content: 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 2, 2004
  
                                 HENRY SCHEIN, INC.
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
  
           Delaware                     0-27078                  11-3136595
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        (State or other           (Commission Number)          (IRS Employer
        jurisdiction of                                     Identification No.)
        incorporation)
  
             135 Duryea Road Melville, New York                      11747
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)
  
         Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (631) 843-5500
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (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))
  
  
  <PAGE>
  
  ITEM 1.01.  ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT.
  
        On December 2, 2004, Henry Schein, Inc. entered into a multi-year
  agreement with ID Biomedical Corporation to distribute ID Biomedical's
  Fluviral(R) influenza vaccine. The agreement will commence upon approval of
  Fluviral by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which could be as early
  as 2005 if the FDA provides expedited approval of the ID Biomedical application,
  and will terminate in 2014. Once Fluviral is approved by the FDA, ID Biomedical
  plans to manufacture up to an estimated 15 million doses for the U.S. market in
  2005, and increase production to approximately 38 million doses by 2007.
  Similarly, Henry Schein will increase the number of Fluviral doses it purchases
  over that time, and by 2007 will have approximately 19 million doses per year
  available for distribution to its customers. Henry Schein's purchase commitment
  under the agreement calls for the Company to pay ID Biomedical an amount per
  dose based each year on the market price then prevailing. At today's market
  price, this commitment will aggregate approximately $45 million for 2005,
  increasing to approximately $113 million in 2007.
  
  ITEM 8.01.  OTHER EVENTS.
  
        On December 6, 2004, Henry Schein, Inc. issued a press release announcing
  the signing of the multi-year agreement with ID Biomedical to distribute
  Fluviral. Attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 99.1
  is the press release.
  
  ITEM 9.01.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
  
        (c) Exhibit 99.1 - Press Release dated December 6, 2004.
  
  
  <PAGE>
  
  
                                     SIGNATURES
  
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the
  Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
                                    HENRY SCHEIN, INC.
  
  Date:  December 6, 2004           By:   /s/ Michael S. Ettinger
                                          ------------------------------
                                          Name:  Michael S. Ettinger
                                          Title:  Secretary, Vice President and
                                                  General Counsel
  
  
  <PAGE>
  
  
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  EXHIBIT NO.       DESCRIPTION
  
  99.1              Press release dated December 6, 2004
  
  
  
  <PAGE>
  
  
                                                                      EXHIBIT 99.1
  
  [GRAPHIC OMITTED][NEWS RELEASE]
  
  
                               FOR:    HENRY SCHEIN, INC.
  
                              CONTACT: Steven Paladino
                                       Executive Vice President &
                                       Chief Financial Officer
                                       631-843-5500
                                       steven.paladino@henryschein.com
  
                                       Susan Vassallo
                                       Director, Public & Investor Relations
                                       631-843-5562
                                       susan.vassallo@henryschein.com
  
  HENRY SCHEIN SIGNS MULTI-YEAR DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT WITH
  ID BIOMEDICAL FOR FLUVIRAL INFLUENZA VACCINE
  
  Contract supports new entrant into U.S. market for the benefit of public health
  
  MELVILLE, N.Y., DECEMBER 6, 2004 - Henry Schein, Inc. (NASDAQ: HSIC), the
  largest distributor of healthcare products and services in the combined North
  American and European markets, today announced the signing of a multi-year
  agreement to distribute ID Biomedical Corporation's (NASDAQ: IDBE, TSE: IDB)
  Fluviral(TM) influenza vaccine. The agreement will commence upon approval of
  Fluviral by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which could be as early
  as 2005 if the FDA provides expedited approval of the ID Biomedical application,
  and will terminate in 2014.
  
           Once Fluviral is approved by the FDA, ID Biomedical plans to
  manufacture up to an estimated 15 million doses for the U.S. market in 2005, and
  increase production to approximately 38 million doses by 2007. Similarly, Henry
  Schein will increase the number of Fluviral doses it purchases over that time,
  and by 2007 will have approximately 19 million doses per year available for
  distribution to its customers. Henry Schein's purchase commitment under the
  agreement calls for the Company to pay ID Biomedical an amount per dose based
  each year on the market price then prevailing. At today's market price, this
  commitment will aggregate approximately $45 million for 2005, increasing to
  approximately $113 million in 2007.
  
                                      - more -
  
  <PAGE>
  
  Page 2
  
        "As our nation addresses the current influenza vaccine shortage, we are
  pleased to have entered into a contract with ID Biomedical, which will benefit
  our customers, and the general public as well, by bringing additional influenza
  vaccine supply into the United States for many years to come," said Stanley M.
  Bergman, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Henry Schein. "We
  are pleased to support ID Biomedical's investment in its influenza vaccine
  manufacturing capability and increased capacity."
  
         "Henry Schein's expertise in marketing new products to office-based
  practitioners in the United States is unsurpassed, and we believe they are an
  ideal partner to help introduce Fluviral to this important market," said Todd
  Patrick, ID Biomedical's President.
  
        For 15 years, Henry Schein has been a leading distributor of influenza
  vaccine to U.S. physician offices and alternate-care sites, and in 2003, the
  Company sold more than 20 million doses of influenza vaccine. Earlier this year,
  Henry Schein was named the exclusive U.S. distributor of FluMist(R) intranasal
  influenza vaccine, manufactured by MedImmune (NASDAQ: MEDI), and distributed
  Aventis Pasteur's Fluzone(R) (NYSE: AVE). In addition, the Company's agreement
  to distribute Chiron Corporation's (NASDAQ: CHIR) Fluvirin(R) influenza vaccine
  continues for 2005.
  
  ABOUT HENRY SCHEIN, INC.
  
        Henry Schein, a FORTUNE 500(R) company, is recognized for its excellent
  customer service and highly competitive prices. The Company's four business
  groups--Dental, Medical, International and Technology--serve more than 450,000
  customers worldwide, including dental practices and laboratories, physician
  practices and veterinary clinics, as well as government and other institutions.
  The Company's sales reached a record $3.4 billion in 2003.
  
        The Company operates through a centralized and automated distribution
  network, which provides customers in more than 125 countries with a
  comprehensive selection of over 90,000 national and Henry Schein private-brand
  products.
  
                                               - more -
  
  <PAGE>
  
  
  Page 3
  
        Henry Schein also offers a wide range of innovative value-added practice
  solutions, including such leading practice management software systems as
  DENTRIX(R) and Easy Dental(R) for dental practices, and AVImark(R) for
  veterinary clinics, which are installed in over 50,000 practices; and ArubA(R),
  Henry Schein's electronic catalog and ordering system.
  
        Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., Henry Schein employs over 9,000 people in
  17 countries. For more information, visit the Henry Schein Web site at
  www.henryschein.com.
  
        In accordance with the "Safe Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities
  Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company provides the following cautionary
  remarks regarding important factors which, among others, could cause future
  results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, expectations
  and assumptions expressed or implied herein. All forward-looking statements made
  by us are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future
  performance. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
  uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results,
  performance and achievements, or industry results to be materially different
  from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by
  such forward-looking statements. These statements are identified by the use of
  such terms as "may," "could," "expect," "intend," "believe," "plan," "estimate,"
  "forecast," "project," "anticipate," or other comparable terms. A full
  discussion of the Company's operations and financial condition, including
  factors that may affect its business and future prospects, is contained in
  documents the Company has filed with the SEC and will be contained in all
  subsequent periodic filings made with the SEC. These documents identify, in
  detail, important risk factors that could cause the Company's actual performance
  to differ materially from current expectations.
  
        Risk factors and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ
  materially from current and historical results include, but are not limited to:
  competitive factors; changes in the healthcare industry; changes in government
  regulations that affect the Company; financial risks associated with the
  Company's international operations; fluctuations in quarterly earnings;
  transitional challenges associated with acquisitions; regulatory and litigation
  risks; the dependence on the Company's continued product development, technical
  support and successful marketing in the technology segment; the Company's
  dependence upon sales personnel and key customers; the Company's dependence on
  its senior management; the Company's dependence on third parties for the
  manufacture and supply of its products; possible increases in the cost of
  shipping the Company's products or other service trouble with the Company's
  third-party shippers; risks from rapid technological change; and risks from
  potential increases in variable interest rates.
  
        The order in which these factors appear should not be construed to
  indicate their relative importance or priority. The Company cautions that these
  factors may not be exhaustive and that many of these factors are beyond the
  Company's ability to control or predict. Accordingly, forward-looking statements
  should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual results. The Company
  undertakes no duty and has no obligation to update forward-looking statements.
  
