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): January 7, 2009
AMICUS THERAPEUTICS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 001-33497 | 71-0869350 | ||
| (State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
| 6 Cedar Brook Drive, Cranbury, NJ |
08512 | |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (609) 662-2000
| (Former name or former address if changed since last report.) |
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On January 7, 2009, Sol J. Barer, Ph.D., was elected to the Board of Directors of Amicus Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”). Dr. Barer will fill the vacancy created by Dr. Gregory M. Weinhoff’s resignation from the Board of Directors which was effective on the same date. Dr. Barer will join the Board of Directors as an independent director and will serve on the Compensation Committee. Current Board of Directors member P. Sherrill Neff will replace Dr. Weinhoff on the Audit Committee.
There is no arrangement or understanding between Dr. Barer and any other person pursuant to which Dr. Barer was elected as director of the Company. There are no relationships or transactions in which Dr. Barer has or will have an interest, or was or is a party, requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
A copy of the press release announcing Dr. Barer’s election is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits .
99.1 Press Release, dated January 8, 2009
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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.
| AMICUS THERAPEUTICS, INC. | ||||
Date: January 8, 2009
|
By: | /s/ GEOFFREY P. GILMORE | ||
| Name: | Geoffrey P. Gilmore | |||
| Title: | Senior Vice President and General Counsel | |||
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EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit No. | Description | |
99.1
|
Press Release, dated January 8, 2009 |
Exhibit 99.1
Amicus Therapeutics Adds Sol J. Barer, Ph.D. to Board of Directors
Cranbury, NJ, January 8, 2009 – Amicus Therapeutics (Nasdaq: FOLD) today announced the election of Sol J. Barer, Ph.D., to its Board of Directors. Dr. Barer currently serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Celgene Corporation. As an industry veteran, Dr. Barer brings over 20 years of management experience and a reputation as a trusted and respected leader who has helped transform Celgene into one of the world’s preeminent biopharmaceutical companies.
John F. Crowley, President and CEO of Amicus Therapeutics stated, “2009 will be an important year for the Company as we leverage our chaperone technology and continue to advance our three lead drug candidates for Fabry, Gaucher and Pompe diseases. We look forward to Dr. Barer’s leadership and guidance as Amicus continues along the path of development and commercialization for new, oral treatments for a range of human genetic diseases. We welcome him to our Board.”
Separately, Amicus announced today that Gregory M. Weinhoff has chosen to resign from the Board of Directors effective January 7, 2009.
About Sol. J. Barer, Ph.D.
Dr. Barer has been Chief Executive Officer of Celgene Corporation since May 1, 2006, and Chairman since January 1,
2007. He was appointed President of Celgene in 1993, Chief Operating Officer and Director in 1994 and is a member of
the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. He previously served as Senior Vice President, Science and
Technology, and Vice President/ General Manager, Chiral Products, from 1991 to 1994, and the Vice President,
Technology, from 1987 to 1991. Dr. Barer is on the Board of Trustees of Rutgers University, Board of Directors of
PhRMA, serves on the Board of Trustees of the Biotechnology Council of New Jersey and is on the Board of the Brooklyn
College Foundation. He has previously served as a Commissioner of the NJ Commission on Science and Technology. Dr.
Barer received a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Rutgers University.
About Amicus Therapeutics
Amicus Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel, oral therapeutics known as pharmacological
chaperones for the treatment of a range of human genetic diseases. Pharmacological chaperone technology involves the
use of small molecules that selectively bind to and stabilize proteins in cells, leading to improved protein folding
and trafficking, and increased activity. Amicus is initially targeting lysosomal storage disorders, which are severe,
chronic genetic diseases with unmet medical needs. Amicus has completed Phase 2 clinical trials of Amigal for the
treatment of Fabry disease and is conducting Phase 2 clinical trials of Plicera for the treatment of Gaucher disease
and AT2220 for the treatment of Pompe disease.
CONTACTS:
John Quirk
Porter Novelli Life Sciences
(212) 601-8296
Media:
Amy Speak
Porter Novelli Life Sciences
(617) 897-8262
FOLD –G