Ionis Pharmaceuticals Executive Divests Position Amid Clinical Setback; Share Price Under Pressure

Key Points

• Holly B. Kordasiewicz, Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer at Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: IONS), sold 362 shares of the company's common stock on July 7, 2026. The transaction was valued at $30,516, with shares sold at a price of $84.30 per share. This sale was facilitated under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, which was adopted by Ms. Kordasiewicz on March 13, 2026. Following this transaction, Ms. Kordasiewicz directly holds 22,096 shares of Ionis Pharmaceuticals common stock.
• The stock has declined significantly since the transaction, currently trading at $64.28 compared to the $84.30 sale price. Despite recent volatility, shares have delivered a 50% return over the past year. According to InvestingPro analysis, the stock appears undervalued at current levels. Investors seeking deeper insights can access the comprehensive Pro Research Report, available for IONS and 1,400+ other US equities.
• In other recent news, Ionis Pharmaceuticals announced that its nerve disease drug, Wainua, developed in partnership with AstraZeneca, failed to meet the primary endpoint in the CARDIO-TTRansform Phase 3 trial. This trial aimed to evaluate the drug's effectiveness in reducing cardiovascular deaths and recurring heart problems. As a result of the trial's disappointing outcome, several financial firms have adjusted their price targets for Ionis Pharmaceuticals. Jefferies lowered its price target to $90 from $113, maintaining a Buy rating, while BofA Securities also reduced its target to $90 from $111, citing the trial setback as a surprise. Similarly, TD Cowen adjusted its price target to $94 from $108, and Oppenheimer reduced its target to $92 from $110, both maintaining positive ratings on the stock. These developments have impacted Ionis Pharmaceuticals' positioning in the market, while competitors like Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and BridgeBio Pharma saw their shares surge following the news. Alnylam and BridgeBio have approved drugs for the same disease, benefiting from Ionis's trial results.

Risks

• The stock has declined significantly since the transaction, currently trading at $64.28 compared to the $84.30 sale price. Despite recent volatility, shares have delivered a 50% return over the past year. According to InvestingPro analysis, the stock appears undervalued at current levels. Investors seeking deeper insights can access the comprehensive Pro Research Report, available for IONS and 1,400+ other US equities.
• In other recent news, Ionis Pharmaceuticals announced that its nerve disease drug, Wainua, developed in partnership with AstraZeneca, failed to meet the primary endpoint in the CARDIO-TTRansform Phase 3 trial. This trial aimed to evaluate the drug's effectiveness in reducing cardiovascular deaths and recurring heart problems. As a result of the trial's disappointing outcome, several financial firms have adjusted their price targets for Ionis Pharmaceuticals. Jefferies lowered its price target to $90 from $113, maintaining a Buy rating, while BofA Securities also reduced its target to $90 from $111, citing the trial setback as a surprise. Similarly, TD Cowen adjusted its price target to $94 from $108, and Oppenheimer reduced its target to $92 from $110, both maintaining positive ratings on the stock. These developments have impacted Ionis Pharmaceuticals' positioning in the market, while competitors like Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and BridgeBio Pharma saw their shares surge following the news. Alnylam and BridgeBio have approved drugs for the same disease, benefiting from Ionis's trial results.

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