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Segment Information and Concentration of Business Risk, Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands, shares in Millions | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Oct. 31, 2018 shares | Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) Segment | Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) | Apr. 30, 2018 | Mar. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Jul. 31, 2017
Segment Information and Concentration of Business Risk [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of reportable segments | Segment |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |
Segment Information [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  | $ 145,395 | $ 118,314 | $ 407,559 | $ 346,387 |  |  |  |
Total operating expenses |  | 163,967 | 107,002 | 479,716 | 309,140 |  |  |  |
Income (loss) from operations |  | (18,572) | 11,312 | (72,157) | 37,247 |  |  |  |
Total assets as of current period |  | 2,247,913 |  | 2,247,913 |  |  |  | $ 1,322,774 |
Commercial Revenue [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Information [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  | 82,756 | 34,617 | 181,975 | 66,106 |  |  |  |
SPINRAZA Royalties [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Information [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  | 70,010 | 32,890 | 167,743 | 60,467 |  |  |  |
Licensing and Other Royalties [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Information [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  | 12,746 | 1,727 | 14,232 | 5,639 |  |  |  |
R&D Revenue Under Collaborative Agreements [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Information [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  | $ 62,639 | 83,697 | $ 225,584 | 280,281 |  |  |  |
Akcea [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Information [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage ownership |  | 75.00% |  | 75.00% |  | 75.00% | 68.00% |  | 68.00%
Akcea [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Information [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage ownership | 76.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Additional shares of Akcea stock received when TEGSEDI received marketing authorization in the U.S. (in shares) | shares | 1.7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating Segments [Member] | Ionis Core [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Information [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  | $ 178,061 | 108,408 | $ 410,025 | 379,082 |  |  |  |
Total operating expenses |  | 87,664 | 81,019 | 279,084 | 242,753 |  |  |  |
Income (loss) from operations |  | 90,397 | 27,389 | 130,941 | 136,329 |  |  |  |
Total assets as of current period |  | 2,446,425 |  | 2,446,425 |  |  |  | 1,342,578 |
Operating Segments [Member] | Ionis Core [Member] | Commercial Revenue [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Information [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  | 77,956 | 34,617 | 177,175 | 66,106 |  |  |  |
Operating Segments [Member] | Ionis Core [Member] | SPINRAZA Royalties [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Information [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  | 70,010 | 32,890 | 167,743 | 60,467 |  |  |  |
Operating Segments [Member] | Ionis Core [Member] | Licensing and Other Royalties [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Information [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  | 7,946 | 1,727 | 9,432 | 5,639 |  |  |  |
Operating Segments [Member] | Ionis Core [Member] | R&D Revenue Under Collaborative Agreements [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Information [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  | 100,105 | 73,791 | 232,850 | 312,976 |  |  |  |
Operating Segments [Member] | Akcea Therapeutics [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Information [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  | 19,241 | 9,906 | 54,670 | 21,712 |  |  |  |
Total operating expenses |  | 84,249 | 26,013 | 213,428 | 120,884 |  |  |  |
Income (loss) from operations |  | (65,008) | (16,107) | (158,758) | (99,172) |  |  |  |
Total assets as of current period |  | 379,128 |  | 379,128 |  |  |  | 268,804 |
Operating Segments [Member] | Akcea Therapeutics [Member] | Commercial Revenue [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Information [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  | 12,000 | 0 | 12,000 | 0 |  |  |  |
Operating Segments [Member] | Akcea Therapeutics [Member] | SPINRAZA Royalties [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Information [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |  |  |  |
Operating Segments [Member] | Akcea Therapeutics [Member] | Licensing and Other Royalties [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Information [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  | 12,000 | 0 | 12,000 | 0 |  |  |  |
Operating Segments [Member] | Akcea Therapeutics [Member] | R&D Revenue Under Collaborative Agreements [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Information [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  | 7,241 | 9,906 | 42,670 | 21,712 |  |  |  |
Elimination of Intercompany Activity [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Information [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  | (51,907) | 0 | (57,136) | (54,407) |  |  |  |
Total operating expenses |  | (7,946) | (30) | (12,796) | (54,497) |  |  |  |
Income (loss) from operations |  | (43,961) | 30 | (44,340) | 90 |  |  |  |
Total assets as of current period |  | (577,641) |  | (577,641) |  |  |  | $ (288,608) |
Elimination of Intercompany Activity [Member] | Commercial Revenue [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Information [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  | (7,200) | 0 | (7,200) | 0 |  |  |  |
Elimination of Intercompany Activity [Member] | SPINRAZA Royalties [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Information [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |  |  |  |
Elimination of Intercompany Activity [Member] | Licensing and Other Royalties [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Information [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  | (7,200) | 0 | (7,200) | 0 |  |  |  |
Elimination of Intercompany Activity [Member] | R&D Revenue Under Collaborative Agreements [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Information [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  | $ (44,707) | $ 0 | $ (49,936) | $ (54,407) |  |  |  |

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