CARLSBAD, Calif., Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISIS) announced today that John C. Reed, M.D., Ph.D., has been elected to the company's Board of Directors. Dr. Reed is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Burnham Institute in La Jolla, CA.

"With John's extensive scientific expertise and business acumen, we look to him to contribute a tremendous amount of insight and perspective to our experienced Board," said Stanley T. Crooke, M.D., Ph.D., Isis' Chairman and CEO. "I have personally worked with him over the years and know he will be a great addition to our team."

Dr. Reed has been with the Burnham Institute since 1992, serving as the Deputy Director of the Cancer Center beginning in 1994, as Scientific Director beginning in 1995, and as Cancer Center director in 2002. He also currently serves as adjunct professor in the University of California San Diego's (UCSD) Department of Molecular Pathology and in San Diego State University's Biology Department. In addition, Dr. Reed is an associate member of USCD's Cancer Center. Prior to these positions, Dr. Reed worked as Assistant Director, Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis at the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (1989-1992), and Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (1989-1992).

Dr. Reed received his medical degree from University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and completed his residency in clinical pathology at the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He also conducted a postdoctoral fellowship in molecular biology at the Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology in Philadelphia.

Dr. Reed currently serves on the Boards of IDUN Pharmaceuticals, Inc., in San Diego, and ScienceReagents, Inc, in La Jolla, CA. During the course of his career, Dr. Reed has authored more than 500 publications and has received numerous awards. In 2001, Columbia University presented Dr. Reed with the prestigious Harry B. Van Dyke Lecturer award, and in 2000, he was the recipient of the Warner-Lambert/Park Davis Award from the American Society for Investigative Pathology (ASIP). Additionally, for the years 1998-2000, the Institute for Scientific Information ranked Dr. Reed the #1 Hottest Researcher in Life Sciences Worldwide, based on the number of times his research publications were cited by other scientists.

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is exploiting its expertise in RNA to discover and develop novel human therapeutic drugs. The company has commercialized its first product, Vitravene® (fomivirsen), to treat CMV-induced retinitis in AIDS patients. In addition, Isis has 12 products in its development pipeline, with two in late-stage development and six in Phase II human clinical trials. LY900003 (ISIS 3521), an inhibitor of PKC-alpha, is in Phase III trials for non-small cell lung cancer, and alicaforsen (ISIS 2302), an ICAM-1 inhibitor, is in Phase III human clinical trials for Crohn's disease. Isis has a broad patent estate, as the owner or exclusive licensee of nearly 900 issued patents worldwide. Isis' GeneTrove™ division uses antisense to assist pharmaceutical industry partners in validating and prioritizing potential gene targets through customized services. Ibis Therapeutics™ is a division focused on the discovery of small molecule drugs that bind to RNA. Additional information about Isis is available at www.isispharm.com

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Isis Pharmaceuticals' research, drug discovery, drug development and functional genomics programs. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in this release. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, particularly those inherent in discovering, developing and commercializing drugs that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics and financing such activities. As a result, you are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These and other risks concerning Isis' research and development programs are described in additional detail in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10Q, for the period ended September 30, 2001, which is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which are available from the company.

Vitravene® is a registered trademark of Novartis AG.

GeneTrove™ and Ibis Therapeutics™ are trademarks of Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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CONTACT: Kristina Peterson of Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., +1-760-603-2521