UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 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): August 2, 2004
ENZON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 0-12957 22-2372868
(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission (IRS Employer
incorporation) File Number) Identification)
685 Route 202/206, Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (908) 541-8600
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Item 5. Other Events
Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENZN) announced today that Nektar
Therapeutics (NASDAQ: NKTR) has entered into a licensing agreement, which will
involve Enzon's proprietary PEG technology.
Today Nektar disclosed a collaborative agreement with Pfizer, Inc. (NYSE: PFE)
to provide proprietary PEGylation technology for Pfizer's undisclosed product
currently in clinical testing. This product utilizes Enzon's PEG technology and
Enzon will receive a share of Nektar's royalties or profits on final product
sales of any such product if approved.
Under the alliance formed in 2002, Nektar has the exclusive right to grant
sub-licenses for Enzon's PEG technology to third parties. Enzon retains the
right to use all of its PEG technology for its own product portfolio, as well as
for those products it develops in co-commercialization collaborations with third
parties.
About Enzon
Enzon Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery,
development and commercialization of therapeutics to treat life-threatening
diseases. The Company has developed or acquired a number of marketed products,
including PEG-INTRON(R), marketed by Schering-Plough, and ABELCET(R),
ONCASPAR(R), ADAGEN(R), and DEPOCYT(R), which are all marketed in North America
by Enzon's hospital and oncology sales forces. Enzon's science-focused strategy
includes an extensive drug development program that leverages the Company's
macromolecular engineering technology platforms, including PEG modification and
single-chain antibody (SCA(R)) technologies. Internal research and development
efforts are complemented by strategic transactions that provide access to
additional products, projects, and technologies. Enzon has several drug
candidates in various stages of development, independently and with partners.
The forward-looking statement contained herein regarding the potential receipt
of royalties on product sales is not based on historical fact. Such
forward-looking statement involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that may cause actual results, events or developments to be
materially different from the future results, events or developments described
therein. Such factors include the risk that the Pfizer product may not emerge
successfully from clinical trials and that such product may not receive
regulatory approval from the FDA. These factors should be considered carefully
and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking
statements. All information in this press release is as of August 2, 2004 and
the Company undertakes no duty to update this information.
For further information on Enzon please refer to the Company's website at
www.enzon.com.
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 duly authorized.
Dated: August 2, 2004
By: /s/ Kenneth J. Zuerblis
-------------------------------
Kenneth J. Zuerblis
Vice President, Finance and
Chief Financial Officer
Exhibit 99.1
ENZON
PHARMACEUTICALS For Immediate Release
================================================================================
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Kenneth J. Zuerblis
VP Finance & CFO
908-541-8717
Euro RSCG Life NRP
Mark R. Vincent, Media Relations
212-845-4239
ENZON ANNOUNCES NEKTAR PEGYLATION AGREEMENT
BRIDGEWATER, NJ - August 2, 2004 - Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENZN)
announced today that Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ: NKTR) has entered into a
licensing agreement, which will involve Enzon's proprietary PEG technology.
Today Nektar disclosed a collaborative agreement with Pfizer, Inc. (NYSE: PFE)
to provide proprietary PEGylation technology for Pfizer's undisclosed product
currently in clinical testing. This product utilizes Enzon's PEG technology and
Enzon will receive a share of Nektar's royalties or profits on final product
sales of any such product if approved.
Under the alliance formed in 2002, Nektar has the exclusive right to grant
sub-licenses for Enzon's PEG technology to third parties. Enzon retains the
right to use all of its PEG technology for its own product portfolio, as well as
for those products it develops in co-commercialization collaborations with third
parties.
About Enzon
Enzon Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery,
development and commercialization of therapeutics to treat life-threatening
diseases. The Company has developed or acquired a number of marketed products,
including PEG-INTRON(R), marketed by Schering-Plough, and ABELCET(R),
ONCASPAR(R), ADAGEN(R), and DEPOCYT(R), which are all marketed in North America
by Enzon's hospital and oncology sales forces. Enzon's science-focused strategy
includes an extensive drug development program that leverages the Company's
macromolecular engineering technology platforms, including PEG modification and
single-chain antibody (SCA(R)) technologies. Internal research and development
efforts are complemented by strategic transactions that provide access to
additional products, projects, and technologies. Enzon has several drug
candidates in various stages of development, independently and with partners.
The forward-looking statement contained herein regarding the potential receipt
of royalties on product sales is not based on historical fact. Such
forward-looking statement involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that may cause actual results, events or developments to be
materially different from the future results, events or developments described
-more-
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685 Route 202/206
Phone: (908) 541-8600 Fax: (908) 575-9457
http://www.enzon.com
Nektar PEGylation Agreement/ Page 2
therein. Such factors include the risk that the Pfizer product may not emerge
successfully from clinical trials and that such product may not receive
regulatory approval from the FDA. These factors should be considered carefully
and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking
statements. All information in this press release is as of August 2, 2004 and
the Company undertakes no duty to update this information.
For further information on Enzon please refer to the Company's website at
www.enzon.com.
# # #
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685 Route 202/206
Phone: (908) 541-8600 Fax: (908) 575-9457
http://www.enzon.com