SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): April 28, 2009
ISIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
000-19125 | | 33-0336973 |
(Commission File No.) | | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
1896 Rutherford Road
Carlsbad, CA 92008
(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (760) 931-9200
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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o | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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o | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
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o | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On April 28, 2009, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Alnylam”) and Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Isis”) formed a new collaboration focused on the development of single-stranded RNAi (ssRNAi) technology. As part of the collaboration, Isis has co-exclusively licensed its ssRNAi technology to Alnylam in exchange for upfront payments, research and development milestone payments, and royalties. The alliance provides Alnylam with access to Isis’ intellectual property and expertise regarding the development of ssRNAi antisense drugs, while both companies will have the opportunity to discover and develop drugs employing the new technology. In addition to the new collaboration, Isis and Alnylam also agreed to extend their broad cross-licensing arrangement regarding double-stranded RNAi that was established in 2004.
Isis filed press releases describing this transaction, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
99.1 | | Press Release dated April 29, 2009. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| ISIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. |
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Dated: April 28, 2009 | By: | /s/ B. Lynne Parshall |
| | B. LYNNE PARSHALL |
| | Chief Operating Officer, |
| | Chief Financial Officer and Director |
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