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): August 2, 2005

ISIS 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.)

1896 Rutherford Road

Carlsbad, CA 92008

(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:

o	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Agreement.

On August 2, 2005, Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. issued a press release announcing that its Ibis division has been awarded a government grant for up to $4.9 million for its TIGER biosensor system for the continued development of applications to diagnose infectious disease and to identify and control hospital-associated infections. The grant was received from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). A copy of this release is furnished with this report as an exhibit.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

99.1	Press Release dated August 2, 2005.

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.

	ISIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.


Dated: August 2, 2005	By:	/s/ B. Lynne Parshall
		B. LYNNE PARSHALL
		Executive Vice President,
		Chief Financial Officer and Director

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

99.1 Press Release dated August 2, 2005.