Free Motion to Dismiss - District Court of Connecticut - Connecticut

Case 3:03-cv-00409-DJS

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Motions, Pleadings and Filings Only the Westlaw citation is currently available. United States District Court, S.D. New York. In re: REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. SECURITIES LITIGATION No. 03 Civ.3111 RWS. Feb. 1, 2005. Stull Stull & Brody, New York, NY, By: Jules Brody, Melissa Emert, for Plaintiffs, of counsel. Milberg Weiss Bershad Hynes & Lerach, New York, NY, By: Richard Weiss, Guy Halfteck, for Plaintiffs, of counsel. Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, New York, NY, By: Dennis P. Orr, Joseph De Simone, Matthew D. Ingber, for Defendants, of counsel. OPINION SWEET, J. *1 Defendants, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Regeneron" or the "Company"), Leonard S. Schleifer ("Dr.Schleifer"), George D. Yancopoulos ("Dr.Yancopoulos"), Hans-Peter Guler ("Dr.Guler"), Neil Stahl ("Dr.Stahl"), and Murray A. Goldberg ("Goldberg") (collectively the "Defendants") have moved to dismiss the consolidated amended class action complaint (the "Amended Complaint") pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 9(b) and 12(b)(6) and Section 21E(c)(1) of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "PSLRA"). For the reasons set forth below, the motion is denied. The Amended Complaint in 217 paragraphs drafted by skilled counsel alleges a securities fraud committed by the Defendants in connection with the fast-track development of AXOKINE, a drug to combat obesity. The instant motion, submitted by equally skilled and prominent defense counsel, has raised difficult issues of the application of the PSLRA and pleading requirements for a securities action. Given the complexities of the science involved, the process by which

drugs are approved, and the operation of the securities market, it is difficult to define with precision the issues which must be resolved. The effort to do so follows. Prior Proceedings The complaint in this action was filed on May 2, 2003. On August 13, 2003, the present action was consolidated with 03 Civ. 3446(RWS), 03 Civ. 3704(RWS), 03 Civ. 3956(RWS), 03 Civ. 4006(RWS), 03 Civ. 4214(RWS), and 03 Civ. 4398(RWS). On September 9, 2003, Sarah and Joseph Katz, Teri D. Carroll, and Stanley D. Bazewicz were appointed lead plaintiffs pursuant to Section 21D(a)(3)(B) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Securities Exchange Act"). See 15 U.S.C. § 78u-4(a)(3)(B). A consolidated amended complaint ("the Amended Complaint") was filed on November 1, 2003. Defendants' motion to dismiss the Amended Complaint was filed on December 23, 2003. Oral arguments were heard on June 16, 2004, and the motion was considered fully submitted. The Parties Plaintiffs are a putative class of individuals who purchased Regeneron securities during the period March 10, 2000 through March 30, 2003 (the "Class Period"). (Compl.¶ 23.) Regeneron is a biopharmaceutical company that was founded in 1988 "to develop and commercialize new therapeutic agents to treat unmet medical needs." (Id. ¶ 73.) With an initial focus on treating degenerative neurological conditions, Regeneron also has worked to develop drugs for use in the treatment of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and obesity. (Id. ¶ 24.) AXOKINE is one of several such drug candidates currently under development by Regeneron. (Id. ¶ 69.) The chairman of Regeneron's board of directors, Dr. P. Roy Vagelos ("Dr.Vagelos"), is the former chairman and chief executive officer of Merck & Co. (Orr Aff. Ex. 1 at 31.) Dr. Vagelos is not a defendant in this action. Dr. Schleifer founded Regeneron in 1988 and has been its president and chief executive officer since its inception, and he served as chairman of its board of directors from 1990 to 1994. (Compl. ¶ 44; Orr. Aff. Ex. 1 at 31.) He is a licensed

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physician certified in neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and he formerly served as a clinical professor of neurology at Cornell University Medical School. (Orr. Aff. Ex. 1 at 31.) *2 Dr. Yancopoulos is an executive vice president and chief scientific officer of Regeneron, president of Regeneron Research Laboratories, and a member of Regeneron's board of directors. (Compl. ¶ 45; Orr Aff. Ex. 1 at 32.) He is formerly Regeneron's vice president for discovery and a senior staff scientist. Dr. Yancopoulos received both a Ph.D in molecular biophysics and an M.D. from Columbia University, and he has been listed among the most highly cited scientists in biology and medicine. (Orr Aff. Ex. 1 at 32.) Dr. Stahl is senior vice president for preclinical development and bimolecular science at Regeneron, and he is its former director of cytokines and signal transduction. (Compl. ¶ 47; Orr Aff. Ex. 1 at 32.) Dr. Stahl received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from Brandeis University. (Orr Aff. Ex. 1 at 32.) Dr. Guler is Regeneron's vice president for clinical sciences. (Compl.¶ 46.) Prior to joining the Company, Dr. Guler was the senior director of clinical development at Chiron Corporation and associate director of drug development in the pharmaceuticals division of CIBA-GEIGY Corporation. (Orr Aff. Ex. 1 at 32.) Goldberg is the senior vice president for finance and administration, chief financial officer, treasurer and assistant secretary of Regeneron. (Compl. ¶ 48; Orr Aff. Ex. 1 at 32.) Prior to joining Regeneron, Goldberg was a member of the board of directors, chief financial officer, vice president for finance, and treasurer of PharmaGenics, Inc. From 1988 until 1990, Goldberg was managing director of the structured finance group at the Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. (Orr Aff. Ex. 1 at 32.) From 1973 until 1987, Goldberg held various management positions in finance and corporate development at American Cyanimid Company. (Id.) The FDA's Drug Candidate Review Process The development of any drug requires extensive Food and

Drug Administration ("FDA") oversight. Once a drug candidate undergoes pre-clinical testing, the FDA must decide, based on an Investigational New Drug Application ("IND"), whether it is reasonably safe to test the drug candidate on humans. See 21 C.F .R. § 312.20. Assuming that human testing is approved, the FDA and a local institutional review board ("IRB") of physicians, scientists, and other persons who oversee clinical research must approve clinical trial protocols describing who may participate in the clinical trial, the schedule of tests and procedures, the dosages to be studied, the duration of the study, and the study's objectives. (Orr Aff. Ex. 2 at 1.) [FN1] FN1. In deciding this motion, it is proper to consider "documents attached as an exhibit [to the Complaint] or incorporated by reference, [citation omitted], and documents that are 'integral' to plaintiffs' claims, even if not explicitly incorporated by reference ." Faulkner v. Verizon Communications, Inc., 189 F.Supp.2d 161, 168 (S.D.N.Y.2002). It is also proper for the Court to "take judicial notice of pleadings in other lawsuits attached to the defendant's motion to dismiss, as a matter of public record, [citation omitted], as well as reports filed pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") regulations as 'facts capable of accurate and ready determination by resort to sources whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned." ' Id. (quoting Kramer v. Time Warner Inc., 937 F.2d 767, 773-74 (2d Cir.1991)). The clinical trials proceed in four phases. The principal purpose of the Phase I study is to evaluate the drug candidate's safety over a short period of time in a small group of subjects, typically in the range of 20 to 80 healthy volunteers. (Id. at 2.) If the Phase I study does not reveal unacceptable levels of toxicity and the design of the next phase is approved by the FDA and IRB, the Phase II study is undertaken. (Id.) The principal purposes of that study are to determine the optimum dose for the drug candidate and to obtain preliminary data on whether the drug candidate works in people with the particular disease or condition,

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based on a controlled study of short duration. See 21 C.F.R. § 312.21(2)(b). The typical number of subjects in a Phase II study ranges from a few dozen to several hundred. Id. The typical duration for a Phase II obesity study is three months. (Orr Aff. Ex. 3 at 3.) *3 If, after examining the results of the Phase II test, the FDA approves the protocol for the next study, the applicant proceeds to the Phase III study. The purpose of the Phase III study is to gather more information about the safety and efficacy of the optimum dose or doses by studying different and larger populations over a substantially longer period of time. See 21 C.F.R. § 312.21(2)(c). The number of subjects in Phase III studies ranges from several hundred to several thousand. (Orr Aff. Ex. 2 at 2.) Phase III trial results are used as the basis for the FDA's decisions concerning approval of a drug candidate. Finally, Phase IV studies occur after a drug is approved by the FDA. They are designed to explore potential new uses for, and the long-term effects of, the approved drug. (Id.) The Development Disclosures of AXOKINE And Regeneron's

receptor of a drug candidate in development called Leptin. (Id.) At the time, Leptin was considered to be a promising drug candidate for combatting obesity. (Id.) In 1997, Regeneron, in association with Procter & Gamble, commenced the development of AXOKINE for the treatment of, among other things, obesity and complications of obesity associated with Type II diabetes. (Compl.¶ 72.) 1. The Phase I Study In early 1999, Regeneron filed an IND with the FDA, seeking approval to commence clinical trials of AXOKINE. (Orr Aff. Ex. 6 at 5.) With the FDA's approval, the Phase I study was conducted in 1999. (Orr Aff. Ex. 6 at 4.) In its Form 10-Q and in press releases, Regeneron disclosed that statistically significant weight loss had been observed in the Phase I study. (Id. Ex. 7 at 2). Regeneron also disclosed that 42% (8 out of 19 subjects) developed antibodies; however, no neutralizing antibodies were discovered using a cell-based neutralizing antibody assay. (Id. Ex. 8 at 4.) Regeneron further disclosed that "the single dose study demonstrated that AXOKINE is well tolerated at low doses," but at higher doses, "nausea, vomiting, and herpes cold sores were observed." (Id. Ex. 6 at 4.) As a result of these side effects, and as Regeneron disclosed, "as part of an internal review of drug development programs and budgets, Proctor & Gamble decided to return to Regeneron the product rights to AXOKINE." (Id.) 2. The Phase II Study *4 In early 2000, Regeneron disclosed that it was seeking FDA approval to initiate a twelve-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II study of 170 patients, which was principally "designed to confirm the weight loss observed in the Phase I study ... and to determine the lowest effective well-tolerated dose" during a three-month trial. (Compl.¶ 98.) As a double-blind study, the protocol required that none of the Regeneron scientists, participating physicians, or patients knew which patients received different doses of AXOKINE or which patients received placebo. (Orr Aff. Ex. 8 at 3.) In its Form 10-Q disclosure filed March 31, 2000, Regeneron warned that antibodies could form and that if these antibodies were "neutralizing" antibodies, they could diminish or totally neutralize the

Plaintiffs have alleged that the development of AXOKINE was critical to the overall performance and prospects of Regeneron and that AXOKINE was the Company's leading drug candidate during the Class Period. (Id. ¶ 177.) Plaintiffs have alleged that AXOKINE had the potential to "make or break" the Company, (id. ¶ 178), and that other products in development were secondary to AXOKINE. (Id. ¶ 179). AXOKINE is a modified form of a naturally occurring protein known as ciliary neurotrophic factor ("CNTF"). (Compl.¶ 72.) Regeneron initially tested CNTF as a potential treatment for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ("ALS" or "Lou Gehrig's Disease"). (Id. ¶ 28.) While testing CNTF in clinical trials, Regeneron discovered that reduced weight loss was a prominent side effect in ALS patients treated with CNTF. (Orr Aff. Ex. 6 at 3.) It was also noted that another side effect was that some patients treated with CNTF developed neutralizing antibodies. (Id.) At approximately the same time, it was noted that there was a strong similarity between the AXOKINE receptor and the

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effectiveness of AXOKINE. (Id. Ex. 10 at 19-20.) This warning appeared as a risk factor under the heading "Factors That May Affect Future Operating Results." Id. This warning was repeated as a risk factor in other Form 10-Q and 10-K disclosures filed during the Class Period. Upon approval by the FDA, Regeneron initiated the Phase II study on March 28, 2000. (Id. Ex. 31 at 15.) On November 28, 2000, Regeneron released the results of the Phase II testing (Id. Ex. 4 at 1). With respect to the efficacy of AXOKINE, Regeneron stated: Patients treated with AXOKINE showed medically meaningful and statistically significant weight loss compared to those receiving a placebo.... Patients who received the optimal dose of AXOKINE over the 12 week treatment period averaged 10 pounds more weight loss than patients on placebo.... (Id.) According to Regeneron, the Phase II testing accomplished the dual goals of establishing an optimal dose for AXOKINE and demonstrating that this dose was well tolerated and produced medically significant weight loss. (Id. at 3.) Regeneron stated that additional safety and efficacy data would be collected in the Phase III testing. (Id.) Regeneron also noted that "[n]eutralizing antibodies, based on a laboratory test, were not dose-related and occurred in less than 10% of all patients receiving AXOKINE." (Id.) Regeneron stated that the drug's most common side effects were nausea, coughing, and skin irritation at the injection cite. (Id.) In the January 2001 Form S-3, the Company stated that the Phase II trial was preliminary and that it might not be predictive of the results of later trials. (Id. Ex. 12 at 5.) In its 2001 Form 10-K disclosure, filed in March 2001, Regeneron stated: During the conduct of clinical trials, patients report changes in their health, including illnesses, injuries and discomforts, to their study doctor. Often, it is not possible to determine whether or not these conditions are caused by the drug being studied. Various illnesses, injuries, and discomforts have been reported from time-to-time during

the clinical trials of AXOKINE, our only product candidate that has completed Phase II trials. The most frequently reported conditions during the AXOKINE Phase II trial were injection site reactions, cough, and nausea or vomiting. During the Phase I study that was conducted in 1999, some subjects developed mouth sores, also known as cold sores, when AXOKINE was given in higher does than what is being studied in the Phase III program. These cold sores were thought to be caused by the reactivation of herpes simplex virus, or HSV. Recurrence of HSV was also reported in previous clinical studies of CNTF, AXOKINE's parent molecule. In the Phase I AXOKINE study, one patient who had evidence of previous exposure to HSV prior to treatment and had been previously diagnoses with Bell's palsy, had a recurrence of Bell's palsy approximately two weeks after the patient's last administration of AXOKINE. In the ongoing Phase III study of AXOKINE, one patient was reported to have been diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome following an upper respiratory tract infection. *5 Although AXOKINE was generally well tolerated in the completed Phase II trial, it is possible that as we test AXOKINE in a large and extended Phase III program, illnesses, injuries, and discomforts that were observed in the earlier trials, as well as conditions that did not occur or went undetected in these small trials, will be reported by patients. If additional clinical experience indicates that AXOKINE has many side effects or causes serious or life-threatening side effects, the development of AXOKINE may fail or be delayed, which would severely harm our business. Many drug research and development programs never lead to the development of commercially successful products. Only a small minority of all research and development programs ultimately result in commercially successful drugs. We are attempting to develop drugs for human therapeutic uses, and our research and development activities may not be successful and none of our potential product candidates may ever complete clinical trials. Even if clinical trials demonstrate safety and efficacy of our product candidates and the necessary regulatory approvals are obtained, the commercial success of any of our product candidates will depend upon their acceptance by patients, the medical community, and

