Biogen Idec joins amyotrophic lateral sclerosis research alliance

Biogen Idec is entering into a new research collaboration to sequence the genomes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients in order to uncover new insights into the disease's genetic causes.

The company will fund the project at the laboratories of Dr David Goldstein, director of the centre for human genome variation at Duke University, and Dr Richard Myers, president and director of the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology.

Up to 1,000 patients' genomes are intended to be sequenced over the next five years, with the ultimate aim of providing new targets for potential therapies.

A number of world-class researchers with expertise in the field of ALS will take part in the project, which will help to deliver bring new treatments to patients as quickly as possible.

Dr Tim Harris, senior vice-president of translational medicine and biochemistry at Biogen Idec, said: "We are proud to collaborate with these distinguished academic and research institutions as part of our mission to discover and develop therapies for patients with ALS."

Earlier this month, the company allied with Swedish Orphan Biovitrum to carry out global paediatric trials of a pair of new haemophilia therapies.