XML 50 R38.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.10.0.1

Collaborative Arrangements and Licensing Agreements, Biogen (Details) $ in Thousands | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Apr. 30, 2018 USD ($) PerformanceObligation | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) PerformanceObligation | Jul. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($) PerformanceObligation | Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($) PerformanceObligation Target Program | Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) Drug | Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) Drug | Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) PerformanceObligation | Dec. 31, 2016 PerformanceObligation
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  |  |  |  |  | $ 145,395 |  | $ 118,314 | $ 407,559 | $ 346,387 |  |
Deferred revenue |  | $ 233,362 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 233,362 |
SPINRAZA Royalties [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  |  |  |  |  | 70,010 |  | 32,890 | 167,743 | 60,467 |  |
R&D [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  |  |  |  |  | $ 62,639 |  | 83,697 | $ 225,584 | 280,281 |  |
Biogen [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of additional drugs in clinical development to treat neurodegenerative diseases | Drug |  |  |  |  |  | 6 |  |  | 6 |  |  |
Cumulative payments received |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,900,000 |  |  | $ 1,900,000 |  |  |
Revenue |  |  |  |  |  | 104,800 |  | $ 87,800 | 234,600 | $ 197,600 |  |
Deferred revenue |  | $ 93,600 |  |  |  | $ 593,600 |  |  | $ 593,600 |  | 93,600 |
Biogen [Member] | Revenue [Member] | Strategic Partner [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Concentration percentage |  |  |  |  |  | 72.00% |  | 74.00% | 58.00% | 57.00% |  |
Biogen [Member] | SPINRAZA Royalties [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  |  |  |  |  | $ 70,000 |  | $ 32,900 | $ 167,700 | $ 60,500 |  |
Biogen [Member] | R&D [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  |  |  |  |  | 34,800 |  | $ 54,900 | 66,900 | $ 137,100 |  |
SPINRAZA [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cumulative revenue earned |  |  |  |  |  | 717,000 |  |  | $ 717,000 |  |  |
Number of separate performance obligations | PerformanceObligation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2
Revenue |  |  |  |  |  | 10,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
SPINRAZA [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Royalty percentage received on net sales of drug |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 11.00% |  |  |
SPINRAZA [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Royalty percentage received on net sales of drug |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15.00% |  |  |
SPINRAZA [Member] | SPINRAZA Royalties [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cumulative revenue earned |  |  |  |  |  | 281,000 |  |  | $ 281,000 |  |  |
Revenue |  |  | $ 75,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
SPINRAZA [Member] | R&D [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cumulative revenue earned |  |  |  |  |  | 436,000 |  |  | 436,000 |  |  |
Revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 90,000 |
Neurology [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cumulative payments received |  |  |  |  |  | 58,000 |  |  | 58,000 |  |  |
Number of separate performance obligations | PerformanceObligation |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of targets | Target |  |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of programs under which drugs are to be developed and commercialized | Program |  |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Upfront payment received |  |  |  |  | $ 30,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Next prospective payment |  |  |  |  |  | 7,500 |  |  | 7,500 |  |  |
Transaction price |  |  |  |  | $ 30,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum amount of payments receivable per program for license fee and substantive milestone payments |  |  |  |  |  | 210,000 |  |  | 210,000 |  |  |
Maximum amount of payments receivable per program for development milestones |  |  |  |  |  | 10,000 |  |  | 10,000 |  |  |
Maximum amount of payments receivable per program for regulatory milestones |  |  |  |  |  | 130,000 |  |  | 130,000 |  |  |
Neurology [Member] | R&D [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payments included in transaction price for performance obligation |  |  |  |  |  | 40,000 |  |  | 40,000 |  |  |
2013 Strategic Neurology [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cumulative payments received |  |  |  |  |  | 170,000 |  |  | 170,000 |  |  |
Number of separate performance obligations | PerformanceObligation |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Upfront payment received |  |  |  | $ 100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Next prospective payment |  |  |  |  |  | $ 10,000 |  |  | $ 10,000 |  |  |
Transaction price |  |  |  | $ 100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of drugs currently being advanced | Drug |  |  |  |  |  | 5 |  |  | 5 |  |  |
Revenue |  |  |  |  |  | $ 10,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
2013 Strategic Neurology [Member] | R&D [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payments included in transaction price for performance obligation |  |  |  |  |  | 145,000 |  |  | $ 145,000 |  |  |
2013 Strategic Neurology [Member] | Antisense Molecule [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum amount of payments receivable for license fees and substantive milestones |  |  |  |  |  | 260,000 |  |  | 260,000 |  |  |
Maximum amount of payments receivable for development milestones |  |  |  |  |  | 60,000 |  |  | 60,000 |  |  |
Maximum amount of payments receivable for regulatory milestones |  |  |  |  |  | 130,000 |  |  | 130,000 |  |  |
2013 Strategic Neurology [Member] | Other Modalities [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum amount of payments receivable for license fees and substantive milestones |  |  |  |  |  | 90,000 |  |  | 90,000 |  |  |
Maximum amount of payments receivable for development milestones |  |  |  |  |  | 35,000 |  |  | 35,000 |  |  |
Maximum amount of payments receivable for regulatory milestones |  |  |  |  |  | 55,000 |  |  | $ 55,000 |  |  |
New Antisense Drugs for the Treatment of SMA [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Royalty percentage received on net sales of drug |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 20.00% |  |  |