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third-party payors and on our ability to successfully develop, manufacture, and market our product candidates. If our products are not successfully commercialized, we will not be able to recover the significant investment we have made in developing such products and our business would be severely harmed. (Id. Ex. 13 at 27.) The Phase II Follow-Up Data The AXOKINE Phase II testing lasted 12 weeks. (Id. Ex. 15 at 1.) Regeneron followed up with its Phase II subjects at intervals of 24, 36 and 48 weeks. (Id. at 1-2.) There were no additional safety concerns observed in the subjects in the follow-up testing. (Id.) In addition, Regeneron tracked these patients to determine whether they suffered from "rebound" weight gain (i.e., weight gained after the drug candidate is no longer administered). Evidence from the pre-clinical animal testing had suggested that patients treated with AXOKINE might potentially avoid rebound weight gain, a problem associated with many weight loss regimens. (Id. at 2.) Accordingly, Regeneron reported weight loss/gain data at intervals of 24, 36 and 48 weeks after the patients stopped using AXOKINE. (Compl.¶¶ 123-24.) At each of these intervals, Regeneron reported that patients treated with the optimal dose of AXOKINE reported, on average, sustained weight loss. (See Ex. 17 at 1; Ex. 15 at 1.) In January 2003, the FDA granted "fast track" designation [FN2] to that component of the AXOKINE development program that "covers treatment of severely obese people who are unresponsive to, intolerant of, or unsuitable candidates for certain FDA approved medications for the long-term treatment of obesity." (Orr Aff. Ex. 18 at 1.) FN2. The FDA grants fast-track designation to therapeutic development programs that the agency determines have the potential to address an unmet medical need in treating serious or life-threatening disease conditions. (Orr Aff. Ex. 18 at 1.) Under the FDA Modernization Act of 1997, the FDA may take actions to expedite the development and review of an application for approval to market a therapeutic candidate that has been granted fast-track designation. (Id.)

The Phase III Study *6 After consultation with the FDA and joint review of the Phase II data, Regeneron announced in July 2001 that it was initiating Phase III clinical trials. (Id. Ex. 19 at 1.) The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase III study enrolled approximately 2,000 patients, roughly ten times the number previously studied in Phase II. Whereas the longest previous trial had only exposed patients to AXOKINE for twelve weeks, there was a twelve month treatment period in the Phase III study, allowing Regeneron to observe safety and efficacy issues in a trial of much longer duration. (Compl. ¶ 125; Id. Ex. 20 at 2.) On March 31, 2003, one day after the end of the Class Period, Regeneron issued a press release regarding the year-long Phase III study. (Id. Ex. 20 at 1.) Regeneron disclosed that the results of the initial Phase III trial were "preliminary" and that it "subsequently will discuss all of this data with regulatory authorities." (Id.) It stated that "at that time, [it would] be able to discuss [its] plans for further development of AXOKINE for treatment of obesity." (Id.) Regeneron's March 21, 2003 press release further stated that patients treated with AXOKINE, when compared with placebo, achieved statistical significance with regard to both endpoints of the study. (Id.) First, a 25% of AXOKINE-treated patients lost at least 5% of their initial body weight while 17.6% of patients receiving placebo reported such weight loss. (Id.) Second, participants receiving AXOKINE experienced an average weight loss of 6.2 pounds while those receiving placebo experienced an average loss of 2.6 pounds. (Id.) Regeneron stated that "[a]lthough the results of this Phase III study were statistically significant, the overall magnitude of the weight loss was small." (Id. at 1.) Regeneron explained that AXOKINE-associated weight loss was limited, beginning after about three months of AXOKINE treatment, by the development of neutralizing antibodies in patients. (Id.) According Dr. Louis Aronne, Director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital, who was quoted in the March 31, 2003 press release, the twelve-month study further revealed that in the 30% of AXOKINE-treated patients who were

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unaffected by neutralizing antibodies, weight loss was comparable to drugs available on the market. (Id. at 2.) Dr. Aronne nonetheless concluded that "AXOKINE [is] a potentially attractive candidate as part of an obesity regimen." (Id.) Events After The March 31, 2003 Announcement Of The Phase III Results On March 31, 2003, the date of the Regeneron Phase III press release, Regeneron's stock price dropped from $17.31 to $7.52, closing 56.6% below the closing price for March 28, 2003, the previous trading day. (Compl.¶ 163.) By June 11, 2003, Regeneron's stock had returned to the March 28 closing price. (Orr Aff. Ex. 21 at 3.) The stock traded for as much as $22 per share in September 2003. (Id. at 1.) As of the time this motion was submitted, AXOKINE still had fast-track FDA status with respect to the clinical trials. On September 8, 2003, Regeneron announced that it had entered into a global agreement with Aventis Pharmaceuticals to jointly develop and commercialize Regeneron's Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Trap, which is regarded as a promising anti-cancer therapy. (Id. Ex. 22 at 1.) *7 On September 9, 2003, Regeneron announced that it was moving forward with the Phase III development program of AXOKINE for the treatment of obesity. (Id. Ex. 23 at 1.) Regeneron made this decision following a meeting with the FDA in which Regeneron reviewed the results of the initial Phase III trial announced on March 31, 2003. (Id.) It further stated that the remaining Phase III program was expected to consist of a one-year confirmatory pivotal trial similar to the initial trial, a separate one-year study in obese type 2 diabetic patients, and several smaller and shorter studies. (Id.) In total, approximately 2,300 additional people were expected to be enrolled in these future trials. (Id.) Dr. Yancopoulos stated: Based on our discussions with the FDA, we believe that AXOKINE has demonstrated a favorable risk-benefit profile in clinical trials performed to date[.] ... Our discussions also indicate that if the results of the remaining development program parallel the results we saw in our initial pivotal trial, we would have the basis for

