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 12, 2025

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 5.02

Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(b) Retirement of Richard Geary Ph.D., executive vice president and chief development officer

On June 12, 2025, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing that Richard Geary Ph.D., executive vice president and chief development officer, will retire effective January 2026. To support a seamless transition, the Company plans to engage Dr. Geary as a strategic consultant throughout 2026, and will file an amendment to this 8-K when the Company and Dr. Geary enter into the agreement for such services.

On June 12, 2025, the Company issued a press release announcing that Holly Kordasiewicz, Ph.D., currently senior vice president, neurology, will succeed Dr. Richard Geary Ph.D. in the role of executive vice president and chief development officer beginning in January 2026.

A copy of the 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
99.1	Press Release dated June 12, 2025.

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 12, 2025	By:	/s/ Patrick R. O’Neil
		Patrick R. O’Neil
		Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel