Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) EVP granted 19,350 stock options with 4-year vesting

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Ionis Pharmaceuticals executive Brian Birchler received a new stock option grant. On 01/02/2026, he was awarded a non-qualified stock option to buy 19,350 shares of Ionis common stock at an exercise price of $79.67 per share under the company’s Amended and Restated 2011 Equity Incentive Plan. The filing shows this as a direct holding of derivative securities.

The option was not exercisable in any amount on the grant date. According to the vesting schedule, 25% of the shares subject to the option will vest and become exercisable on 01/02/2027. The remaining shares will then vest and become exercisable in 36 equal monthly installments over the following three years.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Birchler Brian

(Last) (First) (Middle)

2855 GAZELLE COURT

(Street)

CARLSBAD CA 92010

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
IONIS PHARMACEUTICALS INC [ IONS ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	EVP, Corp and Development Ops

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/02/2026

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)	$79.67	01/02/2026		A		19,350		01/02/2027(1)	01/01/2036	Common Stock	19,350	$0.0	19,350	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Grant on 01/02/2026 to reporting person of stock options under the Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Amended and Restated 2011 Equity Incentive Plan. Following this transaction, the option was exercisable as to 0 shares on 01/02/2026. 25% of the shares subject to the option will vest and become exercisable on 01/02/2027. Thereafter, the remaining shares subject to the option will vest and become exercisable in 36 equal monthly installments over the next 3 years.

	By: Patrick R. O'Neil, attorney-in-fact For: Brian Birchler	01/05/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
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FAQ

What did Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) report in this Form 4 filing?

The filing reports that executive officer Brian Birchler received a grant of 19,350 non-qualified stock options to purchase Ionis common stock on 01/02/2026.

What is Brian Birchler’s role at Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS)?

Brian Birchler is an officer of Ionis Pharmaceuticals, serving as EVP, Corp and Development Ops, as disclosed in the filing.

What are the key terms of the 19,350 Ionis stock options granted?

The grant consists of 19,350 non-qualified stock options with an exercise price of $79.67 per share, issued under the Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Amended and Restated 2011 Equity Incentive Plan.

When do Brian Birchler’s new Ionis stock options start vesting?

The filing states that 25% of the option shares will vest and become exercisable on 01/02/2027, with no shares exercisable on the 01/02/2026 grant date.

How does the remaining Ionis (IONS) option grant vest after 01/02/2027?

After the initial 25% vests on 01/02/2027, the filing explains that the remaining shares will vest and become exercisable in 36 equal monthly installments over the next three years.

Are the 19,350 Ionis stock options held directly or indirectly?

The Form 4 identifies the 19,350 derivative securities as held with direct (D) ownership by the reporting person.