FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
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Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of March 2007
AETERNA ZENTARIS INC.
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1405, Parc-Technologique Boulevard
Quebec, Quebec
Canada, G1P 4P5
(Address of principal executive offices)
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 Form 40-F X
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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
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If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-
DOCUMENTS INDEX
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Documents Description
1. Press release dated March 26, 2007: AEterna Zentaris
Announces Appointment of New President and CEO
[LOGO]
AETERNA ZENTARIS INC. 1405 du Parc-Technologique Blvd.
Quebec (Quebec) Canada G1P 4P5 T 418 652-8525 F 418 652-0881
www.aeternazentaris.com
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
AETERNA ZENTARIS ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO
QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC (CANADA), MARCH 26, 2007--AEterna Zentaris Inc. (TSX:
AEZ; NASDAQ: AEZS) a late-stage, global biopharmaceutical company focused on
endocrine therapy and oncology, announced today the appointment of David J.
Mazzo, Ph.D. as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective on
April 9, 2007. Dr. Mazzo succeeds Gilles Gagnon who is leaving his position,
effective today, as President and CEO and as a member of the Board of
Directors. However, Mr. Gagnon will continue to work with the Company as a
consultant.
"On behalf of our entire management team and the Board, I extend my thanks to
Gilles for his tireless efforts, commitment and significant contributions.
Gilles has played a key role in the growth and current positioning of the
Company since he joined in 1999 and then became the President and CEO in
2003," said Dr. Eric Dupont, Executive Chairman of AEterna Zentaris. "We are
pleased that Gilles is maintaining his involvement by acting as a special
advisor to the Company and, therefore, will continue to contribute to our
success."
Dr. Mazzo has spent more than 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry and is
recognized for his leadership and strong scientific and regulatory expertise.
He joins the Company from Chugai Pharma USA where he has been President and
CEO since April 2003. Dr. Mazzo has broad experience working in a variety of
multi-cultural environments in the USA, Europe and Asia where he amassed a
track record of successful global product development, registration and
launch. He has held positions of increasing responsibility with Merck,
Baxter, Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, Hoechst Marion Roussel and Schering-Plough. Dr.
Mazzo holds a B.A. in Honors (Interdisciplinary Humanities) and a B.S. in
Chemistry from Villanova University, as well as an M.S. in Chemistry and a
Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Massachusetts (Amherst).
He further complemented his American education as a Research Fellow at the
Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Switzerland.
"The Board is delighted to have an executive with Dave's proven leadership
credentials, successful drug development track record and commercialization
experience at the helm as President and CEO," added Dr. Dupont. "We will
benefit tremendously from his significant industry experience along with his
scientific expertise. Dave is clearly the ideal person to lead the Company
through this critical juncture in our emergence as a fully integrated
biopharmaceutical company."
Dr. Mazzo added, "I am thrilled with this new opportunity and am very much
looking forward to leading AEterna Zentaris through a period of significant
and sustained growth and product success. My vision is to build a leading
biopharmaceutical company by leveraging the solid foundation that has been
established thus far while realizing the full potential of our robust
development pipeline."
In order to further consolidate its position in the United States, the
Company expects to open shortly an office in New Jersey.
ABOUT AETERNA ZENTARIS INC.
AEterna Zentaris Inc. is a growing global biopharmaceutical company focused on
oncology and endocrine therapy with proven expertise in drug discovery,
development and commercialization.
News releases and additional information are available at
www.aeternazentaris.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe
harbor provisions of the U.S. Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Statements that are not historical facts, including statements preceded by,
followed by, or that include the words "believes", "anticipates", "intends",
"plans", "expects", "estimates", "will," "may", "should", "approximately", and
the negative or other variations of those terms or comparable terminology, are
forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect management's current views,
intentions, strategies and plans and are based on certain assumptions.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties,
which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from
those in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties
include, among others, the ability of AEterna Zentaris to implement its
business strategies, the availability of funds and resources to pursue R&D
projects, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the
ability of AEterna Zentaris to take advantage of business opportunities in
the pharmaceutical industry, uncertainties related to the regulatory process
and general changes in economic conditions. Investors should consult the
Company's quarterly and annual filings with the Canadian and U.S. securities
commissions for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to
the forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to rely on these
forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update these
forward-looking statements.
CONTACTS:
INVESTOR RELATIONS
Jenene Thomas
(418) 655-6420
jenene.thomas@aeternazentaris.com
MEDIA
Gregory Tiberend
Richard Lewis Communications, Inc.
(212) 827-0020
SIGNATURE
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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.
AETERNA ZENTARIS INC.
Date: January 5, 2007 By: /s/ Mario Paradis
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Mario Paradis
Vice President, Finance & Administration and
Corporate Secretary