SOURCE Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(Reuters) - After deliberating for most of the year, Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc said on Friday it would change its name to avoid being confused with the Islamist militant group known as ISIS. Akcea Therapeuticsв„ў is a trademark of Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Ionis Pharmaceuticalsв„ў is a trademark of Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. In this press release, unless the context requires otherwise, 'Ionis,' 'Company,' 'we,' 'our,' and 'us' refers to Ionis Pharmaceuticals and its subsidiaries. In December, 2015, the Company changed its name from Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Copies of these and other documents are available from the Company. These and other risks concerning Ionis' programs are described in additional detail in Ionis' annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, and its most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q, which are on file with the SEC. As a result, you are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. Although Ionis' forward-looking statements reflect the good faith judgment of its management, these statements are based only on facts and factors currently known by Ionis. Ionis' forward-looking statements also involve assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove correct, could cause its results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, particularly those inherent in the process of discovering, developing and commercializing drugs that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics, and in the endeavor of building a business around such drugs. Any statement describing Ionis' goals, expectations, financial or other projections, intentions or beliefs is a forward-looking statement and should be considered an at-risk statement. This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding Ionis Pharmaceuticals' business and the therapeutic and commercial potential of Ionis' technologies and products in development, including nusinersen, IONIS-TTR Rx and volanesorsen. Ionis' patents provide strong and extensive protection for its drugs and technology. Drugs currently in Phase 3 development include volanesorsen, a drug Ionis is developing and plans to commercialize through its wholly owned subsidiary, Akcea Therapeutics, to treat patients with familial chylomicronemia syndrome and familial partial lipodystrophy IONIS-TTR Rx, a drug Ionis is developing with GSK to treat patients with all forms of TTR amyloidosis and nusinersen, a drug Ionis is developing with Biogen to treat infants and children with spinal muscular atrophy. Using its proprietary antisense technology, Ionis has created a large pipeline of first-in-class or best-in-class drugs, with over a dozen drugs in mid- to late-stage development. Ionis is the leading company in RNA-targeted drug discovery and development focused on developing drugs for patients who have the highest unmet medical needs, such as those patients with severe and rare diseases. In addition, the Company will have a new website address: ABOUT IONIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

The new ticker symbol will become effective at the open of the market on December 22, 2015. In conjunction with the corporate name change, the Company will trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the new ticker symbol 'IONS'. 'We decided to change our company name because, when people see or hear our name, we want them to think about the life-saving medicines we are developing.' 'Our goal is to create medicines that will save patients' lives, and we are proud to be at the forefront of creating innovative medicines,' said Lynne Parshall, chief operating officer at Ionis Pharmaceuticals.

Ionis is focused on bringing its late-stage Phase 3 drugs, nusinersen, volanesorsen and IONIS-TTR Rx to the market and advancing its pipeline of high value drugs that have the potential to be first-in-class or best-in-class drugs to treat patients with life-threatening or serious diseases. Ionis (pronounced 'eye-OH-nis') Pharmaceuticals is an original name that the Company has chosen to represent its innovative culture and heritage as both the pioneer and leader in the RNA-targeted therapeutic space for the past 26 years. (NASDAQ: ISIS) today announced that the company has changed its name to Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ - Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Isis name