Biogen to spin off haemophilia unit as independent business

Biogen has announced that it will be separating its haemophilia business as an independent publicly-traded company. 

By spinning off the division, Biogen intends to create two focused companies dedicated to driving current and future value in their respective therapeutic areas of expertise. A name for the new company will be decided at a later date.

The independently-operated company will focus on the discovery and development of new therapies for the treatment of haemophilia, with existing marketed products to include Eloctate and Alprolix, indicated for the treatment of haemophilia A and B respectively.

The new business will continue to develop and commercialise these drugs under Biogen's existing collaboration agreement with Swedish Orphan Biovitrum, while longer-acting therapies will be developed utilising its XTEN technology.

Dr George Scangos, Biogen's chief executive officer, said: "We believe that the best way to realise the full potential of this growing and vital business is to enable it to operate independently with a management team dedicated to providing therapies to people living with haemophilia."

Biogen will provide transition services to the new company in the medium term and is expected to remain the manufacturer of Eloctate and Alprolix for the next three to five years.