
declared Gilles Gagnon, AEterna's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are
delighted to have signed with LG Life Sciences Ltd., an affiliate of the giant
LG, which is well positioned to become a leader in oncology in its domestic
market."
"We are excited to add to our portfolio, Neovastat, which has reached the final
stage of development. We feel it has high market potential and could lead to the
opening of a new class of drugs for the treatment of certain forms of cancer,"
stated Dr. Heung-Joon Yang, President and Chief Executive Officer of LG Life
Sciences Ltd.
ABOUT LG LIFE SCIENCES LTD.
LG Life Sciences, which is publicly traded, is a newly established affiliate of
Korean conglomerate LG, that develops, manufactures, and sells proprietary
prescription drugs on a global basis in the pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical
intermediates, animal health and agrochemical sectors. The Company currently has
one product awaiting FDA approval in anti-infectives and three other major
development products undergoing clinical trials. LG Life Sciences has 940
employees.
News releases and additional information about LG Life Sciences are available on
its Web site at www.lgls.co.kr.
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 marketing. AEterna has strategic worldwide partners such
as, Ardana Bioscience, Baxter Healthcare S.A., German Remedies Ltd., Grupo
Ferrer Internacional, Hainan Tianwang International Pharmaceutical, Mayne
Pharma, Medac GmbH, 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, 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.
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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
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 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
SIGNATURE
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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, thereunto duly authorized.
AETERNA LABORATORIES INC.
Date: March 26, 2003 By: /s/Claude Vadboncoeur
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Claude Vadboncoeur
Vice President, Legal Affairs and
Corporate Secretary