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  <p align="center" style="border:none;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
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  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SECURITIES
  AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Washington,
  D.C.&#160; 20549</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">FORM&nbsp;8-K</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">CURRENT
  REPORT<br>
  PURSUANT TO SECTION&nbsp;13 OR 15(d)&nbsp;OF THE<br>
  SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date of report
  (Date of earliest event reported): <b>May&nbsp;12, 2008</b></font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">ISIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Exact Name of
  Registrant as Specified in Charter)</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Delaware</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(State or Other
  Jurisdiction of Incorporation)</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
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    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">000-19125</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">33-0336973</font></b></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Commission File
    No.)</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(IRS Employer
    Identification No.)</font></p>
    </td>
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  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">1896 Rutherford Road</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Carlsbad,
  CA 92008</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Address of
  Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area
  code: <b>(760) 931-9200</b></font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Check the appropriate box
  below if the Form&nbsp;8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the
  filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Written communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under
  the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) </font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under
  the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) </font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b)&nbsp;under
  the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) </font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c)&nbsp;under
  the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) </font></p>
  
  <div style="border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  
  <p align="center" style="border:none;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  </div>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
  
  </div>
  <!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='',FILE='C:\JMS\c900118\08-14134-1\task2930413\14134-1-ba.htm',USER='c900118',CD='May 10 06:44 2008' -->
  
  
  <br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">
  
  
  <div>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 2.02.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Results
  of Operations and Financial Condition.</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">On May&nbsp;12, 2008,
  Isis Pharmaceuticals,&nbsp;Inc. (the &#147;Company&#148;) issued a press release
  announcing the Company&#146;s financial results for the quarter ended March&nbsp;31,
  2008.&#160; In addition to disclosing results
  that are determined in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
  (GAAP), the Company also discloses pro forma or non-GAAP results of operations,
  which are adjusted from GAAP to exclude non-cash compensation related to stock
  options. &#160;The Company is presenting pro
  forma information excluding non-cash compensation expense or benefit because
  the Company believes it is useful for investors in assessing the Company&#146;s
  operating results compared to the prior year.&#160;
  A copy of the release is furnished with this report as an exhibit
  pursuant to &#147;Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition&#148; of Form&nbsp;8-K
  in accordance with SEC Release Nos. 33-8216 and 34-47583.</font></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The information in this
  Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K and the Exhibit&nbsp;attached hereto shall not
  be deemed &#147;filed&#148; for purposes of Section&nbsp;18 of the Securities Exchange
  Act of 1934 (the &#147;Exchange Act&#148;) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of
  that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing
  under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, regardless of any general
  incorporation language in such filing.</font></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 9.01.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Financial
  Statements and Exhibits.</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(d)&nbsp; Exhibits.</font></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  
  <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="95%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:95.38%;">
   <tr>
    <td width="92" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:68.85pt;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 40.0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">99.1</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="595" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:446.2pt;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Press Release
    dated May&nbsp;12, 2008.</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2</font></p>
  
  <div align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
  
  </div>
  <!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='2',FILE='C:\JMS\c900118\08-14134-1\task2930413\14134-1-ba.htm',USER='c900118',CD='May 10 06:44 2008' -->
  
  
  <br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">
  
  
  <div style="font-family:Times New Roman;">
  
  <p style="font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;page-break-after:avoid;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  
  <p style="font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;page-break-after:avoid;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-variant:normal !important;">SIGNATURE</font></b></p>
  
  <p style="font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;page-break-after:avoid;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to
  be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.</font></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
   <tr>
    <td width="52%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:52.5%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="47%" colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.5%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">ISIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.</font></b></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="52%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:52.5%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.24%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="44%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:44.26%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="52%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:52.5%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.24%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="44%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:44.26%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="52%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:52.5%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Dated:
    May&nbsp;12, 2008</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.24%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">By:</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="44%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:44.26%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;/s/ <b>B. LYNNE PARSHALL</b></font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="52%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:52.5%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.24%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="44%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:44.26%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">B.
    LYNNE PARSHALL</font></b></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="52%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:52.5%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.24%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="44%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:44.26%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Executive Vice
    President,</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="52%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:52.5%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.24%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="44%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:44.26%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Chief Financial
    Officer and Director</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 3.75in;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 3.75in;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">INDEX TO EXHIBITS</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.5in;text-align:left;text-indent:-1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">99.1</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Press Release dated May&nbsp;12, 2008.</font></p>
  
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metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ISIS PHARMACEUTICALS INC", "cik": "0000874015", "assigned-sic": "2834", "irs-number": "330336973", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-19125", "film-number": "08820790"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1896 RUTHERFORD ROAD", "city": "CARLSBAD", "state": "CA", "zip": "92008", "phone": "7609319200"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1896 RUTHERFORD ROAD", "city": "CARLSBAD", "state": "CA", "zip": "92008"}}
text: SECURITIES
  AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  Washington,
  D.C.  20549
  FORM 8-K
  CURRENT
  REPORT
  PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
  SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
  Date of report
  (Date of earliest event reported):
  May 12, 2008
  ISIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
  (Exact Name of
  Registrant as Specified in Charter)
  Delaware
  (State or Other
  Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
  000-19125
  33-0336973
  (Commission File
    No.)
  (IRS Employer
    Identification No.)
  1896 Rutherford Road
  Carlsbad,
  CA 92008
  (Address of
  Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)
  Registrant's telephone number, including area
  code:
  (760) 931-9200
  Check the appropriate box
  below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the
  filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
  o
  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under
  the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
  o
  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under
  the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
  o
  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under
  the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
  o
  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under
  the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
  Item 2.02.        Results
  of Operations and Financial Condition.
  On May 12, 2008,
  Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release
  announcing the Company's financial results for the quarter ended March 31,
  2008.  In addition to disclosing results
  that are determined in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
  (GAAP), the Company also discloses pro forma or non-GAAP results of operations,
  which are adjusted from GAAP to exclude non-cash compensation related to stock
  options.  The Company is presenting pro
  forma information excluding non-cash compensation expense or benefit because
  the Company believes it is useful for investors in assessing the Company's
  operating results compared to the prior year. 
  A copy of the release is furnished with this report as an exhibit
  pursuant to "Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition" of Form 8-K
  in accordance with SEC Release Nos. 33-8216 and 34-47583.
  The information in this
  Current Report on Form 8-K and the Exhibit attached hereto shall not
  be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
  Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of
  that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing
  under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, regardless of any general
  incorporation language in such filing.
  Item 9.01.        Financial
  Statements and Exhibits.
  (d)  Exhibits.
  99.1
  Press Release
    dated May 12, 2008.
  2
  SIGNATURE
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to
  be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
  ISIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
  Dated:
    May 12, 2008
  By:
  /s/
  B. LYNNE PARSHALL
  B.
    LYNNE PARSHALL
  Executive Vice
    President,
  Chief Financial
    Officer and Director
  INDEX TO EXHIBITS
  99.1
  Press Release dated May 12, 2008.
  3