<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000874015-25-000056.txt : 20250117
<SEC-HEADER>0000874015-25-000056.hdr.sgml : 20250117
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20250117194007
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000874015-25-000056
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20250115
FILED AS OF DATE:		20250117
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20250117

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BENNETT C FRANK
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001073387
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19125
		FILM NUMBER:		25540084

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2855 GAZELLE COURT
		STREET 2:		C/O IONIS 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]
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	03 Life Sciences
		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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    <periodOfReport>2025-01-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000874015</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>IONIS PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IONS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001073387</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BENNETT C FRANK</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
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            <rptOwnerStreet1>2855 GAZELLE COURT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CARLSBAD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92010</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, Chief Scientific Officer</officerTitle>
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            </transactionDate>
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                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>97618</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>D</value>
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            </securityTitle>
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                    <value>18011</value>
                </transactionShares>
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                    <value>D</value>
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                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>18011</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>38489</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Acquired pursuant to vesting and release of shares in accordance with Restricted Stock Unit awards.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The sale was made pursuant to an automatic sale to cover the required tax withholding obligations pursuant to the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Unit Agreement and Grant Notice.</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 $32.88 to $32.92 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>
        <footnote id="F4">Grant to reporting person of Performance Restricted Stock Units (PRSUs) under the Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Amended and Restated 2011 Equity Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The PRSUs may vest at the end of the three-year performance period following the date of grant based on the Issuer's relative total shareholder return as compared to a peer group of companies. The number of PRSUs reported represents the maximum that may be earned, which is 200% of the target number. No number of PRSUs is guaranteed to vest and the actual number of PRSUs that will vest at the end of the performance period may be anywhere from zero to the amount stated.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Grant to reporting person of Restricted Stock Units under the Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Amended and Restated 2011 Equity Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Each Restricted Stock Unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Ionis common stock, or its equivalent cash value.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Restricted Stock Units vest in four equal annual installments. Upon vesting, the restricted stock units will be paid out in whole shares of Ionis common stock or cash as may be determined by the Company.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Patrick R. O'Neil, attorney-in-fact For: C. Frank Bennett</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2025-01-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
