IONS Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc

United States

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. 14)*

Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock

(Title of Class of Securities)

462222100

(CUSIP Number)

September 30, 2024

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing This Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

☐ Rule 13d-1(b)

☒ Rule 13d-1(c)

☐ Rule 13d-1(d)

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

CUSIP No. 462222100

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CUSIP No. 462222100

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Item 1

1(a) Name of Issuer: Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

1(b) Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices:

2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, California 92010

Item 2

2(a) Name of Person Filing: BB Biotech AG (“BB Biotech”) on behalf of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Biotech Invest N.V. (“Biotech Invest”)

2(b) Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:

BB Biotech AG: Schwertstrasse 6, CH-8200 Schaffhausen, Switzerland

Biotech Invest N.V.: Ara Hill Top Building, Unit A-5, Pletterijweg Oost 1, Curaçao

2(c) Citizenship: BB Biotech AG: Switzerland

 Biotech Invest N.V.: Curaçao

2(d) Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock, $0.001 Par Value

2(e) CUSIP Number: 462222100

Item 4. Ownership

Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1.

Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class

If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following: ☒

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Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company or Control Person.

This statement is filed jointly by BB Biotech and Biotech Invest. Biotech Invest is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BB Biotech.

Item 10. Certification

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

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SIGNATURES

After reasonable inquiry and the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

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Exhibit Index

Exhibit A: Agreement by and between BB Biotech AG and Biotech Invest N.V. with respect to the filing of this disclosure statement.*

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