UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

o

Rule 13d-l(b)

x

Rule 13d-l(c)

o

Rule 13d-l(d)

CUSIP No.  00972L 10 7

1.

Names of Reporting Persons.
NOVARTIS PHARMA AG

2.

Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

(a)

o

(b)

o

3.

SEC Use Only

4.

Citizenship or Place of Organization
Switzerland

Number of
Shares
Beneficially by
Owned by
Each
Reporting
Person With:

5.

Sole Voting Power
0

6.

Shared Voting Power
6,250,000

7.

Sole Dispositive Power
0

8.

Shared Dispositive Power
6,250,000

9.

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
6,250,000

10.

Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions).  o

11.

Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
9.7% (1)

12.

Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
CO

Item 1.

(a)

Name of Issuer
Akcea Therapeutics, Inc.

(b)

Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices
55 Cambridge Parkway, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142

Item 2.

(a)

Name of Person Filing

This statement is filed on behalf of each of the following persons:

(i)   Novartis Pharma AG, with respect to shares held by it; and

(ii)  Novartis AG, as the publicly owned parent of Novartis Pharma AG, with respect to the shares held by Novartis Pharma AG.

The foregoing persons are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Reporting Persons.”

(b)

Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:

The address of the principal business office of each of Novartis Pharma AG and Novartis AG is Lichtstrasse 35, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.

(c)

Citizenship

Novartis AG and Novartis Pharma AG are each corporations organized under the laws of Switzerland.

(d)

Title of Class of Securities

Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share

(e)

CUSIP Number

00972L 10 7

Item 3.

If this statement is filed pursuant to §§240.13d-l(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

(a)

o

Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o);

(b)

o

Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c);

(c)

o

Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c);

(d)

o

Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C 80a-8);

(e)

o

An investment adviser in accordance with §240.13d-l(b)(l)(ii)(E);

(f)

o

An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with §240.13d-l(b)(l)(ii)(F);

(g)

o

A parent holding company or control person in accordance with § 240.13d-l(b)(l)(ii)(G);

(h)

o

A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);

(i)

o

A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);

(j)

o

A non-U.S. institution in accordance with §240.13d-l(b)(l)(ii)(J).

(k)

o

Group, in accordance with §240.13d-l(b)(l)(ii)(K). If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with

§240.13d-l(b)(l)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution:____________________________

Item 4.

Ownership.

(a)

Amount beneficially owned:   

Novartis Pharma AG is the record owner of 6,250,000 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer. As the indirect parent of Novartis Pharma AG, Novartis AG may be deemed to beneficially own these securities.

(b)

Percent of class:  9.7%

Based on 64,197,879 shares of the Issuer’s common stock outstanding as of July 19, 2017 upon the closing of the Issuer’s initial public offering, as reported in the Issuer’s prospectus dated July 13, 2017 (the “Final Prospectus”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on July 14, 2017 pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding does not give effect to the underwriters’ option to purchase up to an additional 2,343,750 shares of Common Stock within 30 days from the date of the Final Prospectus.

(c)

Number of shares as to which the person has:

(i)

Sole power to vote or to direct the vote.

0

(ii)

Shared power to vote or to direct the vote.

of 6,250,000

(iii)

Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of.

0

(iv)

Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of.

of 6,250,000

Item 5.

Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class

If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following   o.

Item 6.

Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

Not applicable.

Item 7.

Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company or Control Person

Not applicable.

Item 8.

Identification and Classification of Members of the Group

Not applicable.

Item 9.

Notice of Dissolution of Group

Not applicable.

Item 10.

Certifications

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect, other than activities solely in connection with a nomination under § 240.14a-11.

NOVARTIS PHARMA AG

By:

/s/ Jean-Baptiste Emery

Name: Jean-Baptiste Emery

Title: Authorized Signatory

By:

/s/ Stefan Thommen

Name: Stefan Thommen

Title: Authorized Signatory

NOVARTIS AG

By:

/s/ Christian Rehm

Name: Christian Rehm

Title:  Authorized Signatory

By:

