Amid a growing global incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), Novartis AG has exercised the first of two options it holds on antisense drugs developed by Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc. affiliate Akcea Therapeutics Inc., triggering a $150 million payment to Akcea from Novartis and boosting its shares (NASADQ:AKCA) by 16.7 percent to $31.91 on Monday.