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Significant Accounting Policies, Revenue Recognition (Details) $ in Thousands | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Feb. 28, 2017 USD ($) PerformanceObligation | May 31, 2015 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) PerformanceObligation | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2018 Agreement | Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Revenue Recognition [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of performance obligations at inception of contract | PerformanceObligation |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  |  | $ 297,214 |  |  | $ 144,419 |  |
Biogen [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue Recognition [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of agreements | Agreement |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |
Licensing and Other Royalty Revenue [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue Recognition [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  |  | 1,623 |  |  | $ 942 |  |
Roche [Member] | IONIS-HTT [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue Recognition [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  |  | 35,000 |  |  |  |  | $ 0
IONIS-FB-L for Complement-Mediated Diseases [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue Recognition [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Upfront payment received |  |  |  | $ 75,000 |  |  |  |
Neurology [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue Recognition [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Milestone payment earned and amortized over period of performance |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 10,000 |
Novartis [Member] | Licensing and Other Royalty Revenue [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue Recognition [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  |  | $ 150,000 |  |  |  |  |
Bayer [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue Recognition [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of separate performance obligations | PerformanceObligation | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Bayer [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue Recognition [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Upfront payment received |  | $ 100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Bayer [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue Recognition [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Upfront payment received | $ 75,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Transaction price | $ 75,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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