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We Work at the Intersection of Innovation and Determination

Every milestone we achieve may provide a patient the possibility of reaching another important milestone in their lives. We understand that every one of these moments matter. It’s with this in mind, that we remain steadfast and focused on discovering, developing and delivering medicines that target the root causes of diseases so that these people may continue to plan and look forward to their future. We honor the resilience and resolve of the sick people who depend on us by continuing to push the boundaries of science.

Know Our History

Ionis patient photo

We Develop Genetic Medicines with Patients as Partners

One simple moment can become truly extraordinary, especially when you’re battling a devastating disease. This is why the Ionis team works tirelessly to discover, develop, and deliver potentially life-transforming medicines for the patients who depend on them. We look to patients to better understand what it means to live with a disease, so our genetic medicines can make the most meaningful contribution to improve their lives.

Feel Our Inspiration

Antisense dna strand representation

We Are Transforming the Standard of Care and Pioneering New Markets

As the leader in RNA-targeted therapeutics for more than three decades, Ionis has focused every moment on advancing drug discovery, development, and providing hope for patients. Our broadly applicable, versatile, and rapidly advancing technology platform powers our ability to design targeted medicines to treat rare diseases as well as those that affect millions.

Review our pipeline

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We Are a Force For Life

Ionis is proud of the moments we share to support and uplift one other, as well as our contributions to support equity, diversity and inclusion in everything we do. If you are driven to deliver on the promise of genetic medicines and want to be a force for life to patients seeking more hopeful futures, come join us.

Join our team »

Please be aware of employment scams using Ionis’ name and the names of Ionis employees to lure unsuspecting people into providing highly confidential and personal information. For more information click here to read more.

Ionis: A history of advancing science

The Field of Antisense Oligoneucleotides is born – Antisense RNA is first used to inhibit protein production
Nasdaq Marketsite photo with people smiling
Ionis IPO
First proven in vivo antisense activities
Chimeric (gapmer) antisense medicines with proven pharmacological advantages demonstrated
Drug in a bottle with needle pointing upward
First Antisense Drug Reaches the Market – Vitravene (fomivirsen) is approved as a treatment for CMV-induced retinitis in immunocompromised patients with AIDS
Ionis initiates cardiovascular program
Selection of constrained ethyl (cET) as generation 2.5 chemistry, providing enhanced potency and broad distribution to multiple tissues.
Akcea Logo
Akcea, Ionis’ first commercial affiliate, founded
Spinraza logo
Approval of SPINRAZA
Tegsedi logo
Approval for TEGSEDI

1978

1989

1991

1992

1993

1995

1998

1999

2000

2003

2010

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

First Generation Chemistry chosen – Antisense oligonucleotides with phosphorothioate (PS) substitutions are more stable and able to distribute broadly throughout the body, making selected RNase H1 based antisense as a key mechanism
headshot of a man in a suit
Ionis founded by Stanley T. Crooke, M.D., Ph.D.
Classification of potential antisense mechanisms
MOE-150 graphic outline
2′-0-methoxyethyl (2’MOE) discovered, making antisense medicines more RNA-like, with greater
affinity for targets, greater potency
RNase H1 characterized enabling design of optimized antisense therapies
Human genome project completed, revolutionizing the diagnosis and treatment of human diseases
Ionis initiates neurological disease program
Kynamro logo
Approval of KYNAMRO
Demonstrated increased uptake of therapies in the liver by linking a GalNAc molecule to the antisense oligonucleotide
Further identification of mechanisms of cell uptake and intracellular distribution
Akcea IPO

1978

1989

1991

1992

1993

1995

1998

1999

2000

2003

2010

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

1978

The Field of Antisense Oligoneucleotides is born – Antisense RNA is first used to inhibit protein production

1989

First Generation Chemistry chosen – Antisense oligonucleotides with phosphorothioate (PS) substitutions are more stable and able to distribute broadly throughout the body, making selected RNase H1 based antisense as a key mechanism
headshot of a man in a suit
Ionis founded by Stanley T. Crooke, M.D., Ph.D.

1991

Nasdaq Marketsite photo with people smiling
Ionis IPO

1992

Classification of potential antisense mechanisms

1993

First proven in vivo antisense activities
Chimeric (gapmer) antisense medicines with proven pharmacological advantages demonstrated

1995

MOE-150 graphic outline
2′-0-methoxyethyl (2’MOE) discovered, making antisense medicines more RNA-like, with greater
affinity for targets, greater potency

1998

Drug in a bottle with needle pointing upward
First Antisense Drug Reaches the Market – Vitravene (fomivirsen) is approved as a treatment for CMV-induced retinitis in immunocompromised patients with AIDS

1999

RNase H1 characterized enabling design of optimized antisense therapies

2000

Ionis initiates cardiovascular program

2003

Human genome project completed, revolutionizing the diagnosis and treatment of human diseases
Ionis initiates neurological disease program

2010

Selection of constrained ethyl (cET) as generation 2.5 chemistry, providing enhanced potency and broad distribution to multiple tissues.

2013

Kynamro logo
Approval of KYNAMRO
Demonstrated increased uptake of therapies in the liver by linking a GalNAc molecule to the antisense oligonucleotide

2014

Akcea Logo
Akcea, Ionis’ first commercial affiliate, founded

2015

Further identification of mechanisms of cell uptake and intracellular distribution

2016

Spinraza logo
Approval of SPINRAZA

2017

Akcea IPO

2018

Tegsedi logo
Approval for TEGSEDI

2019

waylivra logo
EU approval for WAYLIVRA