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): January 17, 2012 (January 17, 2012)
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
| Delaware | 000-50743 | 77-0602661 | ||
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||
| 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA | 02142 | |||
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) | |||
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (617) 551-8200
Not applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
| ¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ¨ | 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 January 17, 2012, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts against Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation (“Tekmira”) for patent infringement arising from Tekmira’s research activities providing lipid nanoparticle (“LNP”)-formulated small interfering RNA (“siRNA”) molecules to a pharmaceutical collaborator. As alleged in the complaint, Tekmira’s activities are not protected under the exemption from patent infringement for drug development. As described in the complaint, Tekmira has infringed a number of issued patents related to siRNA and LNP technologies, including: U.S. Patent No. 7,695,902; U.S. Patent No. 6,858,225; U.S. Patent No. 6,815,432; U.S. Patent No. 6,534,484; U.S. Patent No. 6,586,410; and U.S. Patent No. 6,858,224. Under the Company’s contractual right to enforce U.S. Patent No. 7,695,902 owned by Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Isis”), the Company joined Isis to the suit as a co-plaintiff.
The Company and Isis are seeking judgment that Tekmira has infringed the patents at issue, a permanent injunction enjoining the infringing activities, damages, and costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees.
SIGNATURE
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.
| ALNYLAM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. | ||||
| Date: January 17, 2012 | By: | /s/ Michael P. Mason | ||
| Michael P. Mason | ||||
| Vice President, Finance and Treasurer | ||||