Newsroom 2005
Neurochem Inc. (NASDAQ: NRMX; TSX: NRM) announced today that a subsidiary of Picchio Pharma Inc. (Picchio Pharma)
has exercised a warrant previously issued under a July 2002 private placement, generating proceeds to Neurochem of
approximately C$8.8 million and resulting in the issuance to Picchio Pharma of 2.8 million common shares.
Picchio Pharma is a joint venture company established between FMRC Trust (a trust of which Dr. Francesco Bellini
is a beneficiary), and Power Technology Investment Corporation, a subsidiary of Power Corporation of Canada.
After taking into account the new shares issued, Picchio Pharma owns approximately 26.4% of the currently issued
and outstanding common shares of Neurochem. On a fully diluted basis, Picchio Pharma, Power Technology Investment
Corporation, FMRC Trust and parties related directly or indirectly to the foregoing, hold, in the aggregate,
approximately 31% of the share capital of Neurochem.
"Neurochem has achieved significant milestones in recent months, including the FDA's (U.S. Food and Drug
Administration) agreement for the filing and review of a NDA (New Drug Application) for Fibrillex™. It has
also completed the patient recruitment for its North American Phase III clinical trial for Alzhemed™ as
planned," stated Dr. Francesco Bellini, Chairman of Picchio Pharma Inc. "We are beginning to see the
results of Neurochem's efforts of the past three years in bringing its product candidates to market and in
fulfilling its true potential."
About Neurochem
Neurochem is focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics for neurological
disorders. The Company's pipeline of proprietary, disease-modifying oral products addresses critical unmet
medical needs. 1,3-propanedisulfonate (1,3PDS; Fibrillex™) is designated as an orphan drug and a Fast Track
Product candidate and is also part of an FDA Continuous Marketing Applications Pilot 2 program. The Phase
II/III clinical trial of Fibrillex™ for the treatment of AA Amyloidosis was recently concluded. The Company is
in the process of submitting a NDA for Fibrillex™ that the FDA has agreed to file and review.
3-amino-1-propanesulfonic acid (3APS; Alzhemed™), for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease, is in a Phase
III clinical trial and 3APS (Cerebril™), for the prevention of Hemorrhagic Stroke caused by Cerebral
Amyloid Angiopathy, has completed a Phase IIa clinical trial.
To Contact Neurochem
For additional information on Neurochem and its drug development programs, please call the North American toll-free number
1 877 680-4500 or visit our Web Site at: www.neurochem.com.
Certain statements contained in this news release, other than statements of fact that are independently verifiable
at the date hereof, may constitute forward-looking statements. Such statements, based as they are on the current
expectations of management, inherently involve numerous risks and uncertainties, known and unknown, many of which
are beyond Neurochem Inc.'s control. The risks include but are not limited to: the impact of general economic conditions,
general conditions in the pharmaceutical industry, changes in the regulatory environment in the jurisdictions in
which Neurochem Inc. does business, stock market volatility, fluctuations in costs, and changes to the competitive
environment due to consolidation, as well as other risks disclosed in public filings of Neurochem Inc.
Consequently, actual future results may differ materially from the anticipated results expressed in the forward-looking
statements. Additionally, there can be no assurance that a NDA for Fibrillex™ would be granted or that any
regulator would ultimately approve it for sale to the public. The reader should not place undue reliance, if any, on
the forward-looking statements included in this news release. These statements speak only as of the date made and
Neurochem Inc. is under no obligation and disavows any intention to update or revise such statements as a result
of any event, circumstances or otherwise. Neurochem does not undertake any obligation to publicly update its
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Please see the
Annual Information Form for further risk factors that might affect the Company and its business.
For further Information, please contact:
Dr. Lise Hébert
Vice President, Corporate Communications
lhebert@neurochem.com
275 Armand-Frappier
Laval (Quebec)
H7V 4A7
Tel: (450) 680-4500
Fax: (450) 680-4501
