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IOIONS

Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

$IONS·$7.4B·Biotechnology·Healthcare
$44.00-1.5%YTD-44.9%1Y-33.1%
Price updated 13m ago·X counts updated 4d ago
IOIONS
$IONSIonis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$44.00-1.46%98 posts0.9×
AI analysisFundamentalsVoices on X
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On X

Top X posts

The complete picture of $IONS on X — how loud the conversation is right now, how it has trended over the last two weeks, and which way the crowd is leaning.

98X posts · last 7 days
Sep 13Sep 27
Chatter Meter
0.9×
QuietNormal · 1×Loud

How loud $IONS's conversation on X is versus its own normal — 1× is typical, higher means busier. Right now it's about its usual level.

Bearish sentimentAI analysisGenerated by AI from underlying data5 posts analyzed · as of 2026-09-14

Ionis is down sharply on the Novartis pelacarsen failure — as the collaboration partner, IONS opened at $49 in Frankfurt vs a $58 close, and the RNAi-for-DM1 approach is being questioned across the space. Contrarians say they'll take the opposite side (long) ahead of full pelacarsen disclosure, but the immediate tape is bearish.

Read what X is saying about $IONS

  • Bullish vs bearish call — with the AI summary of the day's posts
  • Divergence flag when the top-engagement posts argue the other side
  • How loud the conversation is versus this ticker's own normal
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AI verdictAI analysisGenerated by AI from underlying data

TickerTalks' own read on what's driving $IONS — fundamentals, momentum, or an event — and whether it agrees with the X crowd.

Broken storySelling offAI verdict · as of 2026-10-01

Falling on heavy selling — points lower unless it turns around.

Ionis is down 44% YTD after the Novartis pelacarsen Phase 3 Lp(a)HORIZON failure — the RNA-therapeutics leader lost its biggest potential blockbuster.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals is the pioneer of RNA-targeted therapeutics — SPINRAZA (SMA), DONIDALORSEN (hereditary angioedema), WAYLIVRA (familial chylomicronemia), plus the pelacarsen partnership with Novartis. The 2026 story is the biggest pipeline bet (pelacarsen for Lp(a)-driven cardiovascular events) just failed Phase 3.

  • The P&L is scaling but losses are deep: Q1 revenue of $246M grew 87% YoY (collaboration + commercial mix), with -$0.56 EPS and -$815M quarterly FCF burn (significant working-capital distortion). Consensus has FY26 EPS at -$3.60 (recovering to -$2.04 FY27, modestly positive by 2028-2029), with FY26 revenue at $921M growing to $1.3B FY27.
  • The valuation reflects both scale and the Lp(a) loss: 12.4x TTM sales and -39.8x TTM P/E for a $7.4B market cap — the pelacarsen revenue stream that was modeled at peak $5B+ in cardiovascular indication is now gone from the forecast, forcing analyst estimates lower.
  • The specific overhang is massive: Sept 4 pelacarsen Phase 3 Lp(a)HORIZON missed primary endpoint for reducing major cardiovascular events — this was the biggest potential blockbuster in the pipeline, and the failure both removes a revenue stream AND questions the Lp(a)-lowering investment thesis across the whole RNA-targeting space. Positive late-stage results from a smaller program this week aren't enough to offset.

For the breakdown to reverse, Nov 4 Q3 earnings need (1) specific DONIDALORSEN launch momentum, (2) remaining pipeline-asset milestone commentary, (3) a defined cost-reduction plan to extend cash runway. A clean beat + non-pelacarsen pipeline progress reclaims $55; another pipeline setback or acceleration in cash burn sends this below $35. Contrarian long interest exists but requires patience through the current reset.

Agrees with X sentimentAligned with the bearish tape framing — the Novartis pelacarsen failure is substantive, and IONS opening at $49 in Frankfurt vs $58 close reflects the specific damage. The RNAi-for-DM1 questioning across the space is a legitimate secondary concern. Contrarian long calls ahead of full pelacarsen disclosure have historical justification but require patience.