                                             # # #
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "pressrelease.txt", "secsgml_size_bytes": 12282}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "SCHEIN HENRY INC", "cik": "0001000228", "assigned-sic": "5047", "irs-number": "113136595", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1226"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-27078", "film-number": "041186374"}, "business-address": {"street1": "135 DURYEA RD", "city": "MELVILLE", "state": "NY", "zip": "11747", "phone": "6318425500X6867"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "135 DURYEA RD", "city": "MELVILLE", "state": "NY", "zip": "11747"}}
text: 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 2, 2004
  
                                 HENRY SCHEIN, INC.
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
           Delaware                     0-27078                  11-3136595
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        (State or other           (Commission Number)          (IRS Employer
        jurisdiction of                                     Identification No.)
        incorporation)
  
             135 Duryea Road Melville, New York                      11747
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)
  
         Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (631) 843-5500
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (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 1.01.  ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT.
  
        On December 2, 2004, Henry Schein, Inc. entered into a multi-year
  agreement with ID Biomedical Corporation to distribute ID Biomedical's
  Fluviral(R) influenza vaccine. The agreement will commence upon approval of
  Fluviral by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which could be as early
  as 2005 if the FDA provides expedited approval of the ID Biomedical application,
  and will terminate in 2014. Once Fluviral is approved by the FDA, ID Biomedical
  plans to manufacture up to an estimated 15 million doses for the U.S. market in
  2005, and increase production to approximately 38 million doses by 2007.
  Similarly, Henry Schein will increase the number of Fluviral doses it purchases
  over that time, and by 2007 will have approximately 19 million doses per year
  available for distribution to its customers. Henry Schein's purchase commitment
  under the agreement calls for the Company to pay ID Biomedical an amount per
  dose based each year on the market price then prevailing. At today's market
  price, this commitment will aggregate approximately $45 million for 2005,
  increasing to approximately $113 million in 2007.
  
  ITEM 8.01.  OTHER EVENTS.
  
        On December 6, 2004, Henry Schein, Inc. issued a press release announcing
  the signing of the multi-year agreement with ID Biomedical to distribute
  Fluviral. Attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 99.1
  is the press release.
  
  ITEM 9.01.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
  
        (c) Exhibit 99.1 - Press Release dated December 6, 2004.
  SIGNATURES
  
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the
  Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
                                    HENRY SCHEIN, INC.
  
  Date:  December 6, 2004           By:   /s/ Michael S. Ettinger
                                          ------------------------------
                                          Name:  Michael S. Ettinger
                                          Title:  Secretary, Vice President and
                                                  General Counsel
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  EXHIBIT NO.       DESCRIPTION
  
  99.1              Press release dated December 6, 2004
  EXHIBIT 99.1
  
  [GRAPHIC OMITTED][NEWS RELEASE]
  
                               FOR:    HENRY SCHEIN, INC.
  
                              CONTACT: Steven Paladino
                                       Executive Vice President &
                                       Chief Financial Officer
                                       631-843-5500
                                       steven.paladino@henryschein.com
  
                                       Susan Vassallo
                                       Director, Public & Investor Relations
                                       631-843-5562
                                       susan.vassallo@henryschein.com
  
  HENRY SCHEIN SIGNS MULTI-YEAR DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT WITH
  ID BIOMEDICAL FOR FLUVIRAL INFLUENZA VACCINE
  
  Contract supports new entrant into U.S. market for the benefit of public health
  
  MELVILLE, N.Y., DECEMBER 6, 2004 - Henry Schein, Inc. (NASDAQ: HSIC), the
  largest distributor of healthcare products and services in the combined North
  American and European markets, today announced the signing of a multi-year
  agreement to distribute ID Biomedical Corporation's (NASDAQ: IDBE, TSE: IDB)
  Fluviral(TM) influenza vaccine. The agreement will commence upon approval of
  Fluviral by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which could be as early
  as 2005 if the FDA provides expedited approval of the ID Biomedical application,
  and will terminate in 2014.
  
           Once Fluviral is approved by the FDA, ID Biomedical plans to
  manufacture up to an estimated 15 million doses for the U.S. market in 2005, and
  increase production to approximately 38 million doses by 2007. Similarly, Henry
  Schein will increase the number of Fluviral doses it purchases over that time,
  and by 2007 will have approximately 19 million doses per year available for
  distribution to its customers. Henry Schein's purchase commitment under the
  agreement calls for the Company to pay ID Biomedical an amount per dose based
  each year on the market price then prevailing. At today's market price, this
  commitment will aggregate approximately $45 million for 2005, increasing to
  approximately $113 million in 2007.
  
