SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
 
FORM 8-K
 
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):  June 18, 2024
 
IONIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
 
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
 
000-19125
   33-0336973
(Commission File No.)
  
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

2855 Gazelle Court
Carlsbad, CA 92010
(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (760) 931-9200


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class
  
Trading symbol
  
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $.001 Par Value
   “IONS”
  
The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (Section 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Section 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company                ☐
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 1.01
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
 
On June 18, 2024, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Ionis”) issued a press release announcing it has entered into an amended and restated license agreement with Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (“Otsuka”) under which Otsuka obtains exclusive rights across the Asia-Pacific region to commercialize donidalorsen, an investigational RNA-targeted prophylactic medicine for hereditary angioedema (HAE). Ionis will maintain primary responsibility for the development of donidalorsen, while Otsuka will be responsible for territory-specific development, regulatory filings and commercialization in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe.
 
A copy of this press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report and incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
(d) Exhibits.
 
Exhibit No.
Description
Press Release dated June 18, 2024.
 
  
 104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

SIGNATURE
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
   
Dated:  June 18, 2024
By:  
 /s/ Patrick R. O’Neil
 

Patrick R. O’Neil
 

Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel