Basis of Presentation and Organization

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Basis of Presentation and Organization [Abstract]

1.	Basis of Presentation and Organization

We prepared the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 on the same basis as the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016. We included all normal recurring adjustments in the financial statements, which we considered necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position at such dates and our operating results and cash flows for those periods. Results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire year. For more complete financial information, these financial statements, and notes thereto, should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016 included in our final prospectus dated July 13, 2017, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, on July 14, 2017 pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act.

In the condensed consolidated financial statements we include the accounts of Akcea Therapeutics, Inc. (“we,” “our,” and “us”) and our wholly owned subsidiaries: Akcea Therapeutics UK Ltd., or Akcea UK, (formed in August 2016), Akcea Intl Ltd., or Akcea Intl, (formed in February 2017) and Akcea Therapeutics Canada, Inc., or Akcea Canada (formed in May 2017). We incorporated in Delaware in December 2014. We were organized by Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or Ionis, to focus on developing and commercializing drugs to treat patients with serious cardiometabolic diseases caused by lipid disorders. As of the date of these financial statements we were wholly owned by Ionis. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. On July 19, 2017, we completed our initial public offering, or IPO. As a result, Ionis is now our majority shareholder.