second quarter 2026
Filed Jul 29, 2026Ionis reports second quarter 2026 financial results and highlights progress on key programs
Commercial revenue increased 15% to $119 million, supported by DAWNZERA sales, but reported total revenue declined to $268 million from $452 million and operating expenses increased to $370 million, producing an operating loss of $(102) million. Management reiterated that it is on track to achieve 2026 financial guidance.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total revenueGAAP | $268 million | – | – |
| Commercial revenueGAAP | $119 million | – | increased 15% |
| Total product sales, netGAAP | $31 million | – | – |
| Total royalty revenueGAAP | $76 million | – | – |
| Other commercial revenueGAAP | $12 million | – | – |
| Research and development revenueGAAP | $149 million | – | – |
| Operating expensesGAAP | $370 million | – | – |
| Operating expensesnon-GAAP | $325 million | – | – |
| Income (loss) from operationsGAAP | $(102) million | – | – |
| Income (loss) from operationsnon-GAAP | $(57) million | – | – |
| Six-month total revenueGAAP | $514 million | – | – |
| Six-month operating expensesGAAP | $734 million | – | – |
| Six-month operating expensesnon-GAAP | $645 million | – | – |
| Six-month income (loss) from operationsGAAP | $(220) million | – | – |
| Six-month income (loss) from operationsnon-GAAP | $(131) million | – | – |
Segments
| Segment | Revenue | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRYNGOLZA sales, netsHTG U.S. launch demonstrating early momentum following June 2026 approval; continued strong demand in FCS was offset by the reduced net price effective April 1, 2026. | $5 million | – | – |
| DAWNZERA sales, netCommercial revenue growth was primarily driven by DAWNZERA product sales. | $26 million | increased 63% compared to the first quarter of 2026 | – |
| SPINRAZA royaltiesSPINRAZA generated global sales of $402 million in the second quarter of 2026. | $53 million | – | – |
| WAINUA royaltiesWAINUA generated global sales of $70 million in the second quarter of 2026. | $16 million | – | – |
| Other royaltiesOther royalty revenue. | $7 million | – | – |
| Collaborative agreement revenueMultiple payments for programs advancing under R&D collaborations, excluding the $280 million upfront payment for the global license of sapablursen to Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. received in the second quarter of 2025. | $133 million | – | – |
| WAINUA joint development revenueWAINUA joint development revenue. | $16 million | – | – |
full year 2026 outlook
- NoteTRYNGOLZA full year 2026 product sales of $100-110 million
- NoteDAWNZERA full year 2026 product sales of $110-120 million
- Notefull-year expenses remaining on track for low-teens percentage growth year-over-year
- NoteOn track to achieve 2026 financial guidance
- NoteOn track to achieve our goal of cashflow breakeven in 2028
What drove it
- Commercial revenue for the second quarter increased 15% compared to the same period in 2025, primarily driven by DAWNZERA product sales.
- Revenue excluding the one-time sapablursen upfront payment recognized in the second quarter of 2025 increased 56%, driven by continued commercial success and substantial R&D revenue from multiple partnerships.
- Operating expenses increased year over year primarily from commercialization efforts for TRYNGOLZA and DAWNZERA and launch preparations for zilganersen in Alexander disease.
- TRYNGOLZA sHTG U.S. launch demonstrated early momentum following June 2026 approval.
- DAWNZERA launch outside the U.S. is underway, with new market approvals in the EU.
Concerns
- Reported total revenue was $268 million compared with $452 million in the second quarter of 2025, when the Company received a $280 million upfront payment for the global license of sapablursen to Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
- GAAP income (loss) from operations was $(102) million compared with $140 million in the second quarter of 2025.
- Phase 3 CARDIO-TTRansform study of eplontersen in ATTR-CM missed the primary composite endpoint in the overall population.
- Continued strong TRYNGOLZA demand in FCS was offset by the reduced net price effective April 1, 2026.
- Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments decreased to $2.1 billion from $2.7 billion, primarily due to repayment of the 0% convertible notes.
What to watch
- FDA PDUFA target action date of September 22, 2026 for zilganersen in Alexander disease.
- Results from the pelacarsen Lp(a) HORIZON cardiovascular outcomes trial in the second half of 2026.
- Global launch of bepirovirsen for chronic hepatitis B this year and its U.S. PDUFA target action date of October 26, 2026.
- CORE-OLE results for TRYNGOLZA and Phase 1 ION775 results at the ESC Congress in August 2026.
- CARDIO-TTRansform results presentation at the ESC Congress in August 2026.
- Data from the Phase 3 REVEAL study of obudanersen in Angelman syndrome anticipated in the second half of 2027.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $2.1 billion as of June 30, 2026
- Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $2.7 billion on December 31, 2025
- Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments decreased primarily due to repayment of the 0% convertible notes on April 1, 2026.
Analysis
Ionis reported second-quarter total revenue of $268 million, compared with $452 million in the second quarter of 2025. The reported comparison reflects the $280 million upfront payment for the global license of sapablursen to Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. received in the second quarter of 2025. Excluding that one-time payment, the Company said revenue increased 56%, driven by continued commercial success and substantial R&D revenue from multiple partnerships. Commercial revenue increased 15% to $119 million, while research and development revenue was $149 million compared with $349 million.
Management, verbatim
With the approval of TRYNGOLZA in late June, Ionis is bringing the first and only treatment to reduce triglycerides and acute pancreatitis to people living with severe hypertriglyceridemia. We are encouraged by the early launch momentum and look forward to accelerating growth from TRYNGOLZA and our other wholly owned medicines in the quarters and years to come.
Brett P. Monia, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Ionis
Our performance in the first half of this year reflects the strength and resilience of our business. We delivered significantly increased commercial revenue from our independent launches, substantial R&D revenue from multiple partnered medicines and invested in our advancing wholly owned pipeline.
Elizabeth L. Hougen, chief financial officer of Ionis
Even with the outcome of the CARDIO-TTRansform study of eplontersen in ATTR-CM, our first-half execution and positive outlook for the second half of the year keep us on track to achieve our 2026 financial guidance. We also remain on track to achieve our goal of cashflow breakeven in 2028 and deliver substantial growth and long-term value-creation.
Elizabeth L. Hougen, chief financial officer of Ionis
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Gross profit and gross margin
- Net income or net loss
- GAAP and non-GAAP earnings per share
- Income tax expense and tax rate
- Operating cash flow
- Free cash flow
- Debt balance
- Amount of the 0% convertible notes repaid on April 1, 2026
- Share repurchases
- Dividends
- Numerical total-revenue guidance
- Numerical gross-margin guidance
- Numerical operating-expense guidance
- Numerical tax-rate guidance
- Prior-quarter total revenue and operating-expense comparisons
- Prior-quarter dollar amount for DAWNZERA sales, net
AlphaAI analysis generated from the company’s SEC earnings filing (Form 8-K Item 2.02, or Form 6-K for a foreign private issuer). Every figure was cross-checked against the filing text; consensus estimates, price targets and share-price reactions are not shown because they are not in the filing. AI-generated research, not investment advice.