Biogen Idec forms drug development alliance with Isis Pharmaceuticals

Biogen Idec has allied with Isis Pharmaceuticals on the development of antisense drugs to treat neurological or neuromuscular disorders.

The partnership will see the companies working together to discover and produce therapies against three undisclosed targets, with Isis to receive upfront fees and funding support from its partner.

Biogen Idec has the option to license a drug from each of the three programmes through the completion of phase 2 trials and would assume global development, regulatory and commercialisation responsibilities for the compounds if it takes this option up.

The companies previously allied to create new antisense drugs for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy and myotonic dystrophy type 1.

Richard Brudnick, vice-president and co-head of business development at Biogen Idec, said: "Our latest collaboration with Isis to discover and develop novel targets for the treatment of neurological disorders is a perfect fit within our early-stage research strategy."

This comes after the company also recently announced that it has formed a new manufacturing alliance with Eisai, based at the Research Triangle Park Facilities in the US.