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  <xs:element name="RoyaltyPercentageReceivedOnSalesOfMedicineInUnitedStates" id="ions_RoyaltyPercentageReceivedOnSalesOfMedicineInUnitedStates" type="dtr-types:percentItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="NumberOfMaterialComponents" id="ions_NumberOfMaterialComponents" type="xbrli:integerItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xs:element name="PercentageOfCostsAssociatedWithOngoingGlobalPhase3DevelopmentProgramPaidByCollaborationPartner" id="ions_PercentageOfCostsAssociatedWithOngoingGlobalPhase3DevelopmentProgramPaidByCollaborationPartner" type="dtr-types:percentItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="NovartisCollaborationsMember" id="ions_NovartisCollaborationsMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="NovartisCollaborationLpADrivenCardiovascularDiseaseMember" id="ions_NovartisCollaborationLpADrivenCardiovascularDiseaseMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="ResearchAndDevelopmentServicesForPelacarsenMember" id="ions_ResearchAndDevelopmentServicesForPelacarsenMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="NovartisCollaborationPelacarsenMember" id="ions_NovartisCollaborationPelacarsenMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="ProceedsFromSaleOfCommonStockIncludingPremiumPaid" id="ions_ProceedsFromSaleOfCommonStockIncludingPremiumPaid" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xs:element name="OlezarsenActivePharmaceuticalIngredientMember" id="ions_OlezarsenActivePharmaceuticalIngredientMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="ResearchAndDevelopmentServicesForOlezarsenMember" id="ions_ResearchAndDevelopmentServicesForOlezarsenMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="PelacarsenActivePharmaceuticalIngredientMember" id="ions_PelacarsenActivePharmaceuticalIngredientMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="PremiumReceivedOnSharesIssued" id="ions_PremiumReceivedOnSharesIssued" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xs:element name="PotentialPremiumReceivedIfCommonStockWasPurchasedInFuture" id="ions_PotentialPremiumReceivedIfCommonStockWasPurchasedInFuture" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xs:element name="PtcTherapeuticsCollaborationMember" id="ions_PtcTherapeuticsCollaborationMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="RoyaltyPercentageReceivedOnNetSalesOfEachMedicineFromCollaborationPartner" id="ions_RoyaltyPercentageReceivedOnNetSalesOfEachMedicineFromCollaborationPartner" type="dtr-types:percentItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="NumberOfTherapeuticPrograms" id="ions_NumberOfTherapeuticPrograms" type="xbrli:integerItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="NumberOfTherapeuticTargetsGrantedByPartnerUnderCollaborationAgreement" id="ions_NumberOfTherapeuticTargetsGrantedByPartnerUnderCollaborationAgreement" type="xbrli:integerItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="NumberOfUnnamedTherapeuticTargetsGrantedByPartnerUnderCollaborationAgreement" id="ions_NumberOfUnnamedTherapeuticTargetsGrantedByPartnerUnderCollaborationAgreement" type="xbrli:integerItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="AlnylamCollaborationMember" id="ions_AlnylamCollaborationMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="NumberOfTherapeuticTargetsGrantedToPartnerUnderCollaborationAgreement" id="ions_NumberOfTherapeuticTargetsGrantedToPartnerUnderCollaborationAgreement" type="xbrli:integerItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="PaymentsMadeUnderCollaborationAgreement" id="ions_PaymentsMadeUnderCollaborationAgreement" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xs:element name="InvestmentInEquitySecuritiesFvNi" id="ions_InvestmentInEquitySecuritiesFvNi" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xs:element name="LockUpAgreementTermOfTradingRestriction" id="ions_LockUpAgreementTermOfTradingRestriction" type="xbrli:durationItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="BicycleCollaborationMember" id="ions_BicycleCollaborationMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="AccruedCommercialExpensesCurrent" id="ions_AccruedCommercialExpensesCurrent" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xs:element name="AccruedClinicalDevelopmentExpenses" id="ions_AccruedClinicalDevelopmentExpenses" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xs:element name="AccruedInLicensingFeesCurrent" id="ions_AccruedInLicensingFeesCurrent" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xs:element name="PropertyPlantAndEquipmentExcludingLandMember" id="ions_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentExcludingLandMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="LicensingAndOtherRoyaltiesMember" id="ions_LicensingAndOtherRoyaltiesMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="ResearchAndDevelopmentServicesForDonidalorsenMember" id="ions_ResearchAndDevelopmentServicesForDonidalorsenMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xs:element name="LicenseOfDonidalorsenMember" id="ions_LicenseOfDonidalorsenMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
</xs:schema>