                                      - more -
  Page 2
  
        "As our nation addresses the current influenza vaccine shortage, we are
  pleased to have entered into a contract with ID Biomedical, which will benefit
  our customers, and the general public as well, by bringing additional influenza
  vaccine supply into the United States for many years to come," said Stanley M.
  Bergman, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Henry Schein. "We
  are pleased to support ID Biomedical's investment in its influenza vaccine
  manufacturing capability and increased capacity."
  
         "Henry Schein's expertise in marketing new products to office-based
  practitioners in the United States is unsurpassed, and we believe they are an
  ideal partner to help introduce Fluviral to this important market," said Todd
  Patrick, ID Biomedical's President.
  
        For 15 years, Henry Schein has been a leading distributor of influenza
  vaccine to U.S. physician offices and alternate-care sites, and in 2003, the
  Company sold more than 20 million doses of influenza vaccine. Earlier this year,
  Henry Schein was named the exclusive U.S. distributor of FluMist(R) intranasal
  influenza vaccine, manufactured by MedImmune (NASDAQ: MEDI), and distributed
  Aventis Pasteur's Fluzone(R) (NYSE: AVE). In addition, the Company's agreement
  to distribute Chiron Corporation's (NASDAQ: CHIR) Fluvirin(R) influenza vaccine
  continues for 2005.
  
  ABOUT HENRY SCHEIN, INC.
  
        Henry Schein, a FORTUNE 500(R) company, is recognized for its excellent
  customer service and highly competitive prices. The Company's four business
  groups--Dental, Medical, International and Technology--serve more than 450,000
  customers worldwide, including dental practices and laboratories, physician
  practices and veterinary clinics, as well as government and other institutions.
  The Company's sales reached a record $3.4 billion in 2003.
  
        The Company operates through a centralized and automated distribution
  network, which provides customers in more than 125 countries with a
  comprehensive selection of over 90,000 national and Henry Schein private-brand
  products.
  
                                               - more -
  Page 3
  
        Henry Schein also offers a wide range of innovative value-added practice
  solutions, including such leading practice management software systems as
  DENTRIX(R) and Easy Dental(R) for dental practices, and AVImark(R) for
  veterinary clinics, which are installed in over 50,000 practices; and ArubA(R),
  Henry Schein's electronic catalog and ordering system.
  
        Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., Henry Schein employs over 9,000 people in
  17 countries. For more information, visit the Henry Schein Web site at
  www.henryschein.com.
  
        In accordance with the "Safe Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities
  Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company provides the following cautionary
  remarks regarding important factors which, among others, could cause future
  results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, expectations
  and assumptions expressed or implied herein. All forward-looking statements made
  by us are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future
  performance. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
  uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results,
  performance and achievements, or industry results to be materially different
  from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by
  such forward-looking statements. These statements are identified by the use of
  such terms as "may," "could," "expect," "intend," "believe," "plan," "estimate,"
  "forecast," "project," "anticipate," or other comparable terms. A full
  discussion of the Company's operations and financial condition, including
  factors that may affect its business and future prospects, is contained in
  documents the Company has filed with the SEC and will be contained in all
  subsequent periodic filings made with the SEC. These documents identify, in
  detail, important risk factors that could cause the Company's actual performance
  to differ materially from current expectations.
  
        Risk factors and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ
  materially from current and historical results include, but are not limited to:
  competitive factors; changes in the healthcare industry; changes in government
  regulations that affect the Company; financial risks associated with the
  Company's international operations; fluctuations in quarterly earnings;
  transitional challenges associated with acquisitions; regulatory and litigation
  risks; the dependence on the Company's continued product development, technical
  support and successful marketing in the technology segment; the Company's
  dependence upon sales personnel and key customers; the Company's dependence on
  its senior management; the Company's dependence on third parties for the
  manufacture and supply of its products; possible increases in the cost of
  shipping the Company's products or other service trouble with the Company's
  third-party shippers; risks from rapid technological change; and risks from
  potential increases in variable interest rates.
  
        The order in which these factors appear should not be construed to
  indicate their relative importance or priority. The Company cautions that these
  factors may not be exhaustive and that many of these factors are beyond the
  Company's ability to control or predict. Accordingly, forward-looking statements
  should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual results. The Company
  undertakes no duty and has no obligation to update forward-looking statements.
  
                                             # # #