Regulus Therapeutics Exclusively Licenses Intellectual Property from Stanford University Relating to microRNA Antagonists to Treat Inflammatory Diseases

Business Wire, May 6, 2008

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. & CARLSBAD, Calif. -- Regulus Therapeutics LLC, a joint venture between Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALNY) and Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISIS) formed to discover, develop, and commercialize microRNA (miRNA) therapeutics, announced today that it has obtained exclusive rights from Stanford University to worldwide patent applications covering methods and compositions for antagonizing miR-181a to regulate immune responses. Changes in miR-181a levels have been shown to modify the response of immune cells such as T lymphocytes to specific stimuli and its antagonism could lead to a new way to treat inflammatory diseases.

"We are excited about obtaining exclusive rights to this intellectual property, as it is another step in Regulus' overall strategy to build a broad and leading platform of technology and intellectual property for the development of miRNA therapeutics, and adds to our already dominant patent position," said Kleanthis G. Xanthopoulos, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Regulus. "At Regulus, we are aggressively exploring a variety of therapeutic areas including viral, metabolic, and inflammatory diseases. Access to this intellectual property allows us to apply our expertise in the biology and potential therapeutic uses of miRNAs to develop novel treatments for inflammatory diseases."

Data published in 2007 by scientists at Stanford University and Alnylam in the journal Cell (Li et al. (2007) Cell 129, 147-161) demonstrated that modulation of miR-181a levels in an immune cell modified the sensitivity of the cell to specific stimuli. Researchers found that by increasing expression of miR-181a, an increase in the immune cell's response to an inflammatory stimulus occurred. Conversely, decreasing levels of miR-181a in the immune cell led to a diminution in the cell's response to an inflammatory stimulus, thereby de-sensitizing the cell to the stimulus. Using a selective miRNA antagonist to inhibit miR-181a function resulted in efficient reduction in the immune cell's response to a stimulus. These data suggest that controlling miR-181a levels with selective antagonists may lead to a novel approach to treating inflammatory diseases.

About microRNAs

microRNAs (miRNAs) are a recently discovered class of genetically encoded small RNAs, approximately 20 nucleotides in length, and are believed to regulate the expression of a large number of human genes. miRNA therapeutics represent a new approach for the treatment of a wide range of human diseases. The inappropriate absence or presence of specific miRNAs in various cells has been shown to be associated with specific human diseases including cancer, viral infection, and metabolic disorders. Targeting miRNAs with novel therapeutic agents could result in novel and broadly acting treatments for human diseases.

About Regulus

Regulus Therapeutics LLC is a biopharmaceutical company formed to discover, develop and commercialize miRNA therapeutics. Regulus aspires to successfully translate one of the most important new properties in biology into a novel new approach for innovative medicine and to build the leading microRNA company. Regulus was created as a joint venture between Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, a leader in RNAi therapeutics, and Isis Pharmaceuticals, a leader in antisense technologies and therapeutics. Isis and Alnylam scientists and collaborators were the first to discover miRNA antagonist strategies that work in vivo in animal studies (Krutzfeldt et al. Nature 438, 685-689 (2005); Esau et al. Cell Metab., 3, 87-98 (2006)). Isis and Alnylam have also created and consolidated key intellectual property (IP) for the development and commercialization of miRNA therapeutics. This IP estate includes over 900 patents and patent applications, including 600 issued patents, owned by Isis and Alnylam and pertaining to chemical modification of oligonucleotides for therapeutic applications. In addition, Regulus has collaborations with more than 60 academic researchers to build on the company's understanding of microRNAs and recently formed a major alliance with GlaxoSmithKline to explore new therapeutic areas for microRNA therapeutics. Regulus, founded in September 2007, maintains facilities in Carlsbad, California. For more information, visit www.regulusrx.com.

About Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Isis is exploiting its expertise in RNA to discover and develop novel drugs for its product pipeline and for its partners. The Company has successfully commercialized the world's first antisense drug and has 19 drugs in development. Isis' drug development programs are focused on treating cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Isis' partners are developing antisense drugs invented by Isis to treat a wide variety of diseases. Ibis Biosciences, Inc., Isis' majority-owned subsidiary, is developing and commercializing the Ibis T5000[TM] Biosensor System, a revolutionary system to identify infectious organisms. Isis is a joint owner of Regulus Therapeutics LLC, a joint venture focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of miRNA therapeutics. As an innovator in RNA-based drug discovery and development, Isis is the owner or exclusive licensee of over 1,500 issued patents worldwide. Additional information about Isis is available at www.isispharm.com.