Isis reacquires rights to antisense drug from Merck.(Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc., Merck and Company Inc.)(Brief Article)

Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. said it reacquired full rights to its preclinical Type II diabetes antisense candidate, ISIS 113715, from partner Merck & Co. Inc. In a conference call, Stanley Crooke, chairman and CEO of Carlsbad, Calif.-based Isis, declined to disclose financial terms of the transaction, which ended the deal valued at $50 million signed in May 2001. He said Isis is disappointed that Merck has …