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Long-Term Obligations and Commitments, Operating Leases (Details) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) Option | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Operating Leases [Abstract] |  |  |
Right-of-use operating lease assets | $ 12,600 |  |
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List] | us-gaap:OtherAssetsNoncurrent |  |
Operating lease liabilities | $ 17,235 |  |
Weighted average remaining lease term | 8 years 1 month 6 days |  |
Weighted average discount rate | 7.60% |  |
Current portion of operating lease liabilities | $ 2,000 |  |
Operating Lease, Liability, Current, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List] | us-gaap:LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent |  |
Operating Lease, Liability, Noncurrent, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List] | ions:LongTermObligationsNoncurrent |  |
Operating lease cash payments | $ 3,900 |  |
Annual Future Payments for Operating Lease Liabilities [Abstract] |  |  |
2020 | 3,285 |  |
2021 | 3,022 |  |
2022 | 2,781 |  |
2023 | 2,520 |  |
2024 | 2,396 |  |
Thereafter | 9,465 |  |
Total minimum lease payments | 23,469 |  |
Imputed interest | (6,234) |  |
Total operating lease liabilities | 17,235 |  |
Rent expense | $ 3,600 | $ 2,600 | $ 1,700
Office and Laboratory Space Adjacent to Manufacturing Facility [Member] |  |  |
Operating Leases [Abstract] |  |  |
Number of options to extend lease | Option | 2 |  |
Term of lease extension | 5 years |  |
Office Space Subleased to Akcea [Member] |  |  |
Operating Leases [Abstract] |  |  |
Number of options to extend lease | Option | 1 |  |
Term of lease extension | 5 years |  |
Akcea [Member] | Office Space for Corporate Headquarters [Member] |  |  |
Operating Leases [Abstract] |  |  |
Term of lease extension | 5 years |  |
Term of lease | 123 months |  |
Period of free rent under lease | 3 months |  |
Tenant improvement allowance | $ 3,800 |  |
Initial amount of letter of credit | 2,400 |  |
Letter of credit on third anniversary of rent commencement date | 1,800 |  |
Letter of credit on fifth anniversary of rent commencement date | $ 1,200 |  |

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- Definition Allowance for tenant improvements to the office space included in the lessee's operating lease. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Letter of credit provided to lessor to secure lease obligation under lessee's operating lease on the fifth anniversary of the rent commencement date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Letter of credit provided to lessor to secure lease obligation under lessee's operating lease on the third anniversary of the rent commencement date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Period of time in which the rent is free under operating lease, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of lessee's undiscounted obligation for lease payments for operating lease. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 842 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888426&loc=SL77918701-209980 + Details
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- Definition Term of lessee's operating lease renewal, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 842 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888426&loc=SL77918673-209980 + Details
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- Definition Indicates line item in statement of financial position that includes noncurrent operating lease liability. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 842 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888419&loc=SL77918631-209977 + Details
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