Here are 1-3 brief analogies for Ionis Pharmaceuticals:

• Like Moderna or BioNTech, but developing RNA-based drugs (not vaccines) for a wide range of genetic and neurological diseases.
• A pioneer in RNA-targeted medicines, much like Genentech was for protein-based biologics.
• Similar to Vertex Pharmaceuticals, specializing in drugs for rare genetic and neurological diseases, but using a unique RNA-targeting technology.

• Spinraza (Nusinersen): A therapy developed to treat spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), licensed to and commercialized globally by Biogen.
• Tegsedi (Inotersen): An RNA-targeted therapy approved to treat polyneuropathy of hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (hATTR amyloidosis).
• Waylivra (Volanesorsen): An antisense oligonucleotide approved in Europe to treat familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS), a rare genetic disorder characterized by severely high triglyceride levels.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) primarily operates a business-to-business model, selling its drug candidates, technology, and intellectual property to other pharmaceutical companies through collaboration and licensing agreements. Ionis generates revenue from these partnerships through upfront payments, research and development milestone payments, and royalties on product sales commercialized by its partners. While Ionis does directly commercialize a limited number of its own products (e.g., TEGSEDI, WAYLIVRA), the majority of its significant revenue streams and strategic focus come from these collaborations.

Based on their significant collaboration agreements and revenue contributions, Ionis's major customers and partners include:

• Biogen Inc. (Symbol: BIIB) - A long-standing and significant partner, most notably for the commercialization of SPINRAZA (nusinersen) for spinal muscular atrophy.
• AstraZeneca plc (Symbol: AZN) - A key partner in cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases, including the co-development and co-commercialization of eplontersen for transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis.
• GlaxoSmithKline plc (Symbol: GSK) - A partner for infectious diseases, including the development of bepirovirsen for chronic hepatitis B.
• Novartis AG (Symbol: NVS) - Has been a partner on various programs, including pelacarsen for Lp(a)-driven cardiovascular disease.

Brett P. Monia, Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Monia is the Chief Executive Officer and a founding scientist of Ionis Pharmaceuticals, having joined the company (then Isis Pharmaceuticals) in 1989. He assumed the CEO role in January 2020. Prior to his appointment as CEO, he served as Chief Operating Officer from January 2018 to December 2019 and as Senior Vice President of Translational Medicine and head of drug discovery, where he oversaw the discovery of over 40 antisense-based medicines that advanced to clinical development. His work at Ionis has included significant contributions to research into the medicinal chemistry and mechanisms of action of RNA-targeting modalities to treat human diseases. Dr. Monia has extensive experience across various therapeutic areas, including oncology, metabolic disease, inflammation, neurological disease, and cardiovascular disease. He holds a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Elizabeth L. Hougen, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Ms. Hougen is the Executive Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer at Ionis Pharmaceuticals. She joined Ionis in May 2000 as Vice President, Finance, became Chief Accounting Officer in January 2007, and was appointed Chief Financial Officer in January 2013. Before her tenure at Ionis, Ms. Hougen served as Chief Financial Officer for Molecular Biosystems, Inc., which was a public biotechnology company. She earned her M.B.A. from the University of San Diego and a B.A. from Franklin and Marshall College.

C. Frank Bennett, Executive Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer

Dr. Bennett is the Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer at Ionis Pharmaceuticals, and is one of the company's founding members. He is responsible for advancing Ionis' technology and expanding its drug discovery platform, as well as leading the company's gene-editing programs. Dr. Bennett has played a key role in the development of antisense oligonucleotides as therapeutic agents, with research focusing on applications for inflammatory, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer, in addition to oligonucleotide delivery, pharmacokinetics, and medicinal chemistry.

Richard S. Geary, Executive Vice President, Chief Development Officer

Dr. Geary serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer at Ionis Pharmaceuticals, having joined the company in 1995. In this role, he oversees preclinical and clinical development, regulatory affairs, and clinical-stage manufacturing for Ionis' antisense drugs. During his time at Ionis, Dr. Geary has been involved in the regulatory submission of over 40 investigational new drug applications and has successfully guided four antisense medicine late-stage development programs through regulatory approvals across multiple jurisdictions. He holds a Ph.D. in Biopharmaceutics from the University of Texas, College of Pharmacy.

Eric E. Swayze, Executive Vice President of Research

Dr. Swayze is the Executive Vice President of Research at Ionis Pharmaceuticals, responsible for leading preclinical antisense drug discovery and antisense technology research. He joined Ionis in 1994. Previously, Dr. Swayze held the position of Vice President of Chemistry and Neuroscience Drug Discovery at Ionis, where he was responsible for advancing multiple programs into clinical development. His contributions to Ionis include key technological advancements such as the company's Generation 2.5 chemistry and LIgand-Conjugated Antisense (LICA) technology.

The key risks for Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) primarily revolve around the inherent challenges of drug development, intense industry competition, and the complexities of commercializing its therapies.

1. Clinical Development and Regulatory Approval Risks: As a biotechnology company, Ionis Pharmaceuticals faces significant risks associated with the discovery, development, and commercialization of new medicines. The process involves lengthy and expensive clinical trials, which may not always demonstrate the safety or efficacy required for regulatory approval. Historically, Ionis has experienced drug failures in clinical trials, leading to setbacks. Delays or negative outcomes in these trials, or a failure to secure necessary regulatory approvals (such as from the FDA), could severely impact the company's pipeline and financial performance.

2. Intellectual Property and Competition Risks: Ionis operates in a highly competitive biotechnology landscape, and its success is heavily reliant on its intellectual property. The company is currently engaged in patent infringement lawsuits, notably with Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, concerning key therapeutic areas like familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS). These legal battles can be costly and could jeopardize the commercialization of its drugs or force the company to license its technology under unfavorable terms. Furthermore, the emergence of rival therapies from competitors, including those with different technological approaches, poses a continuous threat to Ionis's market share and future revenue streams.

3. Commercialization and Market Acceptance Risks: Ionis is transitioning towards a model where it independently commercializes more of its products, a shift that introduces new operational and market risks. Successfully launching and achieving market acceptance for its therapies requires effective sales, marketing, and distribution strategies, as well as favorable pricing negotiations. Failure to meet sales forecasts, navigate complex market access challenges, or compete effectively against established or emerging treatments could hinder the profitability and growth of its newly launched and upcoming drugs.

The clear emerging threat to Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) is the advancement and market penetration of gene therapies and gene editing technologies for diseases currently targeted by Ionis's antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) drugs. These novel modalities offer the potential for one-time or highly durable treatments, directly challenging the chronic management paradigm of Ionis's ASO therapies. A precedent for this disruption exists in Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), where Novartis's one-time gene therapy Zolgensma directly competes with Ionis and Biogen's ASO drug Spinraza. As gene therapy and gene editing technologies mature and expand into other rare and neurological diseases that are key focuses for Ionis's extensive pipeline, they represent a fundamental disruptive threat to the long-term market position and value proposition of Ionis's core technology platform.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) has several key products with varying addressable market sizes, specified by region:

• Spinraza (nusinersen): For spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), this product generated global sales of $1.6 billion in 2024. Its peak global sales reached over $2 billion in 2019.
• WAINUA (eplontersen): Indicated for polyneuropathy of hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (ATTRv-PN), WAINUA targets a larger patient population than its predecessor, Tegsedi. The global transthyretin amyloidosis treatment market size was valued at $5.07 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to $5.52 billion in 2024.
• TRYNGOLZA (olezarsen):
  • For Familial Chylomicronemia Syndrome (FCS), TRYNGOLZA received U.S. approval in December 2024 as the first-ever treatment for adults. FCS affects fewer than 5,000 people in the U.S. Ionis anticipates $85-95 million in total sales for Tryngolza in 2025. The U.S. market for olezarsen in familial chylomicronemia is expected to reach an annual total of $112 million by 2034.
  • For severe hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG), the global sHTG therapeutics market is projected to reach $2.5 billion by 2030. Olezarsen alone is forecast to achieve global sales of approximately $849 million by 2032 and could potentially reach peak sales of around $1 billion.
• Donidalorsen (Dawnzera): Approved by the FDA in August 2025 for hereditary angioedema (HAE), a condition estimated to affect more than 20,000 patients in the U.S. and Europe. The HAE market is projected to grow from $3.13 billion in 2025 to $5.96 billion by 2032. Peak yearly sales for Dawnzera are projected by one analyst to be approximately $520 million.
• Tegsedi (inotersen): For polyneuropathy of hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (hATTR), North America was the largest regional market for Tegsedi in 2024. This product has largely been replaced by WAINUA.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: IONS) is anticipated to drive future revenue growth over the next two to three years through several key strategies:

1. Growing Sales of Recently Launched Independent Products

   The company expects significant revenue growth from the continued commercialization of its independently launched products.
   

   • TRYNGOLZA (olezarsen) for familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS): Launched in the U.S. in December 2024, TRYNGOLZA has shown strong patient uptake and encouraging physician engagement, leading to increased revenue guidance for 2025. Potential European Medicines Agency (EMA) approval for FCS is also anticipated.

   • DAWNZERA (donidalorsen) for hereditary angioedema (HAE): The U.S. FDA approval for DAWNZERA was anticipated in August 2025, and the U.S. launch is off to an encouraging start. An European launch, led by partner Otsuka, is expected in 2026.

   • WAINUA (eplontersen) for hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloid polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN): Co-commercialized with AstraZeneca, WAINUA has demonstrated strong sequential growth and continued positive performance in its U.S. launch, with additional approvals outside the U.S. also contributing to revenue.

2. Expansion of TRYNGOLZA into Severe Hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG)

   Ionis plans to expand the label for TRYNGOLZA to include severe hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG), a larger patient population. The company intends to submit an FDA filing for this label expansion before the end of 2025, following positive Phase 3 results that demonstrated substantial reductions in fasting triglycerides and acute pancreatitis events. This represents a significant market opportunity with over 3 million people in the U.S. living with sHTG.

3. Launch of Zilganersen for Alexander Disease

   The anticipated launch of zilganersen for Alexander disease (AxD) is expected to be Ionis's first independent neurology launch. Based on positive pivotal study results, a regulatory filing with the FDA is planned for Q1 2026. Currently, there are no approved disease-modifying treatments for this rare, progressive, and often fatal neurological condition, positioning zilganersen as a potential first-in-class therapy.

4. Strategic Collaborations and Partnered Programs

   Ionis benefits from its strategic collaborations and partnered programs, which contribute to revenue through upfront payments, milestone payments, and royalties. The company anticipates four partner-led launches by the end of 2027. Recent examples include a $280 million upfront payment from the global license of sapablursen to Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. in Q2 2025, reflecting the value of Ionis's pipeline and technology. Further revenue from these collaborations is expected as pipeline assets advance and potentially launch.

Share Repurchases

• Ionis Pharmaceuticals' repurchase of common stock was $104 million in December 2020.
• The company repurchased $16.725 million of common stock in 2021.
• In 2022, Ionis Pharmaceuticals repurchased $10.953 million of common stock.

Share Issuance

• Ionis Pharmaceuticals' net common equity issued was $1.051 billion for the twelve months ending June 30, 2025.
• The company's annual net common equity issued was $523 million in 2024.
• Net common equity issued amounted to $49 million in 2023 and $6 million in 2022.

Inbound Investments

• In 2021, Ionis signed a deal with AstraZeneca, receiving a $200 million upfront payment for the development and commercialization of eplontersen.
• In January 2023, Ionis received $500 million from Royalty Pharma.
• In the first quarter of 2025, Ionis licensed sapablursen global development and commercialization rights to Ono Pharmaceutical Co., generating a $280 million upfront payment.

Outbound Investments

• Ionis Pharmaceuticals completed the acquisition of 100% ownership of Akcea Therapeutics, Inc. in October 2020, with Akcea shareholders receiving $18.15 per share in cash.

Capital Expenditures

• In the last 12 months, as of November 2025, capital expenditures were approximately $55.65 million.
• In October 2022, Ionis entered into a sale and leaseback transaction for several real estate assets, generating net proceeds of $240 million and full funding to expand its R&D campus.
• The company's 2024 guidance indicated plans to deploy capital resources towards growth opportunities, including continued investments in near-term commercial opportunities, expanding its wholly-owned pipeline, and advancing its technology platform.