applying for approval of AXOKINE for the treatment of obesity. Id. Regeneron's stock price closed at $21.75 on the day of this announcement. (Id. Ex. 21 at 1.) Regeneron's Disclosures Concerning The Development of PEGylated AXOKINE Regeneron sought to develop PEGylated AXOKINE, a more potent and longer-lasting version of AXOKINE that would allow for less frequent and lower dosing in patients. (Compl.¶ 78(a); Orr Aff. Ex. 5 at 3 .) PEGylation is the chemical process by which certain molecules (polyethylene glycol chains) are attached to protein drugs, in this case the original AXOKINE molecule. PEGylation reduces the immunogenicity of the drug, which causes formation of neutralizing antibodies thereby impairing the efficacy of the drug. (Compl.¶¶ 78-79.) PEGylated AXOKINE was in the later stages of pre-clinical development in 2001 and entered into Phase I clinical trials in June 2002. (Id.) Regeneron disclosed that preliminary results of the Phase I trials demonstrated a long half-life potentially comparable with once per week dosing regimens. (Id. Ex. 9 at 2.) However, Regeneron also disclosed that in its current form, the molecule was not optimally absorbed into the blood stream and caused unacceptable injection site reactions. (Id.) Finally, it stated that "we are currently working to develop an improved form of PegAXOKINE." (Id .) The Amended Complaint The Amended Complaint contains two causes of action. The first cause of action asserts that all defendants violated Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act, see 15 U.S.C. § 78(j)(b), and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder. See 17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5. The second cause of action asserts that the individual defendants violated Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act. See 15 U.S.C. § 78t(a). Plaintiffs allege that Defendants made a variety of misrepresentations in publications including Regeneron's March 10, 2000 Registration Statement, its March 30, 2000 Prospectus, its November 28, 2000 press release, the June 2,

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2002 edition of The New York Times, its June 13, 2002 press release, its third quarter 2002 Form 10-Q disclosure, and its 2002 Form 10-K disclosure. As set forth in the Plaintiffs' opposition papers, the misstatements on which Plaintiffs allegedly relied can be grouped into five categories. 1. Misstatements AXOKINE Concerning The Effectiveness Of

prospects; and (3) that AXOKINE's efficacy in causing significant weight-loss in obese patients was limited. (Id. ¶¶ 106, 108.) 2. Misstatements Concerning The Purported Lack Of Side-Effects Defendants are also alleged to have made false statements concerning AXOKINE's purported lack of side effects. (See, e.g ., id. ¶¶ 98, 105, 109, 119, 126, and 128.) For example, in the November 28, 2000 press release, Defendants are alleged to have made the following misrepresentations: . "The drug was generally well tolerated and was not associated with any serious adverse events." (Id. ¶ 105; Orr Aff. Ex. 4 at 1.) . "No serious adverse events associated with the drug were reported during the trial.... Neutralizing antibodies, based on a laboratory test, were not dose-related and occurred in less than 10% of all patients receiving AXOKINE." (Id. ¶ 109; Orr Aff. Ex. 4 at 2.) . "We are pleased that the trial accomplished its major objectives. We demonstrated that this dose causes medically significant weight loss and is generally well-tolerated in a short-term study of 12 weeks." (Id. (quoting Dr. Guler).) *9 Based on Defendants' alleged knowledge concerning serious side effects and the formation of neutralizing antibodies, Plaintiffs allege that these statements were materially false and misleading. 3. Misstatements Concerning Regeneron's Reasons For Pursuing Development Of PEGylated AXOKINE Defendants are alleged to have misrepresented Regeneron's reasons for pursuing development of PEGylated AXOKINE. (See, e.g., id. ¶¶ 96, 100, 119, 126, 132, 133, and 136.) For example, Defendants' March 10, 2000 Registration Statement, which was signed by Defendants Dr. Schleifer and Goldberg, contains the following alleged misrepresentation: We are also developing a modified form of AXOKINE (pegylated) that in preclinical studies is substantially longer acting than unmodified AXOKINE. This may allow less frequent and lower dosing in patients.

*8 Defendants are alleged to have made misstatements concerning the effectiveness of AXOKINE. (See, e.g., Compl. ¶¶ 102, 105, 107, 109, and 119.) Defendants' misrepresentations are alleged to include the following statements: . "At the recommended dosages, Dr. Schleifer said, there are no side effects like nausea; people simply stop eating as much." (Compl. ¶ 128 (quoting William J. Holstein, How a Side Effect Might Turn Into Success, N.Y. Times, June 2, 2002, at C4).) . "All AXOKINE-treated groups showed statistically significant weight loss compared to placebo ..." (Id. ¶ 107 (quoting November 28, 2000 press release (see Orr. Aff. Ex. 4 at 2).) . "Patients treated with AXOKINE showed medically meaningful and statistically significant weight loss compared to those receiving a placebo ..." (Id. ¶ 105 (quoting November 28, 2000 press release (see Orr. Aff. Ex. 4 at 1).) . "Pending confirmation of these results and obtaining further safety and efficacy data in additional clinical studies, AXOKINE appears to be one of the most promising potential treatments for obesity." (Id.) . "Everyone at Regeneron is pleased with these results, which indicate that AXOKINE has the potential to help address a growing health crisis." (Id.) Plaintiffs allege that Defendants' representations concerning the purported effectiveness of AXOKINE were materially false and misleading because Defendants failed to disclose to the investing public: (1) that formation of neutralizing antibodies in patients treated with AXOKINE defeated or severely impaired the drug's effectiveness; (2) that the occurrence of neutralizing antibodies posed a significant threat to obtaining FDA approval of AXOKINE as a diet drug and, as a consequence, to the drug's commercial

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Not Reported in F.Supp.2d Not Reported in F.Supp.2d, 2005 WL 225288 (S.D.N.Y.) (Cite as: 2005 WL 225288 (S.D.N.Y.))

(Id. ¶ 96.) This statement was repeated in a prospectus filed March 30, 2000. (Id. ¶ 100.) Defendants made similar representations in the following documents: the June 13, 2002 press release (id. ¶ 132); Regeneron's 2002 Third Quarter Form 10-Q disclosure (id. ¶ 133); and the Company's 2002 Form 10-K disclosure. (Id. ¶ 136). Plaintiffs allege that, in truth, Defendants were seeking, by PEGylation, to suppress the immunogenicity of AXOKINE, thereby preventing the formation of neutralizing antibodies. (Compl.¶¶ 78-79.) In addition, Plaintiffs allege that the PEGylated version of AXOKINE constitutes an entirely new drug candidate that would require initiation and completion of costly clinical trials in order to obtain separate FDA approval. (Id. ¶ 79.) Plaintiffs alleged that by concealing the true purpose of PEGylation, Defendants misled investors as to the degree of neutralizing antibody formation and thus falsely reassured investors that AXOKINE does not trigger formation of neutralizing antibodies. (Id. ¶¶ 97, 137.) 4. Misstatements Concerning Defendants' Alleged Understanding Of The Mechanism By Which AXOKINE Purportedly Caused Weight Loss Plaintiffs allege that the November 28, 2000 press release contained the following misrepresentations concerning the mechanism by which AXOKINE purportedly caused weight loss: . "Both the site and mechanism of action of AXOKINE are similar to those of leptin, a natural hormone regulator of body weight that is released by fat cells." (Id. ¶ 113; Orr Aff. Ex. 4 at 3.) . "Using animal models of diet-induced obesity, Regeneron scientists deciphered the mechanism by which CNTF induced weight loss...." (Id. ¶ 116; Orr Aff. Ex. 4 at 4.) Plaintiffs allege that, in fact, Defendants did not have an adequate understanding of the mechanism of action underlying AXOKINE, or its parent molecule CNTF. (Id. ¶ 114.) In particular, Plaintiffs allege that Defendants did not possess an understanding whether and how AXOKINE affects the regulation of body weight. (Id ). Plaintiffs allege that by falsely assuring investors that Defendants had an

