UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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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): June 1, 2004
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SIGA Technologies, Inc.
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Delaware
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(State or other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
0-23047 13-3864870
(Commission File (I.R.S. Employer
Number) Identification Number)
420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 601
New York, New York 10170
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(212) 672-9100
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(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
ITEM 5. Other Events and Required FD Disclosure.
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On June 1, 2004, SIGA Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("SIGA"), issued a press release pursuant to which SIGA announced the spin-off
of its immunological bioinformatics technology and certain non-core vaccine
development assets into Pecos Labs Inc. ("Pecos"). SIGA intends to continue the
development of its commensal vectored vaccines for strep throat and various
biodefense targets including smallpox. Pecos is a privately held company
recently formed by SIGA as a wholly owned subsidiary. Coincident with the
transfer of these assets, Pecos completed a round of funding with a group of
private investors. SIGA will retain a minority equity interest in Pecos and
access to certain technology. Susan K. Burgess, Ph.D. has resigned as the
President of SIGA to become President and CEO of Pecos.
For a description of the events reported pursuant to this Form 8-K,
reference is made to the press release issued by SIGA on June 1, 2004, the text
of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
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ITEM 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
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(c) Exhibits
Exhibit No. Description
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99.1 Press Release dated June 1, 2004.
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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.
SIGA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By: /s/ Thomas N. Kontaich
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Thomas N. Konatich
Acting Chief Executive Officer and
Chief Financial Officer
Date: June 1, 2004
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number Description
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99.1 Press Release dated June 1, 2004.
EXHIBIT 99.1
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[SIGA LOGO]
Investor Contact:
Contact: Dianne Will
Thomas N. Konatich Willstar
SIGA Technologies, Inc. Consultants, Inc.
CFO & Acting CEO (518) 398-6222
(212) 672-9100 dwill@willstar.net
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SIGA announces spin off OF CERTAIN NON-CORE VACCINE ASSETS
New York, June 1, 2004 -- SIGA Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SIGA) and (FRANKFURT:
SGW 919 473) today announced the spin-off of their immunological bioinformatics
technology and certain non-core vaccine development assets into Pecos Labs Inc.
(Pecos). SIGA will continue the development of its commensal vectored vaccines
for strep throat and various biodefense targets including smallpox. Pecos is a
privately held company recently formed by SIGA as a wholly owned subsidiary.
Coincident with the transfer of these assets, Pecos completed a round of funding
with a group of private investors. SIGA will retain a minority equity interest
in Pecos and access to certain technology. Susan K. Burgess, Ph.D has resigned
as the President of SIGA to become President and CEO of Pecos.
About SIGA Technologies, Inc.
SIGA Technologies is applying bacterial genomics in the design and development
of novel products for the prevention and treatment of serious infectious
diseases, with an emphasis on products for biological warfare defense. SIGA has
the potential of becoming a significant force in the discovery of vaccine and
pharmaceutical agents to fight emerging pathogens. SIGA's product development
programs emphasize the increasingly serious problem of drug resistant bacteria
and emerging pathogens.
SIGA's vaccine and drug platforms are based on its pioneering research into the
structure, function and processing of bacterial surface proteins. SIGA is
leveraging these platforms through multiple strategic partners, including
Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories (the pharmaceutical division of American Home
Products) and the National Institutes of Health. For more information about
SIGA, please visit SIGA's Web site at www.siga.com.
This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
statements, including statements regarding the efficacy and intended utilization
of SIGA's technologies under development, are not guarantees of future
performance. Actual results may differ materially from the expectations
contained in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such
differences include the risk that potential products that appeared promising in
early research or clinical trials to SIGA or its collaborators do not
demonstrate efficacy or safety in subsequent pre-clinical or clinical trials,
and the risk that SIGA or its collaborators will not obtain appropriate or
necessary governmental approvals to market products tested in such trials. More
detailed information about SIGA and the factors discussed above is set forth in
SIGA's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including SIGA's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, and in
other documents that SIGA has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission. Investors and security holders are urged to read those documents
free of charge at the Commission's web site at www.sec.com. Those documents may
also be obtained free of charge from SIGA. SIGA does not undertake to publicly
update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.