Ionis Pharmaceuticals ( IONS - Free Report ) shares ended the last trading session 9.1% higher at $43.59. The jump came on an impressive volume with a higher-than-average number of shares changing hands in the session. This compares to the stock's 14.9% gain over the past four weeks. The sudden price rise can be attributed to growing investors' optimism regarding the company's portfolio of marketed drugs and its expanding pipeline in neurology, cardiology, and areas of high medical need. Last week, Ionis stated that its partner Biogen reported positive top-line data from the phase I study of salanersen (ION306/BIIB115), an investigational antisense oligonucleotide, which is being developed for the potential treatment of spinal muscular atrophy. This drug discovery and development company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.19 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +142.2%.