|
|
|
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION |
|
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 |
|
|
|
FORM 6-K |
|
|
|
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER |
|
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF |
|
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
|
|
|
For the month of December, 2002 |
|
|
|
Serono S.A. |
|
|
|
(Registrant’s Name) |
|
|
|
15 bis, Chemin des Mines |
|
Case Postale 54 |
|
CH-1211 Geneva 20 |
|
Switzerland |
|
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
|
|
|
1-15096 |
|
|
|
(Commission File No.) |
|
|
|
(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 x Form 40-F ___ |
|
|
|
(Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101 (b)(1).) ______ |
|
|
|
(Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101 (b)(7).) ______ |
|
|
|
(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-______) |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Media Release |
|
|
|
|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SERONO TO HOLD R&D DAY FOR INVESTORS AND ANALYSTS TODAY |
|
|
|
|
|
London, UK, December 2, 2002 – Serono S.A. (virt-x: SEO and NYSE: SRA) announced that it will hold an R&D Day for investors and analysts in London today at which it will present an update on projects in research and development. The event will begin at 14.00 Greenwich Mean Time (15.00 Central European Time and 9.00 A.M. Eastern Time). |
|
|
|
The agenda for this meeting is available on www.serono.com. The presentation will be available via a live audio webcast with slide transmission, also accessible at www.serono.com. An archive of this webcast will be available until December 20, 2002. |
|
|
|
About Serono |
|
|
|
Serono is a global biotechnology leader. The Company has six recombinant products on the market, Gonal-F®, Luveris®, Ovidrel®/Ovitrelle®, Rebif®, Serostim® and Saizen® (Luveris® 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 twenty-one new molecules in development. |
|
|
|
In 2001, Serono achieved worldwide revenues of US$1.38 billion, and a net income of US$317 million, making it the third largest biotech company in the world based on revenues. The Company 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). |
|
|
|
### |
|
Some of the statements in this press release are forward looking. Such statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of Serono S.A. and affiliates to be materially different from those expected or anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on Serono’s current expectations and assumptions, which may be affected by a number of factors, including those discussed in this press release and more fully described in Serono’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on May 21, 2002. These factors include any failure or delay in Serono’s ability to develop new products, any failure to receive anticipated regulatory approvals, any problems in commercializing current products as a result of competition or other factors, our ability to obtain reimbursement coverage for our products, and government regulations limiting our ability to sell our products. Serono has no responsibility to update the forward-looking statements contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release. |
|
### |
|
|
|
|
|
-more- |
|
|
|
|
|
For more information, please contact: |
|
|
Serono in Geneva, Switzerland: |
|
|
Media Relations: |
Investor Relations: |
|
Tel: +41-22-739 36 00 |
Tel: +41-22-739 36 01 |
|
Fax: +41-22-739 30 85 |
Fax: +41-22-739 30 22 |
|
http://www.serono.com |
Reuters: SEOZ.VX / SRA.N |
|
|
Bloomberg: SEO VX / SRA US |
|
Serono, Inc., Rockland, MA |
|
|
Media Relations: |
|
|
Tel. +1 781 681 2340 |
|
|
Fax: +1 781 681 2935 |
|
|
http://www.seronousa.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-end- |
|
|
|
|
| Agenda for Serono’s R&D Days | ||
| London, December 2nd 2002 | ||
| New York, December 4th 2002 | ||
| 1 | Introduction | Jacques Theurillat, Deputy CEO |
| 2 | Overview of R&D Progress | Andrew Galazka, MD, Senior Vice President, Scientific Affairs |
| 3 | Overview of Serono’s Research Projects | Silvano Fumero, PhD, Senior Executive Vice President, Research & Pharmaceutical Development |
| 4 | Overview of Clinical Development | Stevo Knezevic, MD, Senior Executive Vice President, Clinical Development |
| 5 | Genomics in Drug Discovery and Development at Serono | |
| Serono and Genset - a Unique Biotech Approach | ||
| Marc Vasseur, PhD, Chairman & CEO, Genset | ||
| Genetics and Genomics – From Human Disease to a Tractable Pathway | ||
| Daniel Cohen, MD, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, Genset | ||
| From Genomics Through to Leads – Driving the Discovery of New Medicines | ||
| Tim Wells, PhD, Vice President Research, Head of Discovery | ||
| 6 | Reproductive Health | |
| Developments in Reproductive Health | Steve Arkinstall, PhD, Vice President, Head of Serono Reproductive Biology Institute | |
| Anastrozole Project | Donald Tredway, MD, Medical Director Reproductive Health | |
| Break | ||
| 7 | Metabolic Endocrinology | |
| New Developments in Metabolic Endocrinology | ||
| Elisabeth Svanberg, MD, PhD, Vice President, Head of Metabolic Endocrinology | ||
| 8 | Multiple Sclerosis | |
| Recent Deals in Multiple Sclerosis | Andrew Galazka, MD, Senior Vice President, Scientific Affairs | |
| Neurology Clinical Development | Gordon Francis, MD, Vice President, Neurology Clinical Development | |
| Multiple Sclerosis - Evolution of the Competitive Landscape | ||
| Samir Shah, MD, Vice President, Corporate Marketing, Neurology | ||
| New Therapies | ||
| 9 | Efalizumab in the Treatment of Moderate-Severe Plaque Psoriasis | |
| Craig Leonardi, MD, University of St Louis, Missouri, USA | ||
| 10 | The Importance of IL-18 and IL-18 Binding Protein in Inflammatory Diseases | |
| Charles Dinarello, MD, University of Colorado, Denver, USA | ||
| 11 | Developments in New Therapies | Philippe Wiesel, MD, Medical Director New Therapies US |
| 12 | Concluding Remarks | Andrew Galazka, MD, Senior Vice President, Scientific Affairs |
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|
|
|
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, thereunto duly authorized. |
|
|
|
|
| SERONO S.A. a Swiss corporation (Registrant) | ||
| |
|
|
| Date: December 2, 2002 | By: | /s/ Jacques Theurillat |
|
| ||
| Name: Jacques Theurillat | ||
| Title: Deputy Chief Executive Officer | ||
|
|