<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000874015-19-000038.txt : 20190214
<SEC-HEADER>0000874015-19-000038.hdr.sgml : 20190214
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20190214175709
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000874015-19-000038
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20190213
FILED AS OF DATE:		20190214
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20190214

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CROOKE STANLEY T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000897667

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19125
		FILM NUMBER:		19608837

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2855 GAZELLE COURT
		CITY:			CARLSBAD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92010

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			IONIS PHARMACEUTICALS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000874015
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				330336973
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2855 GAZELLE COURT
		CITY:			CARLSBAD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92010
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7609319200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2855 GAZELLE COURT
		CITY:			CARLSBAD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92010

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ISIS PHARMACEUTICALS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
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<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
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    <periodOfReport>2019-02-13</periodOfReport>

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        <issuerName>IONIS PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IONS</issuerTradingSymbol>
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            <rptOwnerName>CROOKE STANLEY T</rptOwnerName>
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            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92010</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-02-13</value>
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            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2019-02-13</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
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                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5300</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>39.87</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
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                <value>2019-02-13</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                <transactionShares>
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                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
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                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
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    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>39.87</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-02-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            </exerciseDate>
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            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
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                </natureOfOwnership>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
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                <value>2019-02-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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                    <value>1604</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2017-01-02</value>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-01-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                    <value>1300</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By wife</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
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                <value>39.87</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2019-02-13</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5300</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2018-01-02</value>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2021-01-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5300</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3200</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By wife</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Acquired as a result of exercising a stock option pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan. The purchase and sale reported on this Form 4 was effective pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan adopted by the reporting person on 6/17/2016.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Acquired as a result of exercising a stock option pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan. The purchase and sale reported on this Form 4 was effective pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan adopted by the reporting person's wife on 6/17/2016.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $60.00 to $60.30, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., any security holder of Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the ranges set forth in footnote (3) on this Form 4.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Patrick R. O'Neil, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-02-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
