Ionis Pharmaceuticals

Ionis Pharmaceuticals

Ionis Pharmaceuticals is an American biotechnology company headquartered in Carlsbad, California. The company was founded in 1989 by Stanley T. Crooke, a former head of research at Novartis. Ionis Pharmaceuticals specializes in discovering and developing RNA-targeted therapeutics, a new class of drugs that can treat diseases by targeting RNA.

History

Ionis Pharmaceuticals was originally named Isis Pharmaceuticals, after the Egyptian goddess Isis. The company changed its name to Ionis Pharmaceuticals in December 2015 to avoid association with the terrorist group ISIS.

Research and Development

Ionis Pharmaceuticals' research and development efforts are focused on creating drugs that can treat diseases by targeting RNA. The company's drugs are designed to bind to RNA and either increase or decrease the production of specific proteins. This approach has the potential to treat a wide range of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders.

One of the company's most successful drugs is Spinraza, a treatment for spinal muscular atrophy. Spinraza was developed in partnership with Biogen and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2016.

Partnerships and Collaborations

Ionis Pharmaceuticals has a number of partnerships and collaborations with other biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. These partnerships help Ionis to develop and commercialize its drugs. Some of the company's key partners include Biogen, Roche, and GlaxoSmithKline.

Financial Performance

Ionis Pharmaceuticals is a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange. The company's financial performance is closely watched by investors and analysts, as it is seen as a bellwether for the biotechnology industry.

See Also

• Biotechnology
• RNA-targeted therapeutics
• Spinal muscular atrophy