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):  June 10, 2019

IONIS 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.)

2855 Gazelle Court

Carlsbad, CA 92010

(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:

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

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

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

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

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading symbol	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $.001 Par Value	“IONS”	The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (Section 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Section 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(d) Appointment of Joan Herman to Board of Directors

On June 10, 2019, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Joan Herman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Herman and Associates LLC, as a member of the Company’s Board, effective immediately.

There are no arrangements or understandings between Ms. Herman and any other persons pursuant to which Ms. Herman was appointed as a director of the Company.

Ms. Herman will receive the standard director compensation that the Company provides to its non-employee directors of $55,000 per calendar year and will be eligible for automatic equity grants under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2002 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan.

In addition, Ms. Herman will enter into the Company’s standard form of indemnity agreement.

A copy of the press release announcing the appointment of Ms. Herman is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

99.1 Press Release dated June 12, 2019.

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.

	Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Dated:  June 12, 2019	By:	/s/ Patrick R. O’Neil
		Patrick R. O’Neil
		Senior Vice President, Legal, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer