September 8, 2007 |
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. have formed a venture uniting Nobel Prize winners David Baltimore and Phillip Sharp to create drugs from a newly discovered class of genetic material. The venture, Regulus Therapeutics, will have exclusive licenses from Alnylam and Isis for technology focused on so-called microRNAs. The molecules regulate networks of genes that may be involved in diseases including cancer, viral infections and metabolic disorders, the companies said.
January 11, 2005 |
Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Monday it planned to eliminate about 40% of its jobs to pare expenses and focus on developing a few key drugs, including an ulcerative colitis treatment. Writing down the value of assets such as equipment and patents will cost the company as much as $40 million in the fourth quarter. Additional expenses related to the firings will be recorded in the first quarter, Carlsbad, Calif.-based Isis said, without giving a specific figure.
December 3, 2004 |
Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. said its experimental drug alicaforsen failed as a treatment for Crohn's disease in two late-stage trials. The Carlsbad, Calif.-based biotechnology company said it would focus on getting alicaforsen approved as an enema for patients with ulcerative colitis, a use shown to be effective in phase-two studies. Isis shares rose $1.09 to $6.01 on Nasdaq.
January 6, 2004 |
Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc., which is developing drugs for cancer and autoimmune diseases, said Monday that an experimental medicine eased patients' rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in a study. The Carlsbad, Calif., company said 41% of patients who received the treatment had a measurable improvement. Rheumatoid arthritis is a crippling form of the joint disease, which primarily afflicts women. If approved, the medicine, known as Isis 104838, would compete against Amgen Inc.'
March 18, 2003 |
In a stunning setback, Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Carlsbad, Calif., said its leading drug candidate -- a novel therapy for lung cancer -- failed in a closely watched test of 616 patients. Company executives said they were surprised by the results because earlier human tests seemed to show that the experimental biotech medication, Affinitak, would prolong patients' lives. Lung cancer affects more than 1 million people worldwide.
October 2, 2002 |
Carlsbad, Calif.-based Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Tuesday that Eli Lilly & Co. agreed to lend it $21 million to complete a manufacturing facility for an experimental lung cancer drug. The deal expands a year-old collaboration between the firms. Isis licensed the drug, Affinitac, to Lilly in August 2001 in exchange for royalties on sales of the medication and as much as $200 million in equity, fees and milestone payments.