Biogen teams with Google to look at progression of MS

Search engine giant Google is continuing its expansion into healthcare research by penning a new deal with Biogen Idec to investigate the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Bloomberg reports that the agreement happened after George Scangos, chief executive of Biogen, met Andrew Conrad, head of the life science division of Google X, at a digital health conference.

Mr Scangos told the news agency that the internet behemoth brings a wealth of expertise in data analytics and technology to the table, and described Google as being "sophisticated in their approach" as they understand biology.

The two firms will work together to trawl through data from people with the inflammatory disease by using sensors, as well as software and data analysis tools.

It is hoped the project will lead to the discovery of why MS progresses differently from patient to patient, according to Rick Rudick, Biogen’s head of development sciences.

Dr Conrad has hired 150 scientists, including oncologists and immunologists, to Google X, which is viewed as a research and development partner for the pharmaceutical industry.

He said: "What I think and hope we’re good at is trying to do this moonshot, innovative thinking, where it’s OK to fail, and we’re looking for partners to join in these endeavours”.