What to watch: Nov 4 Q3 earnings — specifically DONIDALORSEN launch momentum, remaining pipeline-asset milestones, cost-reduction plan to extend cash runway. A clean beat + non-pelacarsen pipeline progress reclaims $55; another pipeline setback or cash-burn acceleration sends below $35.

On the calendar: 2026-11-04 — Q3 earnings

pelacarsen failurepipeline reset

Read the AI verdict on $IONS

  • One-line verdict on what's driving the move — fundamentals, momentum, both, or an event
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  • Whether TickerTalks' read agrees with or diverges from the X crowd
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What it does

Plain-English summary of the business — what they sell and how they make money.

Pioneer in RNA-targeted antisense therapies with approved drugs for spinal muscular atrophy and hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis, and a broad Phase 3 pipeline.

Industry overviewAI analysisGenerated by AI from underlying data

Where Biotechnology sits in its cycle right now — and what that implies for $IONS.

Biotechnology · Healthcare

No material change from last week — mRNA oncology platform remains the structural driver.

What this means for $IONS

Neutral — Pioneer in RNA-targeted antisense therapies with approved drugs for spinal muscular atrophy and hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis, and a broad Phase 3 pipeline.

Top industry ETF

$IBBiShares Biotechnology ETF
+21.4%YTD
+38.7%1Y

Fundamentals & catalyst

Profitability, valuation, and the next earnings event — at a glance, with rule-of-thumb signals.

Key ratios

P/E
-39.8How much investors are paying per dollar of profit the company actually earned in the last 12 months. Lower means the stock looks cheaper relative to earnings.~15–25 is typical for the S&P 500; high-growth names trade 30+; hyper-growth or speculative can be 100+ or negative.
ROIC
-11.1%What percentage return the business earns on every dollar of capital (equity + debt) deployed in operations. The cleanest measure of business quality.Above ~15% is high-quality; consistently above 25% suggests a real moat. Below the company's cost of capital is value-destroying.
Op margin
-33.3%Operating profit (after sales, marketing, R&D, and overhead but before interest and taxes) as a percentage of revenue. The clearest view of how well the underlying business is run.Mature business above 20% is healthy; software businesses can run 30%+; commodity / retail businesses operate in single digits.
FCF yield
-7.4%Free cash flow (operating cash flow minus capex) divided by the company's market cap. The cash-on-cash return you'd get owning the whole business at today's price.Above ~5% is attractive; below ~2% means you're paying up for growth. Capital-light businesses (software) run higher than capital-heavy ones (utilities).
P/S
12.4Same idea as P/E but per dollar of revenue. Useful for companies that aren't profitable yet, where P/E is meaningless.Under ~2 is cheap; software / SaaS often runs 8–15; well above 20 implies the market is pricing in very high future growth.
ROE
-58.6%Net income as a percentage of shareholders' equity. Similar to ROIC but counts only the equity side.Above 20% is strong, but can be inflated by leverage — a heavily indebted company can show high ROE with weak underlying ROIC.
Gross margin
98.3%Revenue minus the direct cost of producing what was sold, as a percentage of revenue. The first read on whether the product is structurally profitable.Software / SaaS is typically 70%+; consumer goods 30–50%; commodity / hardware businesses can be under 20%.
D/E
4.2Total debt divided by shareholders' equity. Measures how much the business runs on borrowed money versus owner capital.Under 1 is conservative; 1–2 is typical for mature businesses; over 2 is leveraged and more sensitive to interest rates.

Past earnings

QuarterReportedActualEstimateSurprise
Q2 2026Jul 29, 2026$-0.69$-1.09+36.7%
Q1 2026Apr 29, 2026$-0.56$-0.85+34.1%
Q4 2025Feb 25, 2026$-1.41$-1.24-14.0%
Q3 2025Oct 29, 2025$-0.61$-1.15+47.0%
Next earningsWed, Nov 4·consensus EPS $-1.00