understanding of how AXOKINE works, Defendants artificially boosted investors' confidence in Defendants' ability to address problems encountered in the development of the drug. (Id. ¶¶ 144-150, 210.) 5. Misstatements Concerning The Size Of The Market For AXOKINE *10 Plaintiffs allege that Defendants made misrepresentations concerning the size of the market for AXOKINE. For example, plaintiffs allege that Dr. Schleifer made the following misstatements, which were published in the June 2, 2002 edition of The New York Times: . "In terms of the number of people affected, obesity 'could be the largest market in the pharmaceutical industry." ' (Id. ¶ 128 (quoting William J. Holstein, How a Side Effect Might Turn Into Success, N.Y. Times, June 2, 2002, at C4).) . " 'Certainly, some people will say that the chance of building another giant rarely happens.... Out of thousands of budding biotechnology companies, only a relative handful have clearly succeeded.... We expect to be bigger than them ... I absolutely, fervently believe that." ' (Id.) The Amended Complaint alleges that in light of AXOKINE's serious side-effects and the formation of neutralizing antibodies, the market for AXOKINE, as compared to other already-available diet drugs, was severely limited. (Id. ¶ 130.) In addition, the Amended Complaint alleges that AXOKINE's marketability was further impaired by the fact that it is administered by injection rather than orally. (Id.) Sales Of Stock By The Defendants It is alleged that the individual Defendants sold from their personal holdings nearly 400,000 shares of Regeneron stock for almost $7.5 million. (Id. ¶ 196.) It is alleged that Dr. Schleifer sold almost 77,000 shares for over $1.6 million; Goldberg sold almost 57,000 shares for $1.5 million; Dr. Yancopoulos sold 186,000 shares for $3.5 million; Dr. Guler sold 10,000 shares for about $213,000; and Dr. Stahl sold more than 30,000 shares for $558,000. (Id. ¶¶ 188-198, 191, 192, 195.) The following chart provides a summary of the alleged trading activity by individual Defendants during

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the class period. [FN3] (See id. ¶¶ 191-96.) FN3. According to the Defendants, Dr. Vagelos, the chairman of Regeneron's board of directors, purchased 75,000 shares on the open market during the Class Period for approximately $1,560,100, and increased his holdings substantially in the Class Period. (See Defs.' Mem. Supp. Mot. Dismiss at 33.) Defendant of Shares Number of Shares Number Total Percentage Owned at Owned at End of Increase in Increase Beginning of Class Period Share in Total Class Period Ownership Ownership Schleifer 2,158,340 2,519,105 360,765 16.7 Yancopoulos 513,000 703,539 190,539 37.1 Goldberg 105,400 171,425 66,025 62.6 Stahl 111,359 179,580 68,211 61.2 Guler 24,000 80,057 56,057 233.5

Discussion A. Applicable Legal Standards *11 Plaintiffs have alleged that Defendants' conduct gives rise to liability pursuant to Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act. To state a cause of action under Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, plaintiffs must plead that each defendant "(1) made misstatements or omissions of material fact; (2) with scienter; (3) in connection with the purchase or sale of securities; (4) upon which plaintiffs relied; and (5) that plaintiffs' reliance was the proximate cause of their injury." In re Livent, Inc. Sec. Litig., 78 F.Supp.2d 194, 213 (S.D.N.Y.1999). Section 20(a) imposes joint and several liability on any person who "controls any person liable under any provision of this title or of any rule or regulation thereunder." 15 U.S.C. § 78t(a). In order to state a claim based on control person liability under Section 20(a), a plaintiff must allege "(1) a primary violation by a controlled person; (2) control of the primary violator by the defendant; and (3) 'that the controlling person was in some meaningful sense a culpable participant' [FN4] in the primary violation." Boguslavsky v. Kaplan, 159 F.3d 715, 720 (2d Cir.1998) (quoting SEC v. First Jersey Securities, Inc., 101 F.3d 1450, 1472 (2d Cir.1996)); Deutsche Telekom AG Sec. Litig., No. 00 Civ. 9475(SHS), 2002 WL 244597 at *7 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 20, 2002) (applying "culpable participation" requirement at pleading stage); In re Emex Corp. Sec. Litig., No. 01 civ. 4886(SWK), 2002 WL 31093612 at *9 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 18, 2002) (same). FN4. The culpable participation element is subject to the PSLRA's heightened pleading requirements, and requires particularized allegations that defendants acted with scienter. See, e.g., Deutsche Telekom, 2002 WL 244597 at *7; In re Emex Corp. Sec. Litig., No. 01 Civ. 4886(SWK), 2002 WL 31093612 at *10 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 18, 2002). Defendants have moved for dismissal of the Amended Complaint pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) and 9(b).

It is alleged that during the Class Period, the Individual Defendants caused Regeneron to offer more than $443 million of its own securities to the public (See id. ¶ 182.) These offerings were as follows: . In a March 2000 public offering, Regeneron issued 2,600,000 shares of common stock at $29.75 a share, thereby raising $77,350,000. (Id. ¶ 183.) . In a March 2001 public offering, Regeneron issued 6,630,000 shares of common stock at $25.00 a share, thereby raising another $165,750. (Id. ¶¶ 184, 185.) . In an October 2001 private placement, Regeneron sold 200,000 5.5% convertible debt notes at a fixed price of $1,000 a note, thereby raising $200,000,000. (Id. ¶ 186.)

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In considering a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), the Court construes the complaint liberally, "accepting all factual allegations in the complaint as true, and drawing all reasonable inferences in the plaintiff's favor." Chambers v. Time Warner, Inc., 282 F.3d 147, 152 (2d Cir.2002) (citing Gregory v. Daly, 243 F.3d 687, 691 (2d Cir.2001)). However, "mere conclusions of law or unwarranted deductions" need not be accepted. First Nationwide Bank v. Gelt Funding Corp., 27 F.3d 763, 771 (2d Cir.1994). "The issue is not whether a plaintiff will ultimately prevail but whether the claimant is entitled to offer evidence to support the claims." Villager Pond, Inc. v. Town of Darien, 56 F.3d 375, 378 (2d Cir.1995) (quoting Scheuer v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232, 236 (1974)). In other words, " 'the office of a motion to dismiss is merely to assess the legal feasibility of the complaint, not to assay the weight of the evidence which might be offered in support thereof." ' Eternity Global Master Fund Ltd. v. Morgan Guar. Trust Co. of New York, 375 F.3d 168, 176 (2d Cir.2004) (quoting Geisler v. Petrocelli, 616 F.2d 636, 639 (2d Cir.1980)). Dismissal is only appropriate when "it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts which would entitle him or her to relief." Sweet v. Sheahan, 235 F.3d 80, 83 (2d Cir.2000); accord Eternity Global Master Fund, 375 F.3d at 176-77. *12 Securities fraud actions are subject to the pleading requirements of the PSLRA and Rule 9(b), which requires plaintiffs to identify "with particularity" the circumstances constituting the alleged fraud. Fed.R.Civ.P. 9(b). To satisfy Rule 9(b), the complaint must "(1) specify the statements that the plaintiff contends were fraudulent, (2) identify the speaker, (3) state where and when the statements were made, and (4) explain why the statements were fraudulent." Mills v. Polar Molecular Corp., 12 F.3d 1170, 1175 (2d Cir.1993); see also In re Scholastic Corp. Sec. Litig ., 252 F.3d 63, 69-70 (2d Cir.2001); Stevelman v. Alias Research Inc., 174 F.3d 79, 84 (2d Cir.1999); Novak v. Kasaks, 216 F.3d 300, 306 (2d Cir.2000). Rule 8's general pleading requirement and Rule 9(b)'s particularity requirement must be read together. See Ouaknine v. MacFarlane, 897 F.2d 75, 79 (2d Cir.1990) ("Rule 9(b) ... must be read together with Rule 8(a) which

