Ionis Pharmaceuticals SC 13G/A / BB BIOTECH ownership change

Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) SC 13G/AIONIS PHARMACEUTICALS / BB BIOTECH ownership change

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 remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

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.

(a)

Amount beneficially owned: 7,850,000

(b)

Percent of class: 5.0%

(c)

Number of shares as to which the person has:

(i)

Sole power to vote or to direct the vote 0

(ii)

Shared power to vote or to direct the vote 7,850,000

(iii)

Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of 0

(iv)

Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of 7,850,000

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.


BB Biotech AG

Date: November 14, 2024	By:	/s/ Martin Gubler
		Signatory Authority
	Name:	Martin Gubler
	Title:	Signatory Authority

Date: November 14, 2024	By:	/s/ Ivo Betschart
		Signatory Authority
	Name:	Ivo Betschart
	Title:	Signatory Authority

Biotech Invest N.V.

Date: November 14, 2024	By:	/s/ Jan Bootsma
		Signatory Authority
	Name:	Jan Bootsma
	Title:	Signatory Authority

Date: November 14, 2024	By:	/s/ Hugo van Neutegem
		Signatory Authority
	Name:	Hugo van Neutegem
	Title:	Signatory Authority

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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.*

*	Previously filed as an exhibit to BB Biotech AG and Biotech Invest N.V.’s Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 13, 2020.

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Names of Reporting Persons

BB Biotech AG

Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
(a) ☒ (b) ☐

SEC Use Only

Citizenship or Place of Organization

Switzerland