/s/ Katja Roth Pellanda

Name: Katja Roth Pellanda

Title:  Authorized Signatory

Exhibit Reference

Exhibit Description

A

Evidence of Signature Authority

B

Joint Filing Agreement

Commercial register of canton Basel-Stadt

CHE-103.867.266

Novartis AG

Basel

9

In

Mo

Ca

Personal Data

Function

Signature

73

Kirsch, Harry Werner, deutscher Staatsangehöriger, in Therwil

member of the management

joint signature at two

73

Rehm, Christian Jakob, von Ruschein, in Muttenz

joint signature at two

73

Götz Staehelin, Dr. Claudia, von Basel, in Riehen

joint signature at two

73

86m

74

Schubert Santana, Isabelle Andrea, von Altstätten, in Therwil

joint signature at two

76

Baert, Steven Lodewijk Margareta Anna Katrien, belgischer Staatsangehöriger, in Arlesheim

member of the management

joint signature at two

76

Brokatzky-Geiger, Dr. Jürgen, deutscher Staatsangehöriger, in Lörrach (DE)

joint signature at two

76

84

76

Jones, Susan Elizabeth, australische Staatsangehörige, in Basel

joint signature at two

76

82

77

Weiss, Daniel Andreas, von Basel, in Biel-Benken

joint signature at two

78

Kaul, Siddharth, amerikanischer Staatsangehöriger, in Reinach BL

joint signature at two

80

88

82

Andrews, Prof. Dr. med. Nancy Catherine, amerikanische Staatsangehörige, in Chapel Hill (NC/US)

member of the board of directors

without signing rights

83

Penepent, Paul Lewis, amerikanischer Staatsangehöriger, in Basel

joint signature at two

84

Roth Pellanda, Katja Nicole, von Basel, in Basel

joint signature at two

84

Finnie, Nicholas James, britischer Staatsangehöriger, in Basel

joint signature at two

84

PricewaterhouseCoopers AG (CHE-393.441.652), in Basel

auditor

85

Landolt, Pierre, von Aarau, in Lissabon (PT)

member of the board of directors

without signing rights

86

Brupbacher, Dr. Oliver Mark, von Wädenswil, in Basel

joint signature at two

88

Büchner, Anthonius, niederländischer Staatsangehöriger, in Amsterdam (NL)

member of the board of directors

without signing rights

88

Doherty, Mary Elizabeth, britische Staatsangehörige, in Gerrards Cross (GB)

member of the board of directors

without signing rights

88

93m

89

Schreiner, Peter Christian, von Visp, in Muttenz

joint signature at two

90

Ehrat, Dr. Felix Rudolf, von Lohn SH, in Zug

member of the management

joint signature at two

92

94m

joint signature at two

92

Arnet, Thomas, von Arlesheim, in Arlesheim

92

Meyer, Christopher Allen, amerikanischer Staatsangehöriger, in Oberwil (BL)

joint signature at two

93

Emery, Jean-Baptiste, von Estavayer, in Fribourg

joint signature at two

94

van Houten, François, genannt Frans, niederländischer Staatsangehöriger, in Amstelveen (NL)

member of the board of directors

without signing rights

Basel, 25.07.2017 22:47

The information above is given with not commitment and is in no way legally binding.

Commercial register of canton Basel-Stadt

CHE-106.052.527

Novartis Pharma AG

Basel

5

In

Mo

Ca

Personal Data

Function

Signature

1

9

1

16

1

26

1

Legowski, Sabina, von St. Gallen, in Pfeffingen

joint signature at two

1

Levi, Barbara, italienische Staatsangehörige, in Basel

joint signature at two

1

29

1

10

1

Mager, Knut, deutscher Staatsangehöriger, in Basel

joint signature at two

1

32

1

Marti Romero, Francisco Tadeo, spanischer Staatsangehöriger, in Basel

joint signature at two

1

32

1

32

1

Meier, Oliver Werner, deutscher Staatsangehöriger, in Auggen (DE)

joint signature at two

1

8

1

Mills, Jacqueline, britische Staatsangehörige, in Tagsdorf (FR)

