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

To: Rob J who wrote (1798)	3/16/1998 8:29:00 PM
From: emil	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4676

In the mean time::::::::::::::::!:::::::::: it's a 'sweat'r' for a second or 2!!: Monday March 16, 8:00 pm Eastern Time Company Press Release SOURCE: Isis Pharmaceuticals Isis Pharmaceuticals Letter to Shareholders and Friends CARLSBAD, Calif., March 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The following letter is being issued by Isis Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ISIP - news): Dear Isis Stockholders and Friends, We have recently been informed by our partner, Novartis, of several cases of data manipulation by an individual scientist in the Novartis Research Department in Basel. The affected studies may have included human tumor xenograft studies for cancer compounds on which Isis and Novartis have collaborated. Novartis is actively investigating this situation and Isis is participating. The development of Isis' three cancer compounds, ISIS 3521, ISIS 5132 and ISIS 2503 will continue and we do not expect any material delays in our clinical development programs as a result of this incident. We are presently communicating with regulatory agencies, Institutional Review Boards and clinical investigators. We and Novartis believe we have a compelling body of data to support clinical development of each of these drugs independent of the studies potentially involved in this incident. The members of our outside Oncology Advisory Board have reviewed these data with us and they support our decisions regarding development of these drugs. All toxicology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, cell biology and mechanism of action data for these drugs are unaffected by this incident. We also have antitumor data for each of these drugs developed independently of Novartis. No safety data have been affected by this incident. We and Novartis are disappointed to learn of this unfortunate occurrence. This incident, however, affects only a small portion of our highly productive collaboration with Novartis. We are confident of the overall integrity of the Novartis research organization and that this isolated problem will not recur. Our confidence in our cancer compounds and in the clinical benefits of antisense in cancer therapy remains high. Isis and Novartis, intend to continue to invest aggressively to bring better cancer therapies to market expeditiously. We will continue to work with Novartis to investigate this situation and will communicate new developments as appropriate. Sincerely, Stanley T. Crooke Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

To: Rob J who wrote (1798)	3/18/1998 10:30:00 AM
From: Paul Bartosh	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 4676

It's the morning after and I can't believe that we don't have any news from the conference yet (10:30AM on the east coast). Was nothing press worthy discussed? All I've found is a downgrade for Novartis on the 17th: Novartis AG NVTSY Morgan Stanley Strong Buy¯ Outperform and the only thing on the news about cancer is the fact that vitamin E may have a positive effect in warding off prostate cancer. Stock's acting a little twitchy this morning, but holding it's own so far. Anybody have any conference info?