requires only a 'short and plain statement' of the claims for relief."); Credit & Fin. Corp. v. Warner & Swasey Co., 638 F.2d 563, 566 (2d Cir.1981) (same); In re Initial Pub. Offering Sec. Litig. ("IPO" ), 241 F.Supp.2d 281, 327 (S.D.N.Y.2003). These two rules have been read together to mean that a plaintiff need not plead evidentiary details. See, e.g., id. The Second Circuit has stated that it does "not require the pleading of detailed evidentiary matter in securities litigation." Scholastic, 252 F.3d 63, 72. [FN5] Courts of this district have stated that "the application of Rule 9(b) ... must not abrogate the concept of notice pleading." IPO, 241 F.Supp.2d at 327 n. 46. FN5. See also Shaw v. Digital Equip. Corp., 82 F.3d 1194, 1225 (1st Cir.1996) (stating that "in determining the adequacy of a complaint under [Rule 9(b) ], we cannot hold plaintiffs to a standard that would effectively require them, pre-discovery, to plead evidence"). The PSLRA's particularity requirements are similar to those imposed by Rule 9(b). See, e.g., Rombach v. Chang, 355 F .3d 164, 170 (2d Cir.2004). The PSLRA provides that "the complaint shall specify each statement alleged to have been misleading, the reason or reasons why the statement is misleading, and, if an allegation regarding the statement or omission is made on information and belief, the complaint shall state with particularity all facts on which that belief is formed." 15 U.S.C. § 78u-4(b)(1) ("paragraph (b)(1)"). The PSLRA, like Rule 9(b), serves the purpose of putting the defendant on notice of the specific misstatements and omissions that are at issue. See, e.g., IPO, 241 F.Supp.2d at 354. Notwithstanding use of the word "all" in paragraph (b)(1)'s final clause, the Second Circuit has held that to satisfy the PSLRA's particularity requirement concerning allegations based on information and belief, a plaintiff need only plead sufficient facts to support a reasonable belief as to the misleading nature of the statement or omission. Novak, 216 F.3d at 313-14 & n. 1 (stating that "[its] reading of [paragraph (b)(1) ] focuses on whether the facts alleged are sufficient to support a reasonable belief as to the misleading nature of the statement or omission.") [FN6]

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FN6. In support of its departure from the plaint language of paragraph (b)(1), the Novak court observed that a strict textual construction would lead to absurd results: Reading "all" literally would produce illogical results that Congress cannot have intended. Contrary to the clearly expressed purpose of the PSLRA, it would allow complaints to survive dismissal where "all" the facts supporting the plaintiff's information and belief were pled, but those facts were patently insufficient to support that belief. Equally peculiarly, it would require dismissal where the complaint pled facts fully sufficient to support a convincing inference if any known facts were omitted. Novak, 216 F.3d at 314 n. 1. Dismissal Is Not Warranted Pursuant To Either The PSLRA Safe Harbor Provision or the Common Law "Bespeaks Caution" Doctrine *13 Defendants argue that the statement at issue are not actionable pursuant to the PSLRA's safer harbor provision and/or the common law "bespeaks caution" doctrine. A. The PSLRA Safe Harbor Provision The PSLRA provides a safe harbor for certain forward-looking statements made by an issuer of securities. See 15 U.S.C. § 78u-5(c) (stating that under specified circumstances "in any private action arising under [15 USC §§ 78a et seq.] that is based on an untrue statement of material fact or omission of a material fact necessary to make the statement not misleading, a person shall not be liable with respect to any forward-looking statement"). To be entitled to this safe harbor protection, a forward-looking statement must be "[1] identified as a forward-looking statement, and [2] ... accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statement [.]" 15 U.S.C. § 78u-5(c)(1)(A)(i). Representations of historical or current fact do not qualify for the PSLRA's safe harbor. See In re Complete Mgmt. Sec. Litig., 153 F.Supp.2d 314, 340 (S.D.N.Y.2001).

The Defendants' statements that Plaintiffs allege are false and misleading involve representations of present or historical facts concerning, among other things, the effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of AXOKINE. The Defendants' representations concerning the following were not forward-looking: (1) the reasons Regeneron embarked on the development of PEGylated-AXOKINE (see Compl. ¶¶ 96, 100, 119, 126, 132, 133, 136); (2) the efficacy of AXOKINE (see Compl. ¶ ¶ 102, 105, 107, 119, 125); (3) the tolerability of AXOKINE and its lack of association with any serious adverse effects (see Compl. ¶¶ 105, 109, 119, 126); and (4) Regeneron's understanding of the mechanism by which AXOKINE worked. (See Compl. ¶ 116). Statements that might arguably have some forward-looking aspect are unprotected by the PSLRA safe harbor provision to the extent that they are premised on representations of present fact. See, e.g., In re Nortel Networks Corp. Sec. Litig., 238 F.Supp.2d 613, 629 (S.D.N.Y.2003) (stating that "even when an allegedly false statement has both a forward-looking aspect and an aspect that encompasses a representation of present fact, the safe harbor provision of the PSLRA does not apply") (internal quotations omitted); Manavazian v. ATEC Group, Inc., 160 F.Supp.2d 468, 481 (E.D.N.Y.2001) (same). In addition, the safe harbor provision does not protect a statement made with "actual knowledge" that it was false and misleading. 15 U.S.C. § 78u-5(c)(1)(B). Plaintiffs have alleged that Defendants acted with such knowledge. Based on the foregoing, it is determined that the PSLRA's safe harbor provision does not apply to the statements at issue. B. The "Bespeaks Caution" Doctrine *14 In the context of Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5, an alleged misstatement or omission is material if there is a substantial likelihood that the disclosure of the omitted fact would be viewed by the reasonable investor as having significantly altered the "total mix" of information made available. Halperin v. eBanker USA.Com, Inc., 295 F.3d 352, 357 (2d Cir.2002).