Quarterly trend

QuarterRevenueYoYGrossOpEPSFCF
Q1 FY26$246.1M+87.0%98.8%-47.7%$-0.56$-814.6M
Q4 FY25$203.0M-10.4%96.1%-106%$-1.41$-159.0M
Q3 FY25$156.7M+17.1%98.5%-102%$-0.80$-134.7M
Q2 FY25$452.0M+100.7%99.1%30.9%$0.78$137.1M

Forward consensus

5-year forecast · up to 18 analysts
FYRevenueRangeEPSRangeAnalysts
FY26$921.2M$886.5M – $987.6M-$3.60-$3.67 – -$3.5618
FY27$1.3B$1.1B – $1.5B-$2.04-$2.99 – -$1.2918
FY28$1.9B$1.6B – $2.5B$0.19-$2.49 – $2.6217
FY29$2.4B$2.0B – $3.2B$2.50$1.94 – $3.5413
FY30$3.1B$2.6B – $4.1B$5.33$4.15 – $7.548

Setup & momentum

Volume, range, and moving-average position — the technical setup driving short-term moves.

Right now

Vol vs 30dToday's traded share volume divided by the average over the prior 30 trading days. ≥3× signals unusual interest; below 1× is quiet.0.7×Today's traded share volume divided by the average over the prior 30 trading days. ≥3× signals unusual interest; below 1× is quiet.
52w rangeWhere the latest close sits between the 52-week low (0%) and high (100%). Above 80% is extended; below 30% is basing or in a downtrend.4%Where the latest close sits between the 52-week low (0%) and high (100%). Above 80% is extended; below 30% is basing or in a downtrend.
vs 50d MALatest close vs the 50-day simple moving average. Positive = short-term trend is up.-17.9%Latest close vs the 50-day simple moving average. Positive = short-term trend is up.
vs 200d MALatest close vs the 200-day simple moving average. Positive = long-term trend is up.-36.9%Latest close vs the 200-day simple moving average. Positive = long-term trend is up.

Float & profile

FloatMid float · 162.9M shFree-float shares — the slice of issued stock actually available to trade. Lower buckets squeeze harder on a catalyst.Traded today1.6% of floatToday's volume as a percent of the free float. Above 5% on a single day is unusually high turnover for the available share count.β0.425-year weekly beta vs the S&P 500. Above 1.5 means the stock typically moves more than the index; below 0.8 moves less.

Insider activity

Recent open-market buys and sells by officers and directors — flagged when multiple insiders cluster.

Recent transactions

BuyJul 31Michael R HaydenDirector5.0K sh$258KBuyJul 30Michael R HaydenDirector15.0K sh$801KSellJul 7Allene M. DiazDirector10.1K sh$864KSellJul 7Holly B. KordasiewiczEVP, Chief Development Officer362 sh$31KSellJul 7Bennett C FrankEVP, Chief Scientific Officer20.5K sh$1.7MSellJul 1Klein Joseph IiiDirector11.5K sh$910KSellJun 26Joseph BaroldiEVP, Chief Business Officer5.6K sh$452KSellJun 26Patrick R. O'neilEVP CLO & General Counsel3.1K sh$246KSellJun 26Eugene SchneiderEVP, Chf Clinical Develop Ofcr26.0K sh$2.1MSellJun 26Brett P MoniaCEO50.0K sh$4.0M
1–10 of 18
+ 31 other (15 exempts · 11 awards · 5 others) in window

See when $IONS insiders are putting their own money in

  • Real-time open-market buys and sells from Form 4 filings
  • Cluster-buy detection when multiple insiders pile in at once
  • 30 / 60 / 180-day windows so you can spot building conviction
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SEC filings

Material 8-K, 13D, S-3, and 424B5 events from the last 180 days — the filings that actually move the price.

Recent material filings

8-KPress release / Reg FDSep 48-K — Item 7.01: Press release / Reg FD · Item 8.01: Other event
AI summary

Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) disclosed that pelacarsen — an Lp(a)-lowering RNA-targeted therapy partnered with Novartis — failed its Phase 3 Lp(a)HORIZON cardiovascular outcomes trial on September 4, 2026, missing the primary endpoint of reducing major cardiovascular events versus placebo. The failure is a significant clinical setback for the Lp(a) program, which had been one of the more closely watched cardiovascular trials. Both Ionis and Novartis shares were affected by the announcement.

