AFTER deliberating for most of the year, Isis Pharmaceuticals has announced it will change its name to avoid being confused with the militant group Islamic State, also known as ISIS.

    The U.S. biotechnology company said it will be called Ionis Pharmaceuticals starting Tuesday and also changed its stock exchange ticker symbol to “IONS” from “ISIS.”

    Ionis (pronounced “eye-OH-nis” according to a release) said this new name will represent the company’s “innovative culture and heritage as both the pioneer and leader in the RNA-targeted therapeutic space for the past 26 years.”

    “It’s been an ongoing discussion for most of this year,” chief business officer Sarah Boyce told Reuters.

    “When you talk about the company you want people to immediately think about the incredible work you’re doing to deliver transformational drugs to patients ... not as an unfortunate namesake.”

    The Carlsbad, California-based company’s stock dropped about 4 percent on the first trading day after the Paris attacks that killed more than 125 people, for which ISIS claimed responsibility.

    The drugmaker – named after the Egyptian goddess of protection and healing, Isis – has been around for more than a quarter century.

    Today it is a US$7 billion company with one cholesterol drug on the market and treatments in development for a plethora of diseases, including cancer and heart conditions.(SD-Agencies)