CARLSBAD, Calif., Sept. 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Ionis
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: IONS) announced today that
Stanley T. Crooke, Ph.D., M.D.,
founder, CEO and chairman of the board of directors of Ionis
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement
Award from the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society, OTS. The
OTS Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes Dr. Crooke's lasting
commitment to the field of oligonucleotide therapeutics through
outstanding contributions to education, research, and therapeutic
application. Dr. Crooke's accomplishments will be recognized at the
2016 OTS Annual Meeting in Montreal,
Quebec, Canada and he will give a plenary lecture at the
meeting on Wednesday, September 28,
2016 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
EDT.
"The OTS Lifetime Achievement Award is reserved for a
distinguished individual who has made remarkable contributions to
the advancement of the field of oligonucleotide sciences. As a
renowned leader in the field, Dr. Crooke is exceptionally
well-deserving of this award," said Dr. Masad Damha, former president of the OTS,
current chairman of the OTS awards committee and professor of
chemistry at McGill University in
Montreal, Canada. "Dr. Crooke
has revolutionized the field of oligonucleotide therapeutics
through his pioneering work in the creation of antisense technology
– a novel, disruptive drug discovery and development
platform. We have already seen the value of antisense
technology materialize into therapeutic benefit today and we look
forward to seeing the important impact antisense medicines will
have on healthcare in the future."
Dr. Crooke has demonstrated, throughout his career, his
commitment to discovering and developing novel medicines for
patients with high unmet medical need. In 1989, Dr. Crooke founded
Ionis Pharmaceuticals, where he has led the creation of a novel
drug discovery platform, antisense technology. Dr. Crooke
oversaw the discovery and development of the first two RNA-targeted
drugs to achieve regulatory approval and
commercialization. Under Dr. Crooke's leadership, Ionis has
grown and advanced its pipeline to over three dozen drugs in
development, with three additional Phase 3 drugs approaching
commercialization.
"I am deeply grateful to be recognized by my peers at the
Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society with this esteemed award,"
said Dr. Crooke. "I am keenly interested in exploiting
oligonucleotide sciences to tap into its immense therapeutic
potential. At Ionis, we are focused on innovation and we
persistently invest in core research to continue the advancement of
our antisense technology. These investments are translating into
real value across our pipeline today and we look forward to
delivering transformative medicines to patients in need."
ABOUT STANLEY T. CROOKE, M.D.,
PH.D.
Dr. Crooke is recognized as one the world's foremost
experts on antisense technology. In addition to his
responsibilities as the CEO and chairman of the board of directors
at Ionis, he leads an active research lab focused on advancing
antisense drug technology through the elucidation of its underlying
molecular mechanisms. His publications include over 450
scientific papers and he has edited 21 books.
Dr. Crooke started his industry career at Bristol Laboratories
where he helped to establish the anticancer drug discovery and
development program and played a key role in bringing to market a
significant number of anticancer drugs. Later, at SmithKline,
he oversaw worldwide R&D, coordinated all research activities,
including instruments and diagnostics, and was involved in
commercializing numerous new drugs in broad therapeutic areas. Dr.
Crooke received his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees and house staff training
at Baylor College of Medicine and has
been an active scientist throughout his career.
Dr. Crooke has also supported the creation and growth of a
number of companies based on Ionis' technology, including Akcea,
Regulus, Ibis and others. He has served as a board member of
22 biotechnology and scientific companies and is currently a member
of the board of directors of the Biotechnology Industry
Organization (BIO). Dr. Crooke has been the recipient of numerous
awards. Most recently, Dr. Crooke was recognized with the
E.B. Hershberg Award for important
discoveries in medicinally active substances from the American
Chemical Society. Dr. Crooke also recently accepted the SCRIP
Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes his dedication to
advancing science and medicine as a physician, a scientist, a
leader and as a successful entrepreneur. Nature Biotechnology named
him as one of the most influential individuals in biotechnology.
He was awarded the Director of the Year Award from the
Corporate Directors Forum; the Distinguished Scientist Award from
the American Chemical Society (San Diego Chapter); the Helix Award,
for the most important innovation in biotechnology by BIO, Stony
Brook University and the Center for Biotechnology; and the Ernst
and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Dr. Crooke was also
recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus at both Baylor College of Medicine and Butler University.
ABOUT IONIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Ionis is the leading
company in RNA-targeted drug discovery and development focused on
developing drugs for patients who have the highest unmet medical
needs, such as those patients with severe and rare diseases.
Using its proprietary antisense technology, Ionis has created a
large pipeline of first-in-class or best-in-class drugs, with over
a dozen drugs in mid- to late-stage development. Drugs
currently in Phase 3 development include volanesorsen, a drug Ionis
is developing and plans to commercialize through its wholly owned
subsidiary, Akcea Therapeutics, to treat patients with either
familial chylomicronemia syndrome or familial partial
lipodystrophy; IONIS-TTRRx, a drug Ionis is developing
with GSK to treat patients with all forms of TTR amyloidosis; and
nusinersen, a drug Ionis is developing with Biogen to treat infants
and children with spinal muscular atrophy. Ionis' patents
provide strong and extensive protection for its drugs and
technology. Additional information about Ionis is available
at www.ionispharma.com.
IONIS' FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT
This press release
includes forward-looking statements regarding the therapeutic and
commercial potential of Ionis' technologies and products in
development, including nusinersen, IONIS-TTRRx and
volanesorsen. Any statement describing Ionis' 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. Ionis' 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 Ionis' forward-looking statements
reflect the good faith judgment of its management, these statements
are based only on facts and factors currently known by Ionis.
As a result, you are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking
statements. These and other risks concerning Ionis' programs
are described in additional detail in Ionis' annual report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31,
2015, 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,
"Ionis," "Company," "we," "our," and "us" refers to Ionis
Pharmaceuticals and its subsidiaries.
Ionis Pharmaceuticals™ is a trademark of Ionis Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. Akcea Therapeutics™ is a trademark of Ionis
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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SOURCE Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.