<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000874015-22-000060.txt : 20220128
<SEC-HEADER>0000874015-22-000060.hdr.sgml : 20220128
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20220128175851
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000874015-22-000060
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20220126
FILED AS OF DATE:		20220128
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20220128

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Monia Brett P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001537529

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19125
		FILM NUMBER:		22570510

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2855 GAZELLE COURT
		STREET 2:		C/O ISIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
		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:			CA
		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>
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<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
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<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
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    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2022-01-26</periodOfReport>

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    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000874015</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>IONIS PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IONS</issuerTradingSymbol>
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    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001537529</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Monia Brett P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2855 GAZELLE COURT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CARLSBAD</rptOwnerCity>
            <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>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2022-01-26</value>
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                <value>2022-01-26</value>
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                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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                    <value>0.0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>82424</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <value>D</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>31.44</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>88396</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares earned upon the vesting of performance based restricted stock units (&quot;PRSUs&quot;) for the second performance period of the grant to the reporting person reported on January 17, 2020. The Compensation Committee certified achievement of the pre-established performance goal based on the Issuer's relative total shareholder return as compared to a peer group of companies at a level resulting in a vest of 58.06% of target shares. As reported at grant, the PRSUs could result in a payout of 0% to 150% based on actual achievement of the goal.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents shares earned upon the vesting of performance based restricted stock units (&quot;PRSUs&quot;) for the first performance period of the grant to the reporting person reported on January 20, 2021. The Compensation Committee certified achievement of the pre-established performance goal based on the Issuer's relative total shareholder return as compared to a peer group of companies at a level resulting in a vest of 81.37% of target shares. As reported at grant, the PRSUs could result in a payout of 0% to 150% based on actual achievement of the goal.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares withheld to cover the required tax withholding obligations pursuant to the Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Amended and Restated 2011 Equity Incentive Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Patrick R. O'Neil, attorney-in-fact For: Brett P. Monia</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2022-01-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
