Isis Earns $5M Milestone Payment from GSK

Isis Pharmaceuticals ISIS announced today that it has earned a $5 million milestone payment from GlaxoSmithKline GSK related to the designation of ISIS-GSK4Rx as a development candidate.  ISIS-GSK4Rx is an antisense drug designed to treat an undisclosed ocular disease.  "Our collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline has been very productive resulting in three novel antisense drugs in our pipeline," said B. Lynne Parshall, chief operating officer at Isis.  "We look forward to advancing ISIS-GSK4Rx into the clinic and providing more information on the target and disease opportunity, which we are very excited about."  As a part of the alliance, Isis is eligible to earn additional pre-licensing milestone payments from GlaxoSmithKline as ISIS-GSK4Rx advances.  Isis will develop ISIS-GSK4Rx to Phase 2 proof-of-concept, at which time GlaxoSmithKline has an option to exclusively license it.   Isis is also eligible to receive double-digit royalties on sales of ISIS-GSK4Rx.  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 31 drugs to treat a wide variety of diseases with an emphasis on cardiovascular, metabolic, severe and See full press release