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Biotech / Medical : Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Scott H. Davis who wrote (2668)	9/8/1999 4:53:00 PM
From: LLCF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4676

Mind if I post this again... the YHOO stories tend to go away too soon... thanks: Wednesday September 8, 1:40 pm Eastern Time Company Press Release SOURCE: Isis Pharmaceuticals Ibis Therapeutics, a Division of Isis Pharmaceuticals, Creates New Method to Discover RNA-Binding Drugs CARLSBAD, Calif., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- In the August 31, 1999 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences researchers at Ibis Therapeutics, a division of Isis Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ISIP - news) have published a paper describing a major advance in understanding the binding of small molecule drugs to RNA. Understanding how molecules bind to specific RNA targets in the cell could lead to the creation of new and revolutionary classes of therapeutic agents. The publication is entitled: ''Determinants of Aminoglycoside Binding Specificity for rRNA Using Mass Spectrometry''. The authors are Richard H. Griffey, Steven Hofstadler, Kristin A. Sannes-Lowery, David J. Ecker, and Stanley T. Crooke of Isis Pharmaceuticals. Ibis researchers, starting with a mixture of aminoglycosides, which are antibiotics that work by binding bacterial RNA, developed and used mass spectrometry methods to decipher which antibiotics bound to suspected RNA drug targets in bacteria. They were also able to measure how tightly and specifically each drug bound and pinpointed their exact binding sites on the RNA targets. Before the development of these methods, it would have taken years to obtain this level of molecular detail about RNA-binding compounds, but by using mass spectrometry it was done rapidly. They also described how the method could be used to pursue multiple drug targets simultaneously, which makes the technique very high throughput. Ibis researchers expect to be able to screen up to 10,000 compounds per day against multiple RNA targets. ''This technology is a valuable advance in drug discovery because it allows us to rapidly sort through large numbers of RNA-binding molecules to identify the ones that bind to critical regions of our RNA targets,'' says Dr. David J. Ecker, V.P. and Managing Director of the Ibis Division of Isis Pharmaceuticals. ''It has immediate applications for antibacterial and antiviral drug discovery, and could eventually be applied in any therapeutic area.'' ''This technology provides Isis with an exciting new approach that is very complementary to antisense for binding RNA,'' says Dr. Stanley T. Crooke, CEO of Isis Pharmaceuticals. ''Although at a much earlier stage compared to antisense, the Ibis technology adds significantly to our franchise on drug discovery for RNA targets.'' Ibis Therapeutics, a division of Isis Pharmaceuticals, has developed a novel program to discover low molecular weight orally-bioavailable drugs that work by bind rRNA. A full description of the Ibis program can be found at their website at www.ibisrna.com. This press release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to Ibis Therapeutics, a division of Isis Pharmaceuticals. 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. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in this release. As a result, the reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These and other risks concerning drug development are described in additional detail in Isis' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 which is on file with the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission, copies of which are available from the company. Isis Pharmaceuticals, based in northern San Diego County, is engaged in the discovery and development of novel human therapeutic compounds. Isis has six compounds in human clinical trials: Vitravene(TM) (fomivirsen), to treat CMV-induced retinitis in AIDS patients, has been approved for marketing by the FDA and has recently received approval for European marketing; ISIS 2302, an inhibitor of ICAM-1, is in a pivotal quality trial for Crohn's disease, Phase II clinical trials for renal transplant rejection and is being explored as an enema formulation for ulcerative colitis, a topical administration for psoriasis and an aerosol administration for asthma; ISIS 3521 is in Phase II trials as a treatment for cancer; ISIS 5132 is in Phase II clinical trials as a treatment for cancer: ISIS 2503 has entered Phase II trials as a treatment for cancer and ISIS 13312 is in Phase I/II clinical trials for the treatment of CMV retinitis in AIDS patients. The company also has several additional compounds in preclinical development. ISIS' broad medical chemistry and biology research programs support efforts in both antisense and small molecule drug discovery. Vitravene(TM) is a trademark of Novartis AG.