Ionis reports fourth quarter and full year 2024 financial results

- First independent launch underway following TRYNGOLZATM approval -

- Second independent launch on track with donidalorsen PDUFA August 21, 2025 -

- WAINUATM U.S. launch delivering accelerating sequential growth -

- Ionis exceeds 2024 financial guidance and provides full year 2025 guidance -

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: IONS) (the “Company”) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024.

“With the recent launch of our first independent medicine, TRYNGOLZA for familial chylomicronemia syndrome, Ionis has begun a new chapter as a fully integrated commercial-stage biotechnology company,” said Brett P. Monia, Ph.D., chief executive officer, Ionis. “Over the next three years, we expect three more independent launches, including donidalorsen later this year for hereditary angioedema and olezarsen for severe hypertriglyceridemia in 2026, pending Phase 3 results in the second half of this year. Additionally, our partners are on track to launch four Ionis-discovered medicines over the same time period, including several that address broad patient populations. Ionis continues to advance our next wave of potentially transformational wholly owned medicines, including ION582 for Angelman syndrome, which is on track to start Phase 3 development in the first half of this year. Our recent achievements, combined with our strong commercial execution and advancing pipeline, position Ionis to deliver increasing value for all our stakeholders.”

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Summary Financial Results(1):

Financial Highlights

• Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2024 substantially exceeded guidance as Ionis continued to generate revenue from diverse sources. Ionis added new sources of revenue in 2024 with the launch of WAINUA and TRYNGOLZA in the U.S. in late January and late December, respectively
• Operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024 were in line with expectations with increased expenses from commercialization efforts for WAINUA, TRYNGOLZA and donidalorsen
• Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $2.3 billion as of December 31, 2024 exceeded revised guidance and enable continued investments to support ongoing and upcoming planned launches and advancing wholly owned medicines in development

Recent Highlights- Marketed Medicines

• TRYNGOLZATM (olezarsen) launch underway following approval on December 19, 2024 in the U.S as first-ever treatment for adults living with familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) as an adjunct to diet
• WAINUATM (eplontersen) (WAINZUA in EU) for the treatment of adults with polyneuropathy of hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (ATTRv-PN) achieved multiple commercial and regulatory milestones:
  • Generated sales of $85 million resulting in royalty revenue of $20 million in the year ended December 31, 2024. Substantial sequential growth throughout 2024 as launch progressed, including an 84% increase in product sales in the fourth quarter, compared to the third quarter
  • Launch underway in numerous countries, including the UK, following approval by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) with an accelerated National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommendation
  • Received positive Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) opinion from European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis in adult patients with stage 1 or stage 2 polyneuropathy
• SPINRAZA® (nusinersen) for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) generated global sales of $1.6 billion resulting in royalty revenue of $216 million in year ended December 31, 2024. Product sales increased 2% in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023
  • Higher dose nusinersen under regulatory review in U.S. (PDUFA date of September 22, 2025) and EU
• QALSODY® (tofersen) for the treatment of SOD1-ALS generated global sales of $32 million resulting in royalty revenue of $4 million in the year ended December 31, 2024. Product sales grew sequentially throughout 2024
  • Granted marketing approval in China and Japan

Recent Highlights- Late-Stage Pipeline

• Olezarsen on track for Phase 3 data in patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG) in H2:2025, positioning it to potentially treat this second more prevalent patient population with urgent unmet need
• Olezarsen and donidalorsen Canadian commercialization rights licensed to Theratechnologies
• Donidalorsen on track for potential launch this year as the first RNA-targeted prophylactic treatment for people with hereditary angioedema (HAE):
  • Under review in U.S. (PDUFA date of August 21, 2025) and EU
  • Presented positive Phase 2 open label extension (OLE) study data demonstrating an overall sustained mean reduction in HAE attack rates of 96% in patients treated up to three years with every four weeks or every eight weeks dosing
• ION582 on track to initiate Phase 3 development in Angelman syndrome (AS) in H1:2025
• Ulefnersen global commercialization rights licensed to Otsuka; Phase 3 development ongoing for the treatment of patients with FUS-ALS

Fourth Quarter, Full Year 2024 Financial Results and 2025 Financial Guidance

“In 2024, we exceeded our revenue guidance due to our continued pipeline and technology successes, which drove a smaller than anticipated operating loss. Importantly, we added two new sources of commercial revenue with TRYNGOLZA product revenue from Ionis’ first independent launch and WAINUA royalties,” said Elizabeth L. Hougen, chief financial officer, Ionis. “In 2025, we will continue to invest in go-to-market activities for TRYNGOLZA for FCS and scale our resources to support our next planned launches, including donidalorsen for hereditary angioedema later this year. At the same time, we are investing in our next wave of medicines, including Phase 3 development and pre-commercialization activities for ION582 for Angelman syndrome. These important investments position Ionis to deliver substantial and growing product revenue; and when combined with increasing royalty revenue from anticipated partner launches, provides us with a clear path to achieve sustained positive cash flow.”

Revenue

Ionis’ revenue was comprised of the following:

Commercial revenue for the year ended December 31, 2024 included new sources of commercial revenue with the launch of WAINUA in the U.S. in late January 2024 and the launch of TRYNGOLZA in the U.S. in late December 2024. SPINRAZA product sales in the U.S. increased slightly in 2024 compared to 2023. SPINRAZA product sales outside of the U.S. were impacted from an annual order from a single country that did not recur in 2024.

R&D revenue decreased for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to the decrease in WAINUA joint development revenue as development activities relating to ATTRv-PN wound down with the launch of WAINUA.

Operating Expenses

Ionis’ operating expenses increased slightly for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to 2023. SG&A expenses increased year over year primarily due to the launches of WAINUA and TRYNGOLZA, and advancing launch preparation activities for donidalorsen. R&D expenses were flat year over year.

Balance Sheet

As of December 31, 2024, Ionis’ cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were $2.3 billion, consistent with December 31, 2023. In September 2024, Ionis generated gross proceeds of $500 million from a public offering of its common stock. Ionis’ working capital increased as of December 31, 2024, compared to December 31, 2023 primarily from the Company’s lower current liabilities as a result of lower deferred contract revenue.

2025 Financial Guidance

The Company’s 2025 financial guidance reflects its evolution to a fully integrated commercial-stage biotechnology company independently launching its first medicine, TRYNGOLZA, and advancing commercialization efforts for multiple additional upcoming planned launches. As a result, the Company expects to earn substantial revenue from numerous diverse sources, with a shift toward increasing commercial revenue. Additionally, the Company expects a modest increase in its non-GAAP operating expenses in line with its plan to invest in the Company’s independent launches and advance its wholly owned pipeline of innovative medicines. The Company expects that these investments will enable Ionis to deliver accelerating value.