joint signature at two

1

Moran-Adams, Lena, britische Staatsangehörige, in Basel

joint signature at two

1

2

1

Ortscheit, Ralph, von Basel, in Pfeffingen

joint signature at two

1

Oser, Markus Joseph, von Schönenbuch, in Basel

joint signature at two

1

Owens, Matt, amerikanischer Staatsangehöriger, in Oberwil BL

joint signature at two

1

38

1

Pfirter, Simone, von Pratteln, in Pratteln

joint signature at two

1

Pope, Gavin Daniel, britischer Staatsangehöriger, in Aesch BL

joint signature at two

1

11m

1

15

1

Rehm, Christian Jakob, von Ruschein, in Muttenz

joint signature at two

1

Roth, Claus Christian, deutscher Staatsangehöriger, in Basel

joint signature at two

1

33

1

Schade, Andreas, deutscher Staatsangehöriger, in Grenzach-Wyhlen (DE)

joint signature at two

1

32

1

Schneider, Fabienne, französische Staatsangehörige, in Oltingue (F)

joint signature at two

1

29

1

Sitzler Spicher, Lilly Monique, von Basel und Ueberstorf, in Allschwil

joint signature at two

1

23m

1

Steel, Michael, britischer Staatsangehöriger, in Binningen

joint signature at two

1

8

1

Sullivan, Marvelle, amerikanische Staatsangehörige, in Basel

joint signature at two

1

Thommen, Stefan, von Bubendorf, in Ramlinsburg

joint signature at two

1

Tougas, Gervais, kanadischer Staatsangehöriger, in Magglingen

joint signature at two

1

15

1

24

1

24

1

32

1

13m

1

Wipfli, Daniel, von Erstfeld, in Dübendorf

joint signature at two

1

32

Basel, 25.07.2017 22:48

Continuation on the following page

Commercial register of canton Basel-Stadt

CHE-106.052.527

Novartis Pharma AG

Basel

8

In

Mo

Ca

Personal Data

Function

Signature

32

Sandschafer, Scott Anthony, amerikanischer Staatsangehöriger, in Bottmingen

joint signature at two

33

Baert, Steven Lodewijk Margareta Anna Katrien, belgischer Staatsangehöriger, in Arlesheim

joint signature at two

33

Orlandi, Nicola, italienischer Staatsangehöriger, in Riehen

joint signature at two

33

Takei, Dr. Naoki Daniel, von Wyssachen, in Rheinfelden

joint signature at two

33

Vall-Llossera Ferran, Jorge Juan, spanischer Staatsangehöriger, in Binningen

joint signature at two

34

Splisgardt, Dr. Marc, von Schaffhausen, in Binningen

joint signature at two

35

Bugnon, Bertrand Richard René, von Fribourg, in Belfaux

joint signature at two

35

de la Paz, Minerva Fernando, amerikanische Staatsangehörige, in Muttenz

joint signature at two

35

Schreiner, Peter Christian, von Visp, in Muttenz

joint signature at two

35

van Rijn, Petrus Cornelius Rolandus, niederländischer Staatsangehöriger, in Galgenen

joint signature at two

36

Turgut Noto, Saide Yeliz, türkische Staatsangehörige, in Pfeffingen

joint signature at two

37

Ehrat, Dr. Felix Rudolf, von Lohn SH, in Zug

member of the board of directors

joint signature at two

38

Heynen, Bruno, von Bellach, in Solothurn

joint signature at two

38

Roth Pellanda, Katja Nicole, von Basel, in Basel

secretary (out of the board)

joint signature at two

38

Bouwmeester, Antonius Johannes Maria, genannt Tewis, niederländischer Staatsangehöriger, in Freiburg (DE)

joint signature at two

38

Leuenberger, Matthias, von Melchnau, in Binningen

joint signature at two

38

von Arx, Gregor Johannes, von Zullwil, in Riehen

joint signature at two

39

Klemm, Christian, deutscher Staatsangehöriger, in Oberwil (BL)

joint signature at two

40

Emery, Jean-Baptiste, von Estavayer, in Fribourg

joint signature at two

40

Schubert Santana, Isabelle Andrea, von Altstätten, in Therwil

joint signature at two

Basel, 25.07.2017 22:48

The information above is given with not commitment and is in no way legally binding.

NOVARTIS PHARMA AG

/s/ Jean-Baptiste Emery

Name: Jean-Baptiste Emery

Title: Authorized Signatory

/s/ Stefan Thommen

Name: Stefan Thommen

Title: Authorized Signatory

NOVARTIS AG

/s/ Christian Rehm

Name: Christian Rehm

Title: Authorized Signatory

/s/ Katja Roth Pellanda

Name: Katja Roth Pellanda

Title: Authorized Signatory