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Under the "bespeaks caution" doctrine, certain alleged misrepresentations made in connection with the purchase or sale of a security are deemed immaterial as a matter of law because it cannot be said that a reasonable investor would consider them important in light of adequate cautionary language that is set forth in the applicable disclosure documents. Halperin, 295 F.2d at 357 (dismissing Rule 10b-5 claims pursuant to bespeaks caution doctrine); Olkey v. Hyperion 1999 Term Trust, 98 F.3d 2, 5 (2d Cir.1996) (same); In re Duane Reade, Inc. Sec. Litig., No. 02 Civ. 6478(NRB), 2003 WL 22801416 at *5 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 25, 2003) (same). Pursuant to the bespeaks caution doctrine, when cautionary language is present, courts analyze the allegedly fraudulent materials in their entirety to determine whether a reasonable investor would have been misled. Halperin, 295 F.3d at 357. As the Second Circuit has explained, "[t]he touchstone of the inquiry is not whether isolated statements within a document were true, but whether defendants' representations or omissions, considered together and in context, would affect the total mix of information and thereby mislead a reasonable investor regarding the nature of the securities offered." Id. The "total mix" of information includes "information already in the public domain and facts known or reasonably available to the shareholders." Rodman v. Grant Found., 608 F.2d 64, 70 (2d Cir.1979). Courts have applied the bespeaks caution doctrine to dismiss securities fraud claims against pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. See, e.g., In re Syntex Corp. Sec. Litig., 95 F.3d 922, 929-30 (9th Cir.1996); Schwartz v. Novo Industri A/S, 658 F.Supp. 795, 798 (S.D.N.Y.1987); Asher v. Baxter Int'l, Inc., No. 02 C 5608, 2003 WL 21825498 at *17 (N.D.Ill. July 24, 2003). From the beginning of Regeneron's testing of AXOKINE, before the Class Period and even prior to the Phase I testing, Regeneron made certain disclosures concerning the tendency of neutralizing antibodies to form when AXOKINE was administered to some subjects. The Form 10-K disclosure for 1998 states: Previous clinical studies of ciliary neurotrophic factor ("CNTF"), the parent molecule of AXOKINE, resulted in the creation of antibodies and adverse events (side effects)

in patients, including weight loss, cough, nausea, and malaise. While certain aspects of the development of AXOKINE by the Company and Proctor & Gamble have focused on attempting to avoid or minimize antibody production or adverse events, no assurance may be given that these problems will be avoided or minimized or that they will not lead to the failure, delay, or additional difficulty in conducting AXOKINE clinical trials. *15 (Orr Aff. Ex. 27 at 21.) The Form 10-K for 1999 states: The Company also plans to collect additional data in the study about the relationship of AXOKINE and the reactivation of HSV, about the effect of AXOKINE on pulse rate, and about the possible development of neutralizing antibodies when AXOKINE is administered for a longer time. No assurances can be made regarding the timing or the final result of the Phase II study or the timing or result of any further clinical trial of AXOKINE. Previous clinical studies of CNTF, the parent molecule of AXOKINE, in addition to weight loss, resulted in the creation of neutralizing antibodies and adverse events (side effects) in patients, including cough, nausea, malaise, and increased herpes simplex cold sores. While certain aspects of the development of AXOKINE have focused on attempting to avoid or minimize antibody production or adverse events, no assurance may be given that these problems will be avoided or minimized or that they will not lead to the failure, delay, or additional difficulty in conducting AXOKINE clinical trials. (Id. Ex. 6 at 5.) Similar disclosures mentioning neutralizing antibodies appeared in Regeneron's quarterly SEC disclosure documents prior to the Class Period. (See id. Ex. 28 at 10 (March 1999 Form 10-Q)); Ex. 29 at 11 (June 1999 Form 10-Q at 13); and Ex. 30 at 11 (Sept.1999 Form 10-Q).) The reference to neutralizing antibodies was repeated in Regeneron's SEC filings during the Class Period. (See id. Ex. 5 at 22 (2000 Form 10-K); Ex. 10 at 13 (March 2000 Form 10-Q); Ex. 31 at 15 (June 2000 Form 10-Q); and Ex. 32 at 16 (Sept.2000 Form 10-Q).) In addition, the Form 10-Q disclosures contain statements that "we have no

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information that these antibodies are neutralizing antibodies." (See, e.g., id. Ex. 10 at 20 (March 2000 Form 10-Q).) The November 28, 2000 press release stated in pertinent part: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc .... today announced results of a Phase II dose-ranging trial to study the safety and efficacy of AXOKINE(R) in severely obese patients. Patients treated with AXOKINE showed medically meaningful and statistically significant weight loss compared to those receiving a placebo in a dose-dependent manner.... Patients who received the optimal dose of AXOKINE over the 12 week treatment period averaged 10 pounds more weight loss than patients on placebo ... and continued to lose weight over the entire treatment period. Moreover, 46% of these treated patients loss at least 10 pounds, compared with just 5% of those on placebo. The drug was generally well tolerated and was not associated with any serious adverse events. "Everyone at Regeneron is pleased with these results, which indicate that AXOKINE has the potential to help address a growing health crisis. Millions of people in the United States suffer from obesity, and the problem is especially serious for the approximately 12 million people with clinically severe obesity. The prevalence and severity of obesity has risen sharply in recent years in many developed nations, and that trend shows no signs of easing," said Leonard S. Schleifer, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Regeneron. "Subject to discussions with regulatory authorities, we plan on initiating Phase III testing on AXOKINE as quickly as possible to gather information about the safety and efficacy of the drug in larger numbers of patients over longer periods of time." *16 "Pending confirmation of these results and obtaining further safety and efficacy data in additional clinical studies, AXOKINE appears to be one of the most promising potential treatments for obesity. Weight loss in this trial was at a medically desirable rate," said Steven B. Heymsfield, M.D., Deputy Director of the New York Obesity Research Center, Professor of Medicine at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, and an investigator in the Phase II clinical

study. "Physicians and patients desperately need new treatment approaches for obesity, which substantially increases the risk of morbidity and mortality from Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, certain cancers, and many other medical conditions." *** Safety and Tolerability No serious adverse events associated with the drug were reported during the trial. The most common side effect was dose-dependent injection site reactions (skin redness), which occurred in all patient groups, including placebo, and were generally mild. Other side effects associated with the drug included cough, which was notable only in the highest dose group, and nausea, which occurred most frequently in the highest dose group. There was no increase compared to placebo in the incidence of herpes simplex virus infections in patients taking AXOKINE. Neutralizing antibodies, based on a laboratory test, were not dose-related and occurred in less than 10% of all patients receiving AXOKINE. Further evidence of the tolerability of the drug was demonstrated by the ratio of patients in each dose group completing the full 12 weeks of treatment: placebo, 61%; 0.3 mcg/kg, 74%; 1.0 mcg/kg, 70%, and 2.0 mcg/kg. 58%. Hans-Peter Guler, M.D., Regeneron's Vice President of Clinical Sciences, stated: "We are pleased that the trial accomplished its major objectives. We established an optimal dose of AXOKINE of 1 mcg/kg and demonstrated that this does causes medically significant weight loss and is generally well-tolerated in a short-term study of 12 weeks. We look forward to gathering further safety and efficacy data for AXOKINE in the Phase III clinical trial that we plan to initiate in 2001." AXOKINE: Scientific rationale in Obesity AXOKINE is a genetically re-engineered version of a naturally occurring human protein known as ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). Preclinical studies have shown that injected AXOKINE travels through the bloodstream to reach a critical area of the brain, known as the hypothalamus, that regulates body weight. AXOKINE binds to specific receptors and activates key signaling pathways in the hypothalamus that suppress appetite and reduce body weight. Both the site and mechanism of

