Joseph Loscalzo, who serves on the board of Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: IONS), completed the sale of 1,032 shares of the company's common stock on March 3 and March 4, 2026, generating proceeds of about $82,832. The disposition was executed at prices ranging from $80.00 to $80.3279 per share.
In parallel with the sale, Loscalzo exercised stock options that allow him to acquire 1,032 shares of Ionis common stock at an exercise price of $38.06, resulting in an aggregate cost of $39,277 for the exercise. Both the sale and the option exercise were reported as separate transactions covering the same share count.
At the time of reporting, Ionis shares were trading at $75.16, down from the prior session's close of $79.45. Despite the recent pullback from that previous close, the company's stock has posted a substantial gain over the last 12 months, rising approximately 122.7% year-over-year.
The company carries a market capitalization of $12.44 billion. Investors seeking in-depth, subscription-access research can find more analysis through a platform that maintains a library of more than 1,400 Pro Research Reports.
Beyond the insider transactions, Ionis disclosed regulatory progress and clinical updates that have attracted market attention. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted a supplemental New Drug Application for olezarsen, a therapy under development for severe hypertriglyceridemia, and has set a target action date of June 30, 2026. The filing is supported by Phase 3 study results that the company says demonstrated meaningful reductions in triglyceride levels as well as reductions in acute pancreatitis events.
Ionis is also scheduled to present new data on DAWNZERA, its investigational treatment for hereditary angioedema, at the 2026 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Meeting. These clinical and regulatory milestones are part of the company's near-term event calendar.
Analyst activity has followed these developments. Bernstein SocGen Group raised its price target on Ionis to $90, citing expectations for upcoming Phase 3 readouts in the latter half of 2026. Stifel increased its target to $77 after the company nnounced fourth-quarter results and provided 2026 topline guidance that came in below some expectations. Morgan Stanley also adjusted its target, moving it to $95 and referencing robust commercial execution in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Taken together, the insider sale and option exercise occur against a backdrop of substantive clinical progress and shifting analyst estimates. The combination of regulatory milestones, upcoming trial readouts and revised price targets has kept investor focus on both the company's clinical trajectory and its commercial momentum.
Summary of transactions and recent company developments
- Director Joseph Loscalzo sold 1,032 shares on March 3-4, 2026, for about $82,832 at prices between $80.00 and $80.3279.
- Loscalzo simultaneously exercised options to acquire 1,032 shares at $38.06 for a total exercise cost of $39,277.
- Ionis common stock was trading at $75.16 at the time of reporting, down from a prior close of $79.45, and up 122.7% over the past year.
- The FDA accepted a supplemental NDA for olezarsen with an action date of June 30, 2026, supported by Phase 3 study data showing triglyceride and acute pancreatitis reductions.
- New DAWNZERA data will be presented at the 2026 AAAAI Annual Meeting.
- Analysts have updated price targets: Bernstein SocGen Group to $90, Stifel to $77, and Morgan Stanley to $95.