Filing

 

 

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) March 20, 2006

ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

001-32157 (Commission File Number)		84-1318182 (IRS Employer Identification No.)

6725 Mesa Ridge Road, Suite 100
San Diego, California 92121
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(858) 552-0866
(Company’s telephone number, including area code)

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 8.01. Other Events.

     On March 20, 2006, the Company announced that its broad spectrum anti-viral drug Thiovir was active against H5N1 avian influenza chimeric virus strains in preclinical tests.

     The press release issued by the Company on March 20, 2006 with respect to this matter is included with this report as an exhibit.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(99)		(c) The exhibit list required by this item is incorporated by reference to the Exhibit Index filed as part of this report.

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.

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit		Description
99.1		Press Release of the Company dated March 20, 2006.

Exhibit 99.1

ADVENTRX ANNOUNCES THIOVIR ACTIVE AGAINST H5N1 AVIAN INFLUENZA CHIMERIC VIRUS STRAINS

SAN DIEGO — March 20, 2006— ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Amex: ANX) announced today that it performed additional preclinical studies demonstrating that the Company’s broad spectrum antiviral drug, Thiovirä, is active against a chimeric avian/human influenza virus and influenza A. Thiovir activity against these viruses was confirmed by preclinical tests conducted in-house and at two independent laboratories.

The chimeric viruses tested include a research-adapted strain based on influenza A/Vietnam/1203/04 (H5N1) and Ann Arbor/6/60. Influenza A/Vietnam/1203/04 is a highly pathogenic avian influenza strain characterized by elevated lethality to both humans and poultry. Cytopathic and direct viral detection-based assays were used to test Thiovir activity. ADVENTRX plans to further investigate Thiovir efficacy against multiple H5N1 strains of avian influenza in both in vitro and in vivo studies in collaboration with a Biosafety Level 3+ certified laboratory.

“We are encouraged by the results from two independent labs confirming Thiovir activity against multiple influenza viruses,” said Evan M. Levine, president and CEO for ADVENTRX. ”We will continue to investigate Thiovir as a therapy for influenza viruses, including bird flu, and we look forward to announcing additional results.”

The Company plans to submit results from these and additional planned preclinical studies in the 14th International Symposium on HIV and Emerging Infectious Diseases program. The conference takes place June 21-23, 2006 in Toulon, France.

About Thiovir

Thiovir is a broad spectrum anti-viral and a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) designed for oral delivery as a component of HAART. Thiovir is a prodrug for foscarnet that delivers both the active drug TPFA (thiophosphonoformate) and the active metabolite PFA (foscarnet) in an oral formulation. Thiovir is intended to deliver the benefits of the drug foscarnet, including broad spectrum antiviral activity, with the added benefit of improved bioavailability. ADVENTRX currently plans to file an investigational new drug application with the US Food and Drug Administration in the first half of 2006 for testing of Thiovir in patients with HIV/AIDS.

Forward Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding ADVENTRX. Such statements are made based on management’s current expectations and beliefs. Actual results may vary from those currently anticipated based upon a number of factors, including uncertainties inherent in the drug development process, the timing and success of clinical trials, the validity of research results, and the receipt of necessary approvals from the FDA and other regulatory agencies. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements regarding ADVENTRX, see the section titled “Risk Factors” in ADVENTRX’s last annual report on Form 10-K, as well as other reports that ADVENTRX files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements regarding ADVENTRX are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. ADVENTRX undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions, which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

Contact:
ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals
Andrea Lynn
858-552-0866

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