Cowen and Company, LLC
599 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated
787 7th Avenue, 11th Floor
New York, New York 10019
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
375 Park Avenue, 4th Floor
New York, New York 10019
July 11, 2017
Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporation Finance
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Attn: Dorrie Yale
Re: Akcea Therapeutics, Inc.
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-216949)
Request for Acceleration of Effective Date
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In accordance with Rule 461 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), we, as representatives of the several underwriters, hereby join in the request of Akcea Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) for acceleration of the effective date of the above-named Registration Statement so that it becomes effective at 4:30 PM, Eastern Time, on July 12, 2017, or as soon thereafter as practicable, or at such other time as the Company or its outside counsel, Cooley LLP, request by telephone that such Registration Statement be declared effective.
Pursuant to Rule 460 under the Act, we, as representatives of the several underwriters, wish to advise you that we have effected the following distribution of the Company’s Preliminary Prospectus dated June 20, 2017:
(i) Dates of distribution: June 20, 2017 through the date hereof
(ii) Number of prospective underwriters to which the preliminary prospectus was furnished: 4
(iii) Number of prospectuses furnished to investors: approximately 350
(iv) Number of prospectuses distributed to others, including the Company, the Company’s counsel, independent accountants and underwriters’ counsel: approximately 25
We, the undersigned, as representatives of the several underwriters, have complied and will comply, and we have been informed by the participating underwriters that they have
complied and will comply, with the requirements of Rule 15c2-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
| Very truly yours, | |
|
| |
| COWEN AND COMPANY, LLC | |
| STIFEL, NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED | |
| WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC | |
|
| |
| Acting severally on behalf of themselves and the several Underwriters | |
|
| |
|
| COWEN AND COMPANY, LLC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| By: | /s/ Tanya Joseph |
|
| Name: Tanya Joseph |
|
| Title: Managing Director |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| STIFEL, NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| By: | /s/ Keith Lister |
|
| Name: Keith Lister |
|
| Title: Managing Director |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| By: | /s/ David Herman |
|
| Name: David Herman |
|
| Title: Director |
[Signature Page to Underwriters’ Acceleration Request]