8-K

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

January 8, 2004

(Date of earliest event reported)

CONNETICS CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	0-27406	94-3173928
(State or Other	(Commission File No.)	(IRS Employer
Jurisdiction of		Identification No.)
Incorporation)

3290 West Bayshore Road, Palo Alto, California 94303

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(650) 843-2800

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	Item 5. Other Events.
	Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
SIGNATURES
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT 99.1

Item 5. Other Events.

     On January 8, 2003, Connetics Corporation announced that it has completed enrollment in its two Phase III clinical trials for Velac® gel, a first in class combination of 1% clindamycin, and a 0.025% tretinoin, for the treatment of acne.

     The two Phase III trials include an aggregate of 2,218 patients at 37 centers, in which patients are treated for 12 weeks in the double-blinded, placebo and active controlled studies. Connetics anticipates data from the trial will be available in the second quarter of 2004.

     A copy of the press release announcing this event is attached to this Report as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated into this report by this reference.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits.

99.1
Press Release dated January 8, 2004.

SIGNATURES

     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.

CONNETICS CORPORATION
By:	/s/ Katrina J. Church
	Katrina J. Church Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Date: January 9, 2004

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number	Description
99.1	Press Release dated January 8, 2004

EX-99.1 3 f95542exv99w1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Company Contact	Investor Relations
John L. Higgins	Bruce Voss or Ina McGuinness
Chief Financial Officer	Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates
(650) 843-2800	(310) 691-7100
jhiggins@connetics.com	bvoss@lhai.com

CONNETICS COMPLETES PATIENT ENROLLMENT
IN PIVOTAL TRIALS FOR VELAC® GEL

— Company Expects Results in Second Quarter 2004 —

PALO ALTO, Calif. (January 8, 2004) - Connetics Corporation (Nasdaq NM: CNCT), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of dermatology products, today announced that it has completed enrollment in its two Phase III clinical trials for Velac® gel, a first in class combination of 1% clindamycin, and 0.025% tretinoin, for the treatment of acne.

The two Phase III trials include an aggregate of 2,218 patients at 37 centers, in which patients are treated for 12 weeks in the double-blinded, placebo and active controlled studies. Connetics anticipates data from the trial will be available in the second quarter of 2004.

Thomas G. Wiggans, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “2004 is off to a great start as our product pipeline is advancing on all fronts. Our success enrolling the Velac trials on schedule follows the submission of an NDA for our first acne product Actizatm just last month. This is yet another superb job by our project team and the participating study centers completing enrollment for what is Connetics’ largest clinical program ever.”

About Connetics

Connetics Corporation is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics for the dermatology market. The Company’s marketed products are OLUX® (clobetasol propionate) Foam, 0.05% and Luxiq® (betamethasone valerate) Foam, 0.12%. Connetics is also developing Extina™, a foam formulation of the antifungal drug ketoconazole, Actiza™, a foam formulation of clindamycin for treating acne, and Velac® Gel, a combination of clindamycin and tretinoin for treating acne. Connetics has branded its innovative foam drug delivery vehicle, VersaFoam™. These formulations aim to improve the management of dermatological diseases and provide significant product differentiation. For more information about Connetics and its products, please visit www.connetics.com, or send an e-mail to ir@connetics.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements and predictions, in particular, statements about the potential timing of availability of clinical trial data for Velac. These statements represent the Company’s judgment as of the date of this news release and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking

statements. In particular, Connetics faces risks and uncertainties that the clinical trials for Velac may not show the efficacy anticipated, that Connetics may determine not to file an NDA or that, if an NDA is filed, the FDA may not approve Velac for commercial sale. The actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, risks and other factors that are discussed in documents filed by Connetics with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including Connetics’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the last fiscal year, and the most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1