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action of AXOKINE are similar to those of leptin, a natural hormone regulator of body weight that is released by fat cells. However, in animal models of the most common form of obesity (diet-induced obesity), animals are resistant to administration of leptin, while AXOKINE is able to cause substantial weight loss. *17 In animal studies, AXOKINE caused weight loss, produced selective loss of fat (as opposed to lean body mass), and had beneficial effects on obesity-associated co-morbidities such as diabetes. In addition, unlike forced dieting, cessation of AXOKINE treatment did not lead to an immediate rebound in weight. "It's very satisfying that animal models of diet-induced obesity seem to have correctly predicted AXOKINE's ability to cause weight loss in common human obesity," commented George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., the Chief Scientific Officer and Senior Vice President of Research at Regeneron. (Id. Ex. 4 at 1, 3-4.) After the Phase II results were obtained, Regeneron also stated: . [I]t is possible that as we test AXOKINE in a large and extended Phase III trial, side effects that were observed in the earlier clinical trials, as well as side effects that did not occur or went undetected in the completed small clinical studies, will become apparent, which will delay or prohibit the future development or commercialization of AXOKINE. (Id. Ex. 12 at 5 (January 25, 2002 Form S-3 Registration Statement).) . There is substantial competition in the discovery and development of treatments for obesity, as well as established, cost-effective, and emerging prescription and over-the-counter treatments for this condition. For example, Hoffmann-LaRoche and Abbott Laboratories already market well-established drugs for the treatment of obesity and Amgen, Sanofi-Synthelabo and a number of other pharmaceutical companies are developing new potential therapeutics.... Some of these medicines or therapeutic candidates may offer competitive advantages over AXOKINE. For example, AXOKINE currently is available only in injectable form, while the currently marketed drugs for the treatment of obesity ... are delivered in pill (or oral dosage) forms, which generally are favored by people over injectable medicines. Therefore, even if AXOKINE is approved for sale, the

fact that it must be delivered by injection may severely limit its market acceptance among patients and physicians. (Id. Ex. 9 at 13-14 (2002 Form 10- K); see also Ex. 5 at 11 (2000 Form 10-K); Ex. 13 at 11 (2001 Form 10-K) .) . Only a small minority of all research and development programs ultimately result in commercially successful drugs. We are attempting to develop drugs for human therapeutic uses, and our research and development activities may not be successful and none of our potential product candidates may ever complete clinical trials. Even if clinical trials demonstrate safety and efficacy of our product candidates and necessary regulatory approvals are obtained, the commercial success of any of our product candidates will depend upon their acceptance by patients, the medical community, and third-party payors and our ability to successfully develop, manufacture, and market our product candidates. (Id. Ex. 5 at 23 (2000 Form 10-K).) [FN7] FN7. A similar caveat was included in other mandatory SEC disclosures made during the Class Period. (See, e.g. Ex. 13 at 27 (2001 Form 10-K); Ex. 9 at 31 (2002 Form 10-K).) *18 Each of Regeneron's annual reports during the Class Period began with a warning in italics, stating, among other things, that "a potential investor should specifically consider the various factors identified under the Caption 'Factors that May Affect Future Operating Results." ' In this caption, Regeneron made the following disclosure: In addition to the safety, efficacy, manufacturing and regulatory hurdles faced by Regeneron's drug candidates, the administration of recombinant proteins frequently causes an immune response, resulting in the creation of antibodies against the therapeutic protein. The antibodies can have no effect or can totally neutralize the effectiveness of the protein.... In some cases, the antibody can cross react with the patient's own proteins, resulting in an "auto-immune type" disease. Whether antibodies will be created can often not be predicted from preclinical experiments and their appearance is often delayed, so that there can be no assurance that neutralizing antibodies will not be created at a later date--in some cases even after

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Not Reported in F.Supp.2d Not Reported in F.Supp.2d, 2005 WL 225288 (S.D.N.Y.) (Cite as: 2005 WL 225288 (S.D.N.Y.))

pivotal clinical trials have been successfully completed. Patients who have been treated with AXOKINE ... have developed antibodies.... (Id. Ex. 10 at 19 (March 2000 Form 10-Q).) Defendants point out that this warning regarding neutralizing antibodies was repeated at least 13 times in SEC disclosure documents during the three-year Class Period. It was included in both Form 10-Q [FN8] and Form 10-K [FN9] statements filed during this period. FN8. See id. Ex. 31 at 23 (June 2000 Form 10-Q); Ex. 32 at 26 (Sept.2000 Form 10-Q); Ex. 33 at 21 (March 2001 Form 10-Q); Ex. 34 at 23 (June 2001 Form 10-Q); Ex. 35 (Sept.2001 Form 10-Q) at 26; Ex. 36 at 19 (March 2002 Form 10-Q); Ex. 37 at 24 (June 2002 Form 10-Q); Ex. 38 at 25- 26 (Sept.2002 Form 10-Q); Ex. 39 at 25 (March 2003 10-Q). FN9. See id. Ex. 5 at 22 (2000 Form 10-K); Ex. 13 at 25 (2001 Form 10-K); Ex. 9 at 29 (2002 Form 10-K). Defendants' press releases during the Class Period also contained a generic disclaimer concerning hypothetical future risks: This news release discusses historical information and include forward-looking statements about Regeneron and about its products, programs, finances, and business, all of which involve a number of risks and uncertainties, such as risks associated with preclinical and clinical development of drugs and biologics, determinations by regulatory and administrative governmental authorities, competitive factors, technological developments, the availability and cost of capital, the costs of developing, producing, and selling products, the potential for any collaboration agreement to be cancelled or to terminate without any product success, and other material risks. (See id. Ex. 4 at 5; Ex. 7; Ex. 15; Ex. 16; Ex. 17; Ex. 18; Ex. 22; Ex. 23.) Regeneron's SEC filings contained, in substance, the same language. (See id. Ex. 5 at 21-22 (2000 Form 10-K); Ex. 6 at 27 (1999 10-K); Ex. 9 at 28- 29 (2002 Form 10-K); Ex. 10 at 19 (March 31, 2000 Form 10-Q); Ex. 13 at 25 (2001 Form 10-K).)

None of the above-described caveats refer to any of the specific problems concerning AXOKINE that are detailed in the Amended Complaint and that Regeneron allegedly knew to exist at the time that the statements at issue were made. A warning that fails to disclose specific known facts is insufficiently precise and will not insulate Defendants' statements from liability pursuant to the bespeaks caution doctrine. See, e.g. In re American Express Co. Sec. Litig., No. 02 Civ. 5533(WHP), 2004 WL 632750 at *12 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 31, 2004). *19 Moreover, discussing hypothetical risks that might occur in the future does not adequately disclose actual problems that already have materialized. See In re Prudential Sec. Ltd. P'ships Litig., 930 F.Supp. 68, 72 (S.D.N.Y.1996) (stating that "[[t]he doctrin