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Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc (IONS)



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Upturn Advisory Summary
03/27/2025: IONS (2-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit 5.02% | Avg. Invested days 51 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Star Rating ![]() ![]() | Upturn Advisory Performance ![]() | Stock Returns Performance ![]() |
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Key Highlights
Company Size Mid-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 4.95B USD | Price to earnings Ratio - | 1Y Target Price 59.42 |
Price to earnings Ratio - | 1Y Target Price 59.42 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 1711216 | Beta 0.28 | 52 Weeks Range 30.23 - 52.34 | Updated Date 03/30/2025 |
52 Weeks Range 30.23 - 52.34 | Updated Date 03/30/2025 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) -3.04 |
Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth
Revenue by Products
Product revenue - Year on Year
Earnings Date
Report Date - | When - | Estimate - | Actual - |
Profitability
Profit Margin -64.37% | Operating Margin (TTM) -48.91% |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) -9.91% | Return on Equity (TTM) -93.1% |
Valuation
Trailing PE - | Forward PE 90.91 | Enterprise Value 4070665647 | Price to Sales(TTM) 7.02 |
Enterprise Value 4070665647 | Price to Sales(TTM) 7.02 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 5.77 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA -22.08 | Shares Outstanding 158964992 | Shares Floating 157589727 |
Shares Outstanding 158964992 | Shares Floating 157589727 | ||
Percent Insiders 0.83 | Percent Institutions 105.13 |
Analyst Ratings
Rating 4.16 | Target Price 61.32 | Buy 4 | Strong Buy 13 |
Buy 4 | Strong Buy 13 | ||
Hold 7 | Sell 1 | Strong Sell - | |
Strong Sell - |
Upturn AI SWOT
Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc

Company Overview
History and Background
Ionis Pharmaceuticals, founded in 1989 (originally as Isis Pharmaceuticals), pioneered antisense technology. They initially focused on HIV/AIDS treatments but broadened to other diseases over time, experiencing significant milestones in drug development and partnerships.
Core Business Areas
- Drug Discovery and Development: Ionis focuses on discovering and developing antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapies for a wide range of diseases. Their core technology targets RNA to modulate protein production.
- Commercialization (Partnered): Ionis partners with pharmaceutical companies to commercialize its developed drugs, receiving royalties and milestones on sales. Some products are sold directly.
- Research and Licensing: Ionis invests in research to develop and license novel antisense technology to external parties, generating revenue through collaborations and partnerships.
Leadership and Structure
Brett P. Monia serves as the CEO. The company operates with a functional structure, with dedicated teams for research, development, commercialization, and corporate functions.
Top Products and Market Share
Key Offerings
- SPINRAZA (nusinersen): Developed with Biogen, SPINRAZA treats spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). It has a significant market share in SMA treatment. Competitors include Zolgensma (Novartis) and Evrysdi (Roche).
- QUTROZA (Eplontersen): Developed with AstraZeneca, QUTROZA treats transthyretin-mediated amyloid polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN). It has a growing market share in ATTRv-PN treatment. Competitors include ONPATTRO and AMVUTTRA (Alnylam).
- Wainua (eplontersen): Developed with AstraZeneca, Wainua treats hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTRcm). Competitors are tafamidis.
Market Dynamics
Industry Overview
The pharmaceutical industry, particularly in areas of rare diseases and oligonucleotide therapeutics, is experiencing growth driven by technological advancements, increasing R&D investments, and regulatory support for innovative treatments.
Positioning
Ionis is a leader in antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapeutics, holding a strong position due to its proprietary technology platform and successful partnerships. This offers them a distinct competitive advantage.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The total market value for oligonucleotide therapeutics is estimated in tens of billions of dollars. Ionis is well-positioned to capture a significant portion of this TAM due to its early-mover advantage and broad pipeline.
