CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Revenue:
Revenue	$ 133,367	$ 297,214
Expenses:
Cost of products sold	2,548	1,041
Research, development and patent	116,952	106,417
Selling, general and administrative	74,994	68,221
Total operating expenses	194,494	175,679
Income (loss) from operations	(61,127)	121,535
Other income (expense):
Investment income	10,479	12,142
Interest expense	(10,990)	(11,599)
Other expenses	(99)	(147)
Income (loss) before income tax benefit (expense)	(61,737)	121,931
Income tax benefit (expense)	3,257	(31,047)
Net income (loss)	(58,480)	90,884
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in Akcea Therapeutics, Inc.	10,254	(6,441)
Net income (loss) attributable to Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. common stockholders	$ (48,226)	$ 84,443
Basic net income per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.35)	$ 0.63
Shares used in computing basic net income (loss) per share (in shares)	139,429	138,582
Diluted net income (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.35)	$ 0.62
Shares used in computing diluted net income (loss) per share (in shares)	139,429	141,537
Commercial Revenue [Member]
Revenue:
Revenue	$ 83,961	$ 68,088
SPINRAZA Royalties [Member]
Revenue:
Revenue	66,008	59,711
Product Sales, Net [Member]
Revenue:
Revenue	15,159	6,754
Licensing and Other Royalty Revenue [Member]
Revenue:
Revenue	2,794	1,623
Research and Development Revenue Under Collaborative Agreements [Member]
Revenue:
Revenue	$ 49,406	$ 229,126

The aggregate costs incurred (1) in a planned search or critical investigation aimed at discovery of new knowledge with the hope that such knowledge will be useful in developing a new product or service, a new process or technique, or in bringing about a significant improvement to an existing product or process; or (2) to translate research findings or other knowledge into a plan or design for a new product or process or for a significant improvement to an existing product or process whether intended for sale or the entity's use, during the reporting period charged to research and development projects. Also includes charges for amortization and write-downs of capitalized patent costs, as well as legal fees for patent litigation and patent defense.

No definition available.