Number of separate performance obligations | PerformanceObligation |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |
Upfront payment received |  | $ 25,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum amount of payments receivable for license fees and substantive milestones |  |  |  |  |  | 1,200,000 |  |  | $ 1,200,000 |  |  |
Maximum amount of payments receivable for development milestones |  |  |  |  |  | 80,000 |  |  | 80,000 |  |  |
Maximum amount of payments receivable for commercialization milestones |  |  |  |  |  | 180,000 |  |  | 180,000 |  |  |
Maximum amount of payments receivable for sales milestones |  |  |  |  |  | 800,000 |  |  | 800,000 |  |  |
Next prospective payment |  |  |  |  |  | 60,000 |  |  | 60,000 |  |  |
Transaction price |  | $ 25,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 25,000 |
2018 Strategic Neurology [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Royalty percentage received on net sales of drug |  |  |  |  |  |  | 20.00% |  |  |  |  |
Number of separate performance obligations | PerformanceObligation | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Upfront payment received |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 375,000 |  |  |  |  |
Next prospective payment |  |  |  |  |  | 7,500 |  |  | 7,500 |  |  |
Transaction price | $ 552,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum amount of payments receivable per program for license fee and substantive milestone payments |  |  |  |  |  | $ 270,000 |  |  | $ 270,000 |  |  |
Term of collaboration agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10 years |  |  |
Upfront payment received, including purchase of stock |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from issuance of common stock |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 625,000 |  |  |  |  |
Percentage cash premium paid on shares purchased |  |  |  |  |  |  | 25.00% |  |  |  |  |
Premium paid on shares purchased | $ 177,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ions_CollaborativeArrangementAndLicensingAgreementAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | ions_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Cumulative amount of payments received under the collaboration agreement as of the end of the reporting period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ions_CumulativePaymentsReceived
Namespace Prefix: | ions_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Cumulative amount, excluding tax collected from customer, of revenue from satisfaction of performance obligation by transferring promised good or service to customer. Tax collected from customer is tax assessed by governmental authority that is both imposed on and concurrent with specific revenue-producing transaction, including, but not limited to, sales, use, value added and excise. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ions_CumulativeRevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax
Namespace Prefix: | ions_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The maximum amount of payments receivable for commercialization milestones under the collaboration agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ions_MaximumAmountOfPaymentsReceivableForCommercializationMilestones
Namespace Prefix: | ions_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The maximum amount of payments receivable for development milestones under the collaboration agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ions_MaximumAmountOfPaymentsReceivableForDevelopmentMilestones
Namespace Prefix: | ions_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The maximum amount of payments receivable for license fees and substantive milestones under the collaboration agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ions_MaximumAmountOfPaymentsReceivableForLicenseFeesAndSubstantiveMilestones
Namespace Prefix: | ions_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The maximum amount of payments receivable for regulatory milestones under the collaboration agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ions_MaximumAmountOfPaymentsReceivableForRegulatoryMilestones
Namespace Prefix: | ions_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The maximum amount of payments receivable for sales milestones under the collaboration agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ions_MaximumAmountOfPaymentsReceivableForSalesMilestones
Namespace Prefix: | ions_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The maximum amount of payments receivable per drug or program for development milestone payments under the collaboration agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ions_MaximumAmountOfPaymentsReceivablePerDrugOrProgramForDevelopmentMilestones
Namespace Prefix: | ions_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The maximum amount of payments receivable per drug or program for license fees and/or substantive milestone payments under the collaboration agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ions_MaximumAmountOfPaymentsReceivablePerDrugOrProgramForLicenseFeesAndSubstantiveMilestonePayments
Namespace Prefix: | ions_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The maximum amount of payments receivable per drug or program for regulatory milestone payments under the collaboration agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ions_MaximumAmountOfPaymentsReceivablePerDrugOrProgramForRegulatoryMilestones
Namespace Prefix: | ions_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The next potential payment to be earned under the collaboration agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ions_NextPotentialPayment
Namespace Prefix: | ions_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of additional drugs in clinical development to treat neurodegenerative diseases under the collaboration agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ions_NumberOfAdditionalDrugsInClinicalDevelopmentToTreatNeurodegenerativeDiseases
Namespace Prefix: | ions_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of drugs currently being advanced under the collaboration agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ions_NumberOfDrugsCurrentlyBeingAdvanced
Namespace Prefix: | ions_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of programs under which drugs are to be developed and commercialized under the collaboration agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ions_NumberOfProgramsUnderWhichDrugsAreToBeDevelopedAndCommercialized
Namespace Prefix: | ions_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of targets for the research and development of drugs under the collaboration agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ions_NumberOfTargets
Namespace Prefix: | ions_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Total payments received since inception of the collaboration agreement included in the transaction price for the performance obligation. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ions_PaymentsIncludedInTransactionPriceForPerformanceObligation
Namespace Prefix: | ions_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The percentage cash premium paid per share of the Company's common stock under the collaboration agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ions_PercentageCashPremiumPaidOnSharesPurchased
Namespace Prefix: | ions_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The cash premium paid on the purchase of the Company's common stock under the collaboration agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ions_PremiumPaidOnSharesPurchased
Namespace Prefix: | ions_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of separate performance obligations under the collaboration agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ions_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerNumberOfSeparatePerformanceObligations
Namespace Prefix: | ions_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The amount of consideration the Company is eligible to earn under the collaboration agreement, including any variable consideration. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ions_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerTransactionPrice
Namespace Prefix: | ions_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Royalty percentage received on the net sales of a drug by a collaboration partner under the collaboration agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ions_RoyaltyPercentageReceivedOnNetSalesOfDrug
Namespace Prefix: | ions_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Term of the collaboration agreement, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ions_TermOfCollaborationAgreement
Namespace Prefix: | ions_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of upfront payments received during the period under the collaboration agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ions_UpfrontPaymentReceived
Namespace Prefix: | ions_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The total amount of the upfront payment received, including the purchase of shares of the Company's stock, under the collaboration agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ions_UpfrontPaymentReceivedIncludingPurchaseOfStock
Namespace Prefix: | ions_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition For an entity that discloses a concentration risk in relation to quantitative amount, which serves as the "benchmark" (or denominator) in the equation, this concept represents the concentration percentage derived from the division. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 275 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 18 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99393423&loc=d3e6351-108592 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109250915&loc=d3e13531-108611 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 21 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109250915&loc=d3e13537-108611 Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 275 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99393423&loc=d3e6404-108592 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of obligation to transfer good or service to customer for which consideration has been received or is receivable. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 606 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913815&loc=SL49130531-203044 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 606 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913815&loc=SL49130532-203044 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 606 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130549-203045 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiability
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The cash inflow from the additional capital contribution to the entity. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3255-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount, excluding tax collected from customer, of revenue from satisfaction of performance obligation by transferring promised good or service to customer. Tax collected from customer is tax assessed by governmental authority that is both imposed on and concurrent with specific revenue-producing transaction, including, but not limited to, sales, use, value added and excise. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 606 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130543-203045 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 606 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130539-203045 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 606 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130545-203045 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=ions_SPINRAZARoyaltiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=ions_ResearchAndDevelopmentRevenueUnderCollaborativeAgreementsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=ions_CollaborativeArrangementsAndLicensingAgreementsBiogenMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis=us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNetMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis=us-gaap_CustomerConcentrationRiskMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=ions_CollaborativeArrangementAndLicensingAgreementEnteredIntoInJanuary2012WithBiogenMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=ions_CollaborativeArrangementAndLicensingAgreementEnteredIntoInDecember2012WithBiogenMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=ions_CollaborativeArrangementAndLicensingAgreementEnteredIntoInSeptember2013WithBiogenMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=ions_AntisenseMoleculeMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=ions_OtherModalitiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=ions_CollaborativeArrangementAndLicensingAgreementEnteredIntoInDecember2017WithBiogenMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=ions_CollaborativeArrangementAndLicensingAgreementEnteredIntoInApril2018WithBiogenMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |