Biogen Idec, Elan to host investment conference call

Therapies manufacturer Biogen Idec and neuroscience-based biotechnology firm Elan will host a conference call for investors to discuss recent events surrounding their multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment Tysabri (natalizumab) on August 1st, it has been announced.

The live webcast will take place at 13:30 BST/08:30 Eastern Time in the United States, the companies have confirmed.

Investors will be able to access the webcast through Biogen Idec’s website. A archived version of the call will also be made available at the same URL after the event had concluded.

Biogen and Elan’s webcast comes after the companies marked the second anniversary of Tysabri’s introduction into the US market and first international approval on July 22nd.

As of the end of June, more than 17,800 people in the US were being treated commercially with Tysabri, while around 13,400 more patients have received the drug in other countries.

According to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine, during its time in use, Tysabri has been responsible for a 68 per cent relative reduction in the annualised relapse rate of MS patients compared to those on placebo.