Biogen Idec and Eisai to develop new Alzheimer’s therapies

Biogen Idec has announced that it will be collaborating with fellow pharmaceutical company Eisai on the development of two new Alzheimer's disease therapies.

The organisations will ally to develop and commercialise two of Eisai's clinical candidates for Alzheimer's – E2609 and BAN2401 – while Eisai will receive an option to jointly develop and commercialise two of Biogen Idec's candidates, the anti-amyloid beta antibody BIIB037 and an anti-tau monoclonal antibody.

Eisai's candidates have the potential to reduce anti-amyloid beta plaques that form in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease and to stop the formation of new plaques. This can potentially improve symptoms and suppress disease progression.

The co-development of the compounds will be led by Eisai, while the company will also pursue marketing authorisations for both compounds worldwide. Biogen Idec will help to promote the drugs in major markets and share the overall costs.

Dr George Scangos, chief executive officer of Biogen Idec, said: "This collaboration is a natural fit with our mission to develop therapies for patients with severe neurodegenerative diseases."

This comes after the firm achieved a strong 26 percent year-on-year revenue increase in 2013. It is planning three new product launches this year, including two treatments for haemophilia and the first pegylated interferon therapy for multiple sclerosis.