Segment Information

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Segment Information [Abstract]

Segment Information

8.  Segment Information

We have two reportable segments Ionis Core and Akcea Therapeutics. At March 31, 2019 we owned approximately 76 percent of Akcea. Segment income (loss) from operations includes revenue less operating expenses attributable to each segment.

In our Ionis Core segment we are exploiting our antisense technology to generate a broad pipeline of first-in-class and/or best-in-class medicines for us and our partners. Our Ionis Core segment generates revenue from a multifaceted partnering strategy.

Akcea is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing medicines to treat patients with rare and serious diseases. Akcea generates revenue from TEGSEDI product sales and from its collaborations with Novartis and PTC Therapeutics.

The following tables show our segment revenue and income (loss) from operations for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018 (in thousands), respectively.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2019	Ionis Core		Akcea Therapeutics		Elimination of Intercompany Activity			Total
Revenue:
Commercial revenue:
SPINRAZA royalties	$	59,711	$	—	$	—		$	59,711
TEGSEDI product sales, net		—		6,754		—			6,754
Licensing and other royalty revenue		1,623		—		—			1,623
Total commercial revenue	$	61,334	$	6,754	$	—		$	68,088
R&D revenue under collaborative agreements	$	160,556	$	157,062	$	(88,492	)	$	229,126
Total segment revenue	$	221,890	$	163,816	$	(88,492	)	$	297,214
Total operating expenses	$	114,515	$	137,610	$	(76,446	)	$	175,679
Income from operations	$	107,375	$	26,206	$	(12,046	)	$	121,535

Three Months Ended March 31, 2018	Ionis Core		Akcea Therapeutics			Elimination of Intercompany Activity			Total
Revenue:
Commercial revenue:
SPINRAZA royalties	$	41,081	$	—		$	—		$	41,081
Licensing and other royalty revenue		942		—			—			942
Total commercial revenue	$	42,023	$	—		$	—		$	42,023
R&D revenue under collaborative agreements	$	90,517	$	17,108		$	(5,229	)	$	102,396
Total segment revenue	$	132,540	$	17,108		$	(5,229	)	$	144,419
Total operating expense	$	105,544	$	47,435		$	(5,259	)	$	147,720
Income (loss) from operations	$	26,996	$	(30,327	)	$	30		$	(3,301	)

The following table shows our total assets by segment at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 (in thousands), respectively.

Total Assets	Ionis Core		Akcea Therapeutics		Elimination of Intercompany Activity			Total
March 31, 2019	$	3,112,235	$	458,717	$	(735,063	)	$	2,835,889
December 31, 2018	$	2,975,491	$	365,261	$	(672,968	)	$	2,667,784