The Week in Review #39 During the Departed Week Three Prohost Portfolio Picks Hit Their 52-Week Highs The three picks referred to in the above title are, Novartis (NVS), Array (AARY) and Ionis (IONS). Previous Prohost Letters discussed Novartis and Array and continued to remind that they are Prohost favorites. The time has come to take a deeper look at Ionis; starting with the reasons …

Prohost Letter #424 Following the Stars Less Science and More Logic We reiterate that while a human star is born every once in a while on Earth, several stars born daily in research labs may be designated every other day by the FDA and other health regulatory agencies around the world. These agencies call these potential stars’ breakthrough drugs, but not all the molecules designated …

The high risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease is believed to be caused by an elevated level of lipoprotein (a) {Lp(a)}. Elevated Lp(a) is described as an independent, hereditary risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Diet and exercise, or even currently prescribed cholesterol-lowering treatments do not help the devastating outcome of this condition. Around 8 to 10 million people are living with established cardiovascular …

A complete response letter (CRL) sent by The Division of Metabolism and Endocrinology Products of the United States’ FDA to Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) and its affiliate Akcea Therapeutics (AKCA) regarding Waylivra™ (volanesorsen) carried like usual bad news. The FDA has decided against approving Waylivra, the drug designed to treat the lipid disorder known as familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS). Familial chylomicronemia syndrome is an ultra-rare, devastating hereditary …

The good news from Biogen’s (BIIB) Q2 exciting financial results comprised impressive news for Ionis (IONS) from the commercialization of Ionis’ approved product, Spinraza for Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).  Biogen is also responsible for the commercialization of Ionis’ products Tegsedi™ (inotersen) and Waylivra™ (volanesorsen) – two antisense drugs that Ionis discovered and successfully advanced through Phase 3 studies. In the second quarter of Biogen’s 2018 …

Prohost Letter #421 PRIVATE  LESSONS - Stock prices of publicly-­traded biotech companies oscillate for the same reasons other industries’ stock prices swing all day long. The fluctuations are the outcome of investors’ and daily traders’ unrelenting buying and selling . . . This content is for paid subscribers. Please click here to subscribe or here to log in.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) and Akcea Therapeutics (AKCA), an affiliate of Ionis Pharmaceuticals, announced that the Advisory Committee of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Division of Metabolism and Endocrinology Products voted 12-8 in support of approving the firms’ product WAYLIVRATM (volanesorsen) for familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS). The PDUFA date for the FDA review and ruling is August 30, 2018. WAYLIVRA, potentially the first and only treatment for people living with this serious and …

NOVARTIS TO ACQUIRE AVEXIS A few months ago, Novartis (NVS) CEO agreed to cash out of the company’s consumer health joint venture with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), which brought in cash intended to further improve and expand Novartis’ pipeline. Here we are. Yesterday, Novartis announced its intention to acquire the gene therapy firm AveXis (AVXS) at $8.7 billion, paying $218 for each share of this firm. In a conference call on Monday, …

The Week in Review #19 Targeting the Root-­Cause of Diseases - Investing in the Future is Currently the Best Way - Stopping aberrant genes from causing diseases has taken time to move from wishful thinking to reality. Through trial and error, various different approaches have been tested over the years, including attempts at genetic engineering... &nbsp . . . This content is for paid subscribers. …

Prohost Letter #416 Part 2 2017 - A YEAR OF BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGIES, BREAKTHROUGH PRODUCTS, IMPROVEMENTS ON PROMISING BREAKTHROUGH TREATMENTS, DECIPHERING IMPORTANT LIFE SCIENCE MYSTERIES, PINPOINTING BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS FOR TREATMENT RESISTANCE, MIRACLE CURES, AND… A LOT OF DISTORTED NEGATIVE INTERPRETATIONS - Prioritizing our choices of breakthroughs has been a dilemma . . . This content is for paid subscribers. Please click here to subscribe or here to log …

Akcea Therapeutics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS), announced positive results from the pivotal Phase 3 APPROACH study of the drug volanesorsen. The results demonstrate that the drug met its primary endpoint of reducing triglyceride levels in patients with familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS). The Disease familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) is a severe, rare genetic metabolic disorder characterized by an inability of the body …

An approved rheumatoid arthritis drug developed and sold by Sanofi could become a new treatment for aggressive cancers. The news came in a Mount Sinai press release announcing that researchers have discovered that a rheumatoid arthritis drug can block a metabolic pathway that occurs in tumors with a common cancer-causing gene mutation. The discovery offers a new possible therapy for aggressive cancers with few therapeutic …

Prohost Letter #404 Part 2 Synthetic Biology (2) A Brief History DNA is the software of life. This is how Synthetic Genomics firm, which we believe is now is the leading biotech firm for applied synthetic biology. Synthetic Genomics is still a private firm in spite of that thousands of investors are impatiently waiting for it to turn public and it will. So stay tuned. …

Prohost Letter #404 Part 1 HAPPY SPIRITUAL HOLIDAYS HAPPY NEW YEA

Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) has further good news with a new revelation from Akcea Therapeutics, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ionis Pharmaceuticals that the Phase 3 COMPASS study met its primary endpoint. COMPASS is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 26-week Phase 3 study evaluating the firm’s drug volanesorsen in 113 patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia.   The average incoming triglyceride level of patients in the study was 1,261 mg/dl. …

Prohost Letter #402 Antisense Proof of Concept and Feasibility EYE ON INVIVA (INVA) Sales of The Ellipta Inhalers Started to Pick up AND ON THERAVANCE BIOPHARMA (TBPH) See Below AND WE WILL NOT LOSE FOCUS ON ARIAD (ARIA), EXELIXIS (EXEL), ARRAY (ARRY), PORTOLA (PTLA), NEKTAR (NKTR), THERAVANCE BIOPHARMA (TBPH), INVIVA (INVA), MERCK (MRK) AND SEE THE TABLES IONIS (IONS) The . . . This content is for paid …

Prohost Letter #401 SYNOPSIS PART 1 In this Letter CONTENTS Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) FDA Compassionate Approval of Eteplirsen! PART 2 In The Letter Issue #402 CONTENTS EYE ON IONIS (IONS) Antisense Proof of Concept and Feasibility EYE ON INVIVA (INVA) AND THERAVANCE BIOPHARMA (TBPH) Sales of The Ellipta Inhalers Started to Pick up Before an expected Boom Not Losing . . . This content …

Biogen (BIIB) and Ionis (IONS) announced that Spinraza (nusinersen), an antisense drug designed and developed by Ionis met its primary endpoint in Phase 3 trial of the CHERISH Study in later-onset spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). This was the second positive Phase 3 study that provides evidence of Spinraza’s efficacy and favorable safety. The data demonstrate statistically significant and clinically meaningful results.   Children receiving Spinraza …

Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) stock plummeted when GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) stopped pursuing a late stage trial of Ionis-TTR the TTR amyloidosis called familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). This product represents one wagon in Ionis train, which has several wagons representing the firm’s pipeline products. GSK is still occupying one of these wagons known as the familial amyloid cardiomyopathy (FAC). All the other BIG names riding Ionis’ train are still there, no …

Prohost Letter #394 Part 1 Gilead - Some people sold Gilead’s (GILD) stock on Wednesday, March 23 after news announced on Tuesday that a jury decided that Gilead has infringed on two HCV molecules patents that Ionis (IONS), formerly Isis, and Merck had secured from their research. Ionis CEO said in a press release that his firm and Merck used their expertise during their collaboration in …