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Collaborative Arrangements and Licensing Agreements, Novartis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands, shares in Millions | 3 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2019 | Mar. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2018
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |
Revenue | $ 297,214 | $ 144,419 |
R&D [Member] |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |
Revenue | 229,126 | $ 102,396 |
Novartis [Member] |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |
Deferred revenue | $ 23,300 |  | $ 28,800
Novartis [Member] | Revenue [Member] | Strategic Partner [Member] |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |
Concentration percentage | 53.00% | 12.00% |
Novartis [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |
Cumulative payments received | $ 330,000 |  |
Novartis [Member] | AKCEA-APO(a)-L [Member] |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |
Revenue | 150,000 |  |
Novartis [Member] | R&D [Member] |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |
Revenue | 157,100 | $ 17,100 |
Akcea [Member] |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |
Sublicense fee paid in stock | $ 75,000 |  |
Additional shares of Akcea stock received (in shares) | 2.8 |  |

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