Upturn SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Proprietary antisense technology platform
- Strong partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies
- Robust pipeline of drug candidates
- Experience in developing and commercializing oligonucleotide therapeutics
- First-mover advantage in the ASO space
Weaknesses
- Reliance on partnerships for commercialization
- Regulatory and clinical trial risks
- Competition from other therapeutic modalities
- High R&D expenses
- Patent protection challenges
Opportunities
- Expansion into new therapeutic areas
- Development of next-generation oligonucleotide therapies
- Increased adoption of oligonucleotide therapeutics
- Strategic acquisitions and collaborations
- Growing demand for personalized medicine
Threats
- Competition from established pharmaceutical companies
- Generic competition for approved drugs
- Changes in regulatory landscape
- Economic downturns
- Clinical trial failures
Competitors and Market Share
Key Competitors
- ALNY
- REGN
- MRNA
Competitive Landscape
Ionis has a competitive edge in ASO technology but faces challenges from competitors with alternative therapeutic modalities and established market presence.
Major Acquisitions
Akcea Therapeutics
- Year: 2020
- Acquisition Price (USD millions): 227
- Strategic Rationale: Akcea acquisition brought commercialized and late-stage drugs, expanding Ionis' portfolio and commercial capabilities.
Growth Trajectory and Initiatives
Historical Growth: Ionis has demonstrated growth in revenue driven by successful partnerships and drug approvals.
Future Projections: Analysts project continued growth for Ionis, driven by its expanding pipeline and successful commercialization of partnered drugs. The future is bright.
Recent Initiatives: Recent initiatives include new drug approvals, expansion of partnerships, and advancements in its antisense technology platform.
Summary
Ionis Pharmaceuticals has a strong foundation in antisense technology and benefits from strategic partnerships. The company's pipeline and commercialized drugs are driving growth. However, reliance on partnerships and competition from other therapeutic approaches pose challenges. Investors should monitor clinical trial results and the competitive landscape carefully.
Similar Companies
- ALNY
- AMGN
- GILD
- BIIB
- AZN
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- Company SEC Filings (10-K, 10-Q)
- Company Investor Relations Materials
- Analyst Reports
- Market Research Reports
- Press Releases
Disclaimers:
This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal.
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
About Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc
Exchange NASDAQ | Headquaters Carlsbad, CA, United States | ||
IPO Launch date 1991-05-17 | Founder, CEO & Director Dr. Brett P. Monia Ph.D. | ||
Sector Healthcare | Industry Biotechnology | Full time employees 1069 | Website https://www.ionis.com |
Full time employees 1069 | Website https://www.ionis.com |
Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a commercial-stage biotechnology company, provides RNA-targeted medicines in the United States. The company offers TRYNGOLZA reduces triglyceride levels in adults with familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) and acute pancreatitis; WAINUA for the treatment of the polyneuropathy of hereditary transthyretin-medicated amyloidosis (ATTRv-PN) in adults; and SPINRAZA for pediatric and adult patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). It also provides QALSODY for the treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS); TEGSEDI for the treatment of ATTRv-PN in adults; and WAYLIVRA for treatment for FCS and familial partial lipodystrophy. It also develops products under Phase 3 clinical trials, such as Olezarsen for patients with hypertriglyceridemia (SHTG) and cardiovascular disease (CVD); Donidalorsen for patients with hereditary angioedema; and Zilganerse, a potential treatment for people with genetically confirmed Alexander disease, as well as ION582 that has completed Phase 2 clinical trial for the potential treatment of AS, a rare genetic neurological disease. In addition, the company develops Eplontersen to degrade mutant and wild-type TTR mRNA through binding to the TTR mRNA; Pelacarsen to inhibit the production of apolipoprotein(a) in the liver to offer a direct approach for reducing lipoprotein(a); Bepirovirsen to inhibit the production of viral proteins associated with hepatitis B virus; Sefaxersen to reduce the production of complement factor B and lower activation of the alternative complement pathway; and Ulefnersen to reduce the production of the fused in sarcoma, as well as other mid-stage pipeline investigational medicines. It has a strategic collaboration with Biogen for the treatment of neurological disorders; and collaboration and license agreement with GSK, AstraZeneca, Novartis, and Roche, as well as with Metagenomi. The company was incorporated in 1989 and is headquartered in Carlsbad, California.
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