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Collaborative Arrangements and Licensing Agreements, Novartis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands, shares in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2019 | Mar. 31, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2018 | Sep. 30, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2018
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue | $ 167,892 |  | $ 145,395 | $ 628,918 | $ 407,559 |
R&D Revenue [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue | 72,193 |  | $ 62,639 | 376,833 | $ 225,584 |
Novartis [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred revenue | $ 10,800 |  |  | $ 10,800 |  | $ 28,800
Novartis [Member] | Revenue [Member] | Strategic Partner [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Concentration percentage | 5.00% |  | 5.00% | 28.00% | 10.00% |
Novartis [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Cumulative payments received | $ 343,000 |  |  | $ 343,000 |  |
Novartis [Member] | AKCEA-APO(a)-L [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue | 5,500 | $ 150,000 |  |  |  |
Novartis [Member] | R&D Revenue [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Collaborative Arrangement and Licensing Agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue | $ 8,500 |  | $ 7,200 | $ 176,300 | $ 42,700 |
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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