CARLSBAD, Calif., Dec. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISIS) announces the following webcast:

    What:   New findings published in the journal Nature on the role of a
            microRNA, known as miR-21, in heart failure

    When:   Monday, December 1, 2008, at 8:30 a.m. ET / 5:30 a.m. PT

    Where:  http://www.isispharm.com

    How:    Live on the Internet.  Simply log onto our website listed above.

If you are unable to participate during the live event, a replay of the webcast will be available for a limited time at http://www.isispharm.com.

ABOUT ISIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

Isis is exploiting its expertise in RNA to discover and develop novel drugs for its product pipeline and for its partners. The Company has successfully commercialized the world's first antisense drug and has 19 drugs in development. Isis' drug development programs are focused on treating cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Isis' partners are developing antisense drugs invented by Isis to treat a wide variety of diseases. Ibis Biosciences, Inc., Isis' majority-owned subsidiary, is developing and commercializing the Ibis T5000(TM) Biosensor System, a revolutionary system to identify infectious organisms. Isis is a joint owner of Regulus Therapeutics LLC, a joint venture focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of microRNA therapeutics. As an innovator in RNA-based drug discovery and development, Isis is the owner or exclusive licensee of over 1,500 issued patents worldwide. Additional information about Isis is available at http://www.isispharm.com.

SOURCE  Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    -0-                             12/01/2008
    /CONTACT:  Kristina Lemonidis, Associate Director, Corporate Development,
+1-760-603-2490, or Amy Blackley, Ph.D., Manager, Corporate Communications,
+1-760-603-2772, both of Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc./
    /Web site:  http://www.isispharm.com /
    (ISIS)

CO:  Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Regulus Therapeutics; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
ST:  California
IN:  MTC HEA BIO
SU:  CCA

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3848 12/01/2008 07:00 EST http://www.prnewswire.com