8-KPress release / Reg FDSep 48-K — Item 7.01: Press release / Reg FD · Item 8.01: Other event
AI summary

The FDA approved ZANVASTRO™ (zilganersen) on September 3, 2026, a therapy developed by Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS), as the first and only disease-modifying treatment for Alexander disease (AxD) in pediatric and adult patients. AxD is an ultra-rare, progressive neurological disorder that can affect motor, cognitive, and autonomic function and is often fatal. The approval validates Ionis's antisense oligonucleotide platform in a severe rare neurological disease.

8-KPress release / Reg FDJul 108-K — Item 7.01: Press release / Reg FD
AI summary

Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reaffirmed its previously announced full-year 2026 financial guidance, unchanged from the guidance provided on April 29, 2026 in the Q1 2026 earnings release. The disclosure was filed under Regulation FD as a non-filed informational update. This is a routine guidance reaffirmation — no change in business outlook, signaling steady operational performance from Ionis heading into Q2.

8-KPress release / Reg FDJul 98-K — Item 7.01: Press release / Reg FD · Item 8.01: Other event
AI summary

Ionis Pharmaceuticals disclosed that its CARDIO-TTRansform Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating eplontersen for ATTR cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) failed to meet its primary endpoint. This is a significant negative clinical outcome as ATTR-CM represents a large potential market, and eplontersen was seen as a key pipeline asset for Ionis and its partner AstraZeneca. The failure eliminates a major revenue opportunity for the partnership, though eplontersen remains approved in the polyneuropathy indication under the brand name Wainua. Shares would be expected to react sharply negative on this news.

8-KPress release / Reg FDJun 248-K — Item 7.01: Press release / Reg FD · Item 8.01: Other event
AI summary

The FDA approved Ionis's TRYNGOLZA (olezarsen) as an adjunct to diet to reduce triglycerides and acute pancreatitis risk in adults with severe hypertriglyceridemia (triglycerides 500 mg/dL or higher) on June 24, 2026. Major FDA approval for olezarsen in a rare lipid disorder; adds a commercial product to Ionis's portfolio.

3New insider — initial holdingsJun 83
AI summary

Peter N. Reikes (director, Carlsbad CA) filed a Form 3 initial beneficial ownership statement for Ionis Pharmaceuticals as of June 4, 2026. Administrative disclosure for a newly appointed Ionis director.

3New insider — initial holdingsJun 83
AI summary

Ludwig Hantson (director, Carlsbad CA) filed a Form 3 initial beneficial ownership statement for Ionis Pharmaceuticals as of June 4, 2026. Administrative disclosure for a newly appointed Ionis director.

8-KOfficer or director changeJun 88-K — Item 5.02: Officer or director change · Item 5.07: Shareholder vote · Item 7.01: Press release / Reg FD
AI summary

Ionis appointed Ludwig Hantson (former Alexion CEO 2017-2021; prior Baxter Bioscience president who led the Baxalta spin-off) as independent director effective June 4, 2026, immediately following the 2026 Annual Meeting. Strong board addition with rare disease and large-cap biopharma leadership experience directly relevant to Ionis's pipeline.

+ 14 other (3 13Gs · 2 10-Qs · 2 earnings 8-Ks · 2 8-Ks) in window

Recent news

Latest headlines from major outlets, sourced and timestamped — context for whatever just moved.

4 RNA Therapeutics Stocks Leading the Next Wave of Innovationzacks.com·3d agoIonis Delivers Positive Late-Stage Results for Two Partnered Drugszacks.com·8d agoIonis and Roche Advance First RNA-Targeted Therapy for Autoimmune Kidney Diseasebenzinga.com·9d agoIonis announces positive interim data from partner Roche's Phase 3 IMAgINATION study in IgA nephropathy (IgAN)businesswire.com·9d agoOtsuka, Ionis' experimental ALS drug meets main goal in late-stage studyreuters.com·10d ago

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