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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LcSg+SjFgE1qUTC9yvUgqy/bmTt29P9wtTUb++s3GIR0Cgh7gqoZT6iX03QfXq9C
 oEVYxzYNuo1N5uSW7mHCoQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000874015-04-000007.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0000874015-04-000007.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105162301
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000874015-04-000007
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040101
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEVIN ARTHUR A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001181556
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19125
		FILM NUMBER:		04505304

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2292 FARADAY AVENUE
		CITY:			CARLSBAD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92008
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7609319200

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ISIS PHARMACEUTICALS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000874015
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				330336973
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2292 FARADAY AVE
		CITY:			CARLSBAD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92008
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7609319200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2292 FARADAY AVE
		CITY:			CARLSBAD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92008
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-01</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000874015</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ISIS PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ISIS</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001181556</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEVIN ARTHUR A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2292 FARADAY AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CARLSBAD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92008</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>VP, Development</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-01</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>442</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>4.4625</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1220</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><d
irectOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.81</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>26880</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>6.81</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2008-01-02</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>201
4-01-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>26880</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>26880</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Reporting 442 shares acquired under the Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan on January 1, 2004.</footnote><footnote id="F2">25% of the shares subject to the option will vest and become exercisable on 1-2-05.  Thereafter, the remaining shares subject to the option vest and become exercisable in 36 equal monthly installments, at the rate of 6,720 shares per year.  The option is exercisable as to 0 shares on 1-2-0
4.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Arthur A. Levin</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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