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): December 27, 2007
Manhattan
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
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001-32639
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36-3898269
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(State
or other jurisdiction
of
incorporation)
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(Commission
File Number)
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(IRS
Employer
Identification
No.)
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810
Seventh Avenue, 4th Floor
New
York, New York 10019
(Address
of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(212)
582-3950
(Registrant's
telephone number, including area code)
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:
|
o
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Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
CFR
230.425)
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|
o
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Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
|
|
o
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Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17
CFR
240.14d-2(b))
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|
o
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Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17
CFR
240.13e-4(c))
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Item
5.02 Departure
of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors: Appointment of Certain
Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
On
December 27, 2007, Manhattan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) announced
that Dr. Alan Harris, the Company’s Chief Medical Officer, was leaving the
Company.
A
copy of
that announcement is attached to this Form 8-K as exhibit 99.1 hereto.
Item
9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
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(d)
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Exhibits.
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Exhibit
No.
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Description
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99.1
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Press
Release issued December 27,
2007.
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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.
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MANHATTAN
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
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Date:
January 3, 2008
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By:
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/s/ Michael
G. McGuinness
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Michael
G. McGuinness
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Chief
Financial Officer
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EXHIBIT
INDEX
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Exhibit
No.
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Description
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99.1
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Press
Release issued December 27, 2007
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Exhibit
99.1
Manhattan
Pharmaceuticals Names Mary C. Spellman,
M.D.
as Head of Dermatology and Drug Development
Alan
Harris Departs to Pursue Other Business Opportunities
NEW
YORK, NY DEC 27, 2007
-
Manhattan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMEX: MHA) today announced the appointment
of
Mary C. Spellman, M.D. as its consultant Head of Dermatology and Drug
Development. Dr. Spellman will oversee all aspects of clinical operations
related to the development of Manhattan Pharmaceuticals’ product
pipeline.
“We
are
delighted to have Dr. Spellman join our team at this pivotal time in the
organization,” stated Douglas Abel, president and chief executive officer. “We
are particularly delighted by her comprehensive expertise in clinical
dermatology and immunology research and regulatory affairs, as well as her
first-hand dermatology practice experience. As we advance our dermatology
and
immunology focused pipeline, this highly relevant expertise adds significant
value to the organization and makes her well-suited to provide clinical insight
and strategic direction as part of our senior management team.”
Prior
to
joining Manhattan Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Spellman served as Chief Medical Officer
and Senior Vice President, Development for Revance Therapeutics, Inc. where
she
was responsible for clinical and nonclinical research and development for
novel,
topical, aesthetic and medical, dermatologic therapeutics. Prior to Revance,
she
was Senior Director, Medical Research, Immunology at Biogen Idec, Inc. where
she
led all phases of global immunology clinical trials in indications including
psoriasis, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and Crohn’s disease among others. Dr.
Spellman also held clinical dermatology positions at Connetics Corporation
and
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, and was a practicing medical dermatologist
for over seven years. She earned her medical degree from the Medical College
of
Wisconsin and a Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola University of Chicago.
Dr. Spellman is joining the company as an independent contractor and will
continue to have other clients at this time.
Dr.
Spellman replaces Alan G. Harris, M.D., Ph.D. who is leaving the company
to
pursue other business opportunities in the endocrinology field.
“Dr.
Harris has made a number of key contributions to Manhattan Pharmaceuticals
including providing valuable assistance in growing and advancing our product
pipeline. We thank him for his efforts and wish him great success in his
future
endeavors,” added Douglas Abel.
About
Manhattan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Manhattan
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a pharmaceutical company that acquires and develops
novel, high-value drug candidates primarily for the treatment of dermatologic
and immune disorders. With a pipeline consisting of four clinical stage product
candidates, Manhattan Pharmaceuticals is developing potential therapeutics
for
large, underserved patient populations seeking superior treatments for
conditions including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis (eczema), head lice, and
mastocytosis. (
http://www.manhattanpharma.com)
Note
Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This
press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve
risks
and uncertainties that could cause Manhattan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s actual
results to differ materially from the anticipated results and expectations
expressed in these forward-looking statements. These statements are often,
but
not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as "anticipates,"
"expects," "plans," "believes," "intends," "will," and similar words or phrases.
These statements are based on Manhattan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s current
expectations, forecasts and assumptions, which are subject to risks and
uncertainties, which could cause actual outcomes and results to differ
materially from these statements. Among other things, there can be no assurances
that Manhattan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will be able to effect a reverse stock
split or otherwise meet the conditions of the Company’s plan to regain
compliance with AMEX’s continued listing standards in a timely manner, or at
all. Additional risks are described in the company's filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the
year
ended December 31, 2006. Manhattan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. assumes no obligation
to update these statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events, or otherwise, except as required by law.
Contact
Information
Michelle
Y. Carroll
Corporate
Communications
Manhattan
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(212)
582-3950