CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Revenue:
Research and development revenue under collaborative agreements	$ 61,892	$ 19,550
Licensing and royalty revenue	691isis_LicensingAndRoyaltyRevenue	8,611isis_LicensingAndRoyaltyRevenue
Total revenue	62,583us-gaap_Revenues	28,161us-gaap_Revenues
Expenses:
Research, development and patent expenses	64,447	53,448
General and administrative	7,466us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	4,380us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
Total operating expenses	71,913us-gaap_OperatingExpenses	57,828us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
Loss from operations	(9,330)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	(29,667)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Other income (expense):
Investment income	845us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeNet	657us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeNet
Interest expense	(9,021)us-gaap_InterestExpense	(4,943)us-gaap_InterestExpense
Gain on investments, net	0us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments	397us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
Loss before income tax benefit	(17,506)	(33,556)
Income tax benefit	789us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	2,276us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Net loss	$ (16,717)	$ (31,280)
Basic and diluted net loss per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.14)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasicAndDiluted	$ (0.27)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasicAndDiluted
Shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per share	118,948	117,128

Revenue from arrangements that include licensing and royalty revenues, profit sharing and/or earn out payments. Licensing revenue represents revenue earned during the period relating to consideration received from another party for the right to use, but not own, certain of the entity's intangible assets. Licensing arrangements typically include, but are not limited to, rights to use intellectual property on an exclusive or non-exclusive basis. Royalty, profit sharing and/or earn out payments are derived from a percentage or stated amount of sales proceeds or revenue generated by the third party using the entity's intellectual property.

No definition available.