CARLSBAD, Calif., Oct. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISIS) announced today that it has earned an $18 million milestone payment from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) related to the advancement of the Phase 2/3 study of ISIS-TTR_Rx in patients with familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). 

"ISIS-TTR_Rx is the most advanced drug in our collaboration with GSK, and aside from KYNAMRO, it is also the furthest advanced in our late-stage clinical pipeline.  We have patients who have completed fifteen months of therapy and are now receiving ISIS-TTR_Rx in our open-label extension study," said B. Lynne Parshall, chief operating officer at Isis.  "The rapid development of ISIS-TTR_Rx from a research-stage program to a drug in a late-stage clinical trial is a testament to the efficiency and productivity of our drug discovery technology platform.  As this program advances, we will continue to benefit from GSK's resources and expertise as well as earn additional milestone payments."

ISIS-TTR_Rx is an antisense drug in development with GSK for the treatment of transthyretin amyloidosis, a severe and rare genetic disease characterized by progressive dysfunction of peripheral nerve and/or heart tissues.  Including this $18 million milestone payment, Isis has generated $45 million of the $70 million in upfront and milestone payments Isis is eligible to earn for advancing ISIS-TTR_Rx in development.   In addition, if GSK elects to exercise its option to exclusively license the ISIS-TTR_Rx program, Isis is eligible to receive a license fee, regulatory and sales milestone payments and double-digit royalties on sales of ISIS-TTR_Rx.

The Phase 2/3 study of ISIS-TTR_Rx is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, international study designed to support an application for marketing approval of ISIS-TTR_Rx in patients with FAP.  The fifteen month study will measure the effects of ISIS-TTR_Rx on neurological dysfunction and on quality-of-life.  ISIS-TTR_Rx is an investigational drug that is designed to inhibit the production of all forms of TTR, and to treat all types of transthyretin-related amyloidosis.  For further study information, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov and search for the identifier number NCT01737398.

ABOUT ISIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Isis is exploiting its leadership position in antisense technology to discover and develop novel drugs for its product pipeline and for its partners.  Isis' broad pipeline consists of 32 drugs to treat a wide variety of diseases with an emphasis on cardiovascular, metabolic, severe and rare diseases, including neurological disorders, and cancer.  Isis' partner, Genzyme, is commercializing Isis' lead product, KYNAMRO^®, in the United States and other countries for the treatment of patients with homozygous FH.  Isis' patents provide strong and extensive protection for its drugs and technology.  Additional information about Isis is available at www.isispharm.com.

ISIS PHARMACEUTICALS' FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT
This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding Isis' strategic alliance with GSK, and the development, activity, therapeutic and commercial potential and safety of ISIS-TTR_Rx.  Any statement describing Isis' goals, expectations, financial or other projections, intentions or beliefs is a forward-looking statement and should be considered an at-risk statement.  Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, particularly those inherent in the process of discovering, developing and commercializing drugs that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics, and in the endeavor of building a business around such drugs.  Isis' forward-looking statements also involve assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove correct, could cause its results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Although Isis' forward-looking statements reflect the good faith judgment of its management, these statements are based only on facts and factors currently known by Isis.  As a result, you are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements.  These and other risks concerning Isis' programs are described in additional detail in Isis' annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, and its most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q, which are on file with the SEC. Copies of these and other documents are available from the Company.

In this press release, unless the context requires otherwise, "Isis," "Company," "we," "our," and "us" refers to Isis Pharmaceuticals and its subsidiaries.

Isis Pharmaceuticals^® is a registered trademark of Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  Regulus Therapeutics™ is a trademark of Regulus Therapeutics Inc.  KYNAMRO^® is a registered trademark of Genzyme Corporation.

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SOURCE Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

D. Wade Walke, Ph.D., Vice President, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations, 760-603-2741; or Amy Blackley, Ph.D., Associate Director, Corporate Communications, 760-603-2772