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v3.19.1

Significant Accounting Policies, Contracts Receivable (Details) | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2019
Contracts Receivable [Abstract] |
Period of time after billing when payment is received | 3 months

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- Definition The time period between billing a collaboration partner for goods delivered or services performed that are due unconditionally and payment is received from the collaboration partner, 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_PeriodAfterBillingWhenPaymentIsReceived
Namespace Prefix: | ions_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